About 25 million Americans, or nearly half of us over age 50, suffer from varicose veins. They are often disfiguring, and can cause pain and swelling. About two-thirds of the cases involve women, most of whom have had two or more pregnancies.

The old surgery to treat the problem was such an ordeal many patients opted to put up with the pain. But a relatively new procedure makes suffering a thing of the past.

"It starts out with a dull ache and then it goes to a throb," said Vicki Trovillian.

Pain, the kind that woke her up at night, finally drove Vicki to do something about the varicose vein in her left leg. Like so many others, she had dreaded the idea, having heard stories about the old style surgery of stripping varicose veins.

"I have girlfriends. They've had the stripping done," Vicki said.

Dr. Adcock recalls the ordeal patients went through 20 years ago.

"We almost cringed when we've had to recommend varicose vein stripping," he said.

Back then the surgery required full anesthesia, a night in the hospital, 3 to 4 weeks convalescence and left patients with bad bruising, and scars. Now the doctor can do the job under local anesthesia, in the office, in a matter of minutes.

---

INFO: More About Varicose Vein Surgery

---

"It's a quantum leap in the treatment of varicose veins," Dr. Adcock said.

The newest technique, called radiofrequency ablation, uses ultrasound heat to melt the inside of the vein. Today Dr. Adcock makes a tiny incision in Vicki's groin and leg. The catheter he uses is called the Closure Fast Catheter. It operates with radio frequency energy to close the vein.

Ultrasound guidance helps Dr. Adcock "see" inside Vicki's leg.

Valves in her vein wouldn't close properly causing blood to painfully pool in her leg. By collapsing the vein, the blood is redirected through another vein back to her heart, easing the discomfort in her leg.

"I can feel he's doing something, but I feel no pain," Vicki said.

Dr. Adcock described the treatment. "We will start the radiofrequency and gradually the temperature will go to 120 degrees centigrade. We treat 7 cm at a time," he said.

He heats each segment for 20 seconds, then moves on to the next area. The procedure itself takes only a few minutes.

With nothing more than an ace bandage wrapped around her leg, Vicki first spends a few minutes with her husband. Then, in about an hour from the time she arrived, she can head home, and enjoy playing with her grand children.

"I want one baby on this hip and one baby on this hip and be able to walk around and not be in pain, Vicki said.

Vicki will have to take it easy for about 48 hours, and then she can resume her very active lifestyle. Dr. Adcock's office is a training center for other doctors to learn to use the Closure Fast system.