OTG- thank you for your input- I already told the DR that I won't have cortisone shots- but I'm looking into Prolotherapy or sclerotherapy. It is an inflammatory therapy which involves the injection of a known irritant, usually glucose or sodium morrhuate, into a ligament, tendon or joint. This will cause irritation of that joint for the purpose of improving the tensile strength of ligaments. Inflammation is produced in order to stimulate the formation of fibrous connective tissue which will bring about healing of that ligament or deficient structure. Prolotherapy was originally evolved by Dr. George Hackett, M.D., in Kenton, Ohio, back in the 1940s and 50s, although you can trace its origins back to the ancient Greeks. You will find references to it in medical literature under various names including sclerotherapy, prolotherapy, or proliferant therapy. More recently, it has been called non-surgical joint reconstruction, coined by Dr. William Faber, D.O., from the Milwaukee Pain Clinic, Milwaukee, Ohio. These terms are used interchangeably. It has been around for a long time and have tested it, and know the results are reliable. I explained this treatment to my Dr who has never heard of it before!

I was just diagnosed with venous insufficiency. I really just care about my legs looking better but it does cause my legs to feel tired and I have restless leg syndrome. The plan is to wear support stockings for 3 months (I just wear them occasionally) and then go back to the dr. in November. There I will tell him (the support stockings do not improve my tired legs etc.). I will then have laser procedures (already scheduled) starting at the end of December. Due to the fact that I have double veins in my legs (1 in 100 do) I have to have 4 procedures. 1 per week. Just can't exercise on the day of the procedure. Basically what looks like a pin with a cord attached is inserted into your leg. It has a laser on the tip. I don't know the details of what is done as that will be discussed in November. It is covered by insurance. I will have 20% copay. These procedures should make my legs look much better. If I am not completely happy then I can have additional (different) procedures done on my own dime. It should also greatly give me more energy in my legs and help me sleep better. Go to a good doctor and have them diagnose you. Not having proper blood flow can lead to other complications and is a matter of quality of life. Some doctors just fix the look of the legs and not the underlying issue.

My dad has had a lot of issues with veins in his legs. He had a minor surgical procedure a few years ago -- I don't know what it was called -- and now, I'm sure you're going to be happy to hear this, he has to wear special knee-high stockings most of the time. No one can tell, since they are obviously under his pants, although unfortunately he now can't wear shorts in the summer (still vain -- no pun intended -- at age 75). They're very tight and hot in the summer, but I'm pretty sure he has to wear them every day. Hopefully you won't have the same problem!

Sorry I didn't get back yesterday. Four hours of driving only 115 miles makes for restless legs and a tired brain. I just re read your post and realized I haven't done foam. When I first with a doctor in Beverly Hills in the late 80's, he only used only one syringe of a stronger concentration per visit and no compression. It was the best treatment I ever had. I've been treated by four or five doctors since that use a weaker solution and compression without the same results. In general, don't take anti inflammatory meds for a couple weeks because they counteract the treatment. I've always driven and they tell you to walk. I'm curious if foam requires compression, guessing it does. If you don't like shots, this will be difficult. The needles are tiny, so it doesn't bother me. It should burn some as they are injecting but I've never found a ton of pain afterwards. Lastly I'll say there are a lot of schmucks in this business. Make sure you vet your doctor well. I'm looking forward to hearing how it worked.