Piedmont Heart opens new vein clinic in Macon to treat leg pain, swelling
Dr. Amy Kingman, a cardiologist with Piedmont Heart, said the clinic is intended to help patients experiencing symptoms such as leg swelling, aching, skin discoloration and varicose veins.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Piedmont Heart at Lakeside Commons is expanding its services with a new vein clinic designed to diagnose and treat superficial vein disease.
Dr. Amy Kingman, a cardiologist with Piedmont Heart, said the clinic is intended to help patients experiencing symptoms such as leg swelling, aching, skin discoloration and varicose veins.
“The veins don’t have muscular walls like arteries to pump blood,” Kingman said. “They’re more hollow tubes with a series of valves. If those valves malfunction, blood pools in the veins, leading to inflammation and swelling.”
Kingman said the clinic uses ultrasound imaging to evaluate the veins and determine whether symptoms are caused by vein disease or another condition.
She said leg swelling is not always caused by vein problems and can also be linked to medication side effects or conditions affecting the heart, kidneys or liver.
“If someone has concerns about the appearance of their legs or swelling, we’re able to provide a comprehensive evaluation,” Kingman said.
If left untreated, superficial vein disease can lead to complications including varicose veins, skin discoloration, cellulitis and venous ulcers.
The clinic offers minimally invasive procedures that close unhealthy veins, allowing blood to naturally reroute through healthy veins. Kingman said treatments may use heat delivered through a catheter or medical adhesive, depending on the patient’s needs and insurance coverage.
She said the procedures are generally well tolerated and require little downtime.
“They’re relatively painless,” Kingman said. “Quite often people drive themselves to their procedures, stay active afterward and many return to work the same day.”
Kingman said people experiencing persistent leg swelling, aching or other changes in their legs should speak with their health care provider to determine whether a vein evaluation is appropriate.
