Restless Leg Relief After Vein Treatment

Patient: Gwen M., 60-year-old female

Background:
Gwen came to us with restless leg symptoms that made her legs feel uncomfortable, especially at night. She also noticed heaviness in her left leg that made daily activities harder. Earlier in the year, she had a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) that was successfully treated, but the restless leg symptoms persisted.

Diagnosis and Testing:
An ultrasound of her legs showed that her left great saphenous vein (GSV) was not working properly – a condition known as venous insufficiency. Because this vein was causing poor circulation, it was likely contributing to both her restless leg symptoms and the heaviness in her leg.

Treatment:
Gwen had a minimally invasive procedure called endovenous ablation. This treatment closes off the diseased vein so that blood can flow through healthier veins instead.

Results (Four Months After Procedure):
At her follow-up visit, Gwen reported dramatic improvement:

• Restless Legs: She describes the change as “like night and day” – her restless leg symptoms in the left leg are nearly gone.
• Timeline of Relief: The improvement became noticeable about 3-4 weeks after the procedure.
• Right Leg Symptoms: Now that her left leg feels so much better, she’s noticed some restless leg symptoms in her right leg, which weren’t as obvious before.
• Activity Level: She can now walk on the treadmill without her left leg feeling tired or heavy.

She is now scheduled to have her right leg treated with the same procedure.

Next Steps:
By addressing the underlying vein problem, Gwen found relief from symptoms that many people assume can only be managed with lifelong medication. She will continue treatment for her right leg and follow up with us to ensure long-term success.