Bruce Brosius, who has been a construction worker for over 40 years, had a minimally invasive procedure to relieve his leg pain.
Bruce Brosius began noticing varicose veins in his legs about 10 years ago. But he said it wasn’t until recently that they started to cause him severe pain. His wife encouraged him to seek care. Bruce said an ultrasound at Ascension St. Vincent detected clotting in both of his legs.
“The clotting was causing me a great deal of pain and swelling,” said Bruce. “The clot was probably the size of a nickel in the side of my right leg, near my knee. It was hard to the touch and very tender.”
Bruce said he believes several factors may have led to the varicose veins in his legs, including being a reformed smoker, his genetics and his demanding construction job.
“I spend a lot of hours standing on my feet, wearing boots and carrying a tool belt,” Bruce said. “I’m doing high-impact work all day long.”
Bruce had a radiofrequency vein ablation procedure on his right leg at Ascension St. Vincent. This minimally invasive procedure uses heat created from radiofrequency waves, delivered through a small catheter, to close off the abnormal superficial veins that cause varicose veins.
“Vein problems run a broad spectrum, from unsightly cosmetic issues to significant health issues and disability,” said Richard Chitwood, MD, a vascular surgeon at Ascension St. Vincent. “Our team of vascular surgeons listens to each patient to determine the care plan for their particular issues and provide appropriate treatment.”
Bruce said the procedure was quick and simple, and relieved a large amount of pressure from his leg. He speaks highly of the care he received.
“The team at Ascension St. Vincent has gone out of their way to be respectful of my wishes and to listen to all my questions and concerns,” said Bruce. “I cannot say enough good things about them.”
Bruce said he will continue to see his care teams at Ascension St. Vincent for follow-up care and that he is looking forward to working and riding his bike without leg pain getting in the way.
“If I would have known that this treatment was going to be so painless, and that I was going to meet so many wonderful people involved, I would have done this a long time ago,” said Bruce.
Vascular specialists at Ascension St. Vincent provide a variety of innovative treatment options for men and women needing vascular care, from injection sclerotherapy for spider veins to minimally invasive venous ablation for varicose veins. When bulging leg veins are uncomfortable or when you want help adjusting vein-related skin discoloration, our care teams are ready to help.
Put uncomfortable leg pain behind you. Schedule an appointment today. ascension.org/StVincentVeinCare