ARCADIA, Calif. (KABC) -- A little poke and some numbing spray is nothing compared to the leg pain Marlena Vasquez endures every time she walks.
"It could be sometimes to the point of excruciating, where I can't get up. I can't walk," she said.
Vascular surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Kronson says Vasquez suffers from something called venous insufficiency. It's the most common disease condition in North America.
"If you add up cancer, stroke, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, put them all in a pot, add them together, it doesn't equal venous insufficiency. More days are lost to work for venous insufficiency and its problems than the common cold," Kronson said.
Normally, tiny valves in leg veins return blood back up to the heart. With this conditions the valves stop working and blood starts to pool. It increases the blood pressure in the veins which leads to pain, tiredness and restless legs.
"Heaviness, throbbing, aching, burning, itching, discoloration of the skin down below the knee and venous ulcers and varicose veins," Kronson said, detailing symptoms.
The conventional way of treating venous insufficiency is to tie off the faulty veins and remove them. It can be done in a doctor's office but the risks include nerve damage, bruising, bleeding and several weeks of down time.
Kronson is using a different treatment. It involves ultrasound, and inserting a heated catheter into the diseased vein through a small opening in the skin.
"Now we use an RF, radio frequency or ultra sound energy to heat up that catheter, the catheter reaches a certain temperature and seals that vein shut," Kronson said.
Patients go home with a compression sock and can resume normal activities within a few days.
"Now, when the blood comes up to that bad vein, that's closed. Sorry mam, park's closed. The blood goes to the other veins where the valves are functioning, and it goes back to the heart," Kronson said.
Vasquez can't wait to get back on her feet and catch up with her grand kids.