Angie King has been in healthcare for more than 20 years, currently as a medical assistant. She loves her job and helping people. But being on her feet all day made her varicose veins swell, causing pain and heaviness in her legs. “Some days I was in real pain. I had to sit down frequently just to get off my legs for a minute,” she remembers.
Angie heard about a treatment that could help her being performed by Mark Bolduc, MD, a physician with Northern Light Vascular Care at Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield. Radio Frequency Ablation, or RFA for short, is an in-office procedure that eases the common symptoms of varicose veins, which can include pain, swelling, achiness, itchiness, and irritation.
Dr. Bolduc sees patients of all ages, many of whom who work on their feet all day such as teachers, and those in retail and healthcare – like Angie. “It’s a procedure that lasts about 60 minutes using local anesthesia and the patient stays awake the whole time,” says Dr. Bolduc.
Dr. Bolduc explains that varicose veins can appear because of damaged vein walls and valves. RFA works by sending a thermal heat source to an affected vein and closes it off, which helps reduce pain to the leg. “Patients typically find relief from their symptoms in five to seven days. I’ve seen it make a big difference in a person’s daily life.”
“I am so happy I did it,” says Angie. “I’m more active now, and I’m not in pain after standing at my job for long periods of time. I can keep up with my younger colleagues at work!” she says with a smile. “It’s really changed my life!”
RFA is covered by most insurances if a medical necessity. Contact your primary care provider to learn if RFA is a good option for you and if it is available in your community. For more information about RFA in Pittsfield, visit Northernlight.org/SVHveins.