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I was recommended to come here by my physician. I’ve had some problems with my legs and I decided to come here [Alsara Vein Clinic] and see if I could get helped. I’m disabled now. I’ve had a liver transplant 12 years ago. I was having some problems with my legs swelling and discoloration and things. And I have diabetic neuropathy. And it really got down to the point where my legs just couldn’t take the pain anymore.

Well, each year it’s gotten worse and worse, and I just get down to the point where I have to sleep in a recliner, and then I prop my legs up even higher than that, trying to get the swelling down. And I was having an awful time, you know, sleeping in the recliner.

And, so, I decided to come here and see if he [Dr. Gupta] could take some of the pain away, you know. I know he can’t get rid of everything, ‘cause it, you know, it’s just not going to happen. I know that. But anything is better than nothing! That’s the way I looked at it.

And he did an awesome job, I believe, you know, and that’s all that really matters.

They really made me feel welcome. They explained everything: why they were doing it; how come; and this and that; and what they were doing. And it really made me feel comfortable, you know, to see that and understand it. And that [means] a lot to the person, you know.

My priorities [were]: get rid of some of the pain that I had, and being able to tolerate it, you know. I’ve lived in pain all my life and I’m tired of it, you know. I mean, a person can only deal with so much. But ah, no, that’s probably about the highlight – the results.

You know, I was more than impressed. Well, I mean it’s just a 100% change around. When I first came here, you know, my legs really hurt bad. And [Dr. Gupta] explained what he was gonna do, and if he couldn’t make any results, he wasn’t gonna do anything, and I understand that. But he felt that he could ease some pain to me, and he did. And now, each and every day gets better.

I hadn’t played pool in 15 years. And now, I’m able to go play pool for a couple of hours a day. And, to me, that’s quite a bit, you know, ‘cause I enjoy that. Yup. Yeah, it really is awesome, trust me! You ain’t [got] nothing to do all day – and now, you got something to do now, you know.

So I would definitely recommend people – if they have [leg] problems – to come here. And if the doctor can’t help you, he won’t; and if can, he will! And to me, he’s awesome. He’s helped me tremendously. Yeah.

Please describe your experience with us:

Front Desk staff:

Friendly and informative.

Ultrasound Technologist:

Knowledgeable, willing to explain.

Provider/Doctor/Nurse Practitioner:

Very professional. Explained everything.

Billing/Patient Account Services:

Excellent.

Call Center/Patient Service Center:

Very helpful.

What made you choose us?

Doctor referral.

What symptoms were you experiencing?

Lower leg swelling.  Pain.

How were you affected by your legs previously? What couldn't you do? How has that changed now?

Leg felt heavy.  Swelling cause skin breakdown which lead to continuing infectons.

What improvements have you seen in your legs?

Less swelling and the pain has gone away.

Additional Comments: What did you appreciate? What makes us different than other medical clinics? What could we have done better to exceed your expectations? What changes would you like to see?

I appreciated the staff and how they make a patient feel comfortable.  Your facility is very clean and pleasant.  I also liked that the staff was not trying to push me through my appointment to get to the next patient.  Don't change a thing. "One can't fix what is not broken.".

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My name is Tracy Clements and I’m from around here, about 30 minutes from here. I suffered several injuries from a car accident years ago, and I recently found out about this place [Alsara Vein Clinic], and I wanted to come here and see oof they could help.

What were your symptoms? How did they affect your daily life?

I was having CVI (Chronic Venous Insufficiency), swelling of the legs, heaviness of my foot and my lower leg, and a lot of tiredness, heaviness, but also ulcers and skin breakdown. Actually, I was having these pains and these symptoms for years and years, and I neglected to treat it or take care of it because I thought that was the way it was suppose to be and that was just something I was going to have to deal with because of the care accident I was in. My car accident was in 1993 – twenty-eight years ago.

But, my Primary Care… after several bouts with Cellulitis and trying to fight it off with antibiotics, we were having some success, but we continued to revert back to the Cellulitis two [or] three times-a-year.

How did you hear about Alsara Vein Clinic?

And that’s when she recommended that I come to see Dr. Gupta at Alsara Vein Clinic, and she thought that would be a much safer and reliable source for more of a permanent fix on my leg. And I followed her advice and came in for a [free] consultation.

What was your first impression of Alsara Vein Clinic?

I was extremely impressed with not only the staff but Dr. Gupta, himself, was very knowledgeable and patient with me. And they let me know that there could be a lot of relief and [that] there was help. And that made me feel just great about coming here.

How did you feel during the treatment?

I was, um… during the treatment – the mapping and the treatments – they were almost pain-free for me. And I have a unique situation with my leg versus a lot of people: I’ve had a lot of broken bones and hardware put in my body and my veins are really messed up. And it wasn’t near as scary or painful as I thought it would be, so it worked out really well.

What are you able to do after treatment that you couldn’t do before?

The leg swelling has minimized almost… probably 90%. I’m not having the breakdown that I did with my skin, or the ulcers. And I’m also… the heaviness of my legs, the Restless Leg Syndrome does not bother me anymore. And my legs before coming here were so sensitive and sore, just the slightest touch would hurt – and, now, they’re not like that at all. It’s gone. It’s amazing. It really is.

How would you describe Dr. Gupta?

Dr. Gupta: his way of handling a patient is amazing. He has knowledge beyond what I… and I’ve been around a lot of doctors and a lot of medical stuff in the last twenty-eight and a half years, and by far he is one that is… he’s incredibly intelligent but he’s patient, and he goes the extra effort to explain things to you. And he will lay it out for you before they do anything, you know, and it’s just amazing the results you get from it. He makes you feel comfortable, and, he doesn’t make you feel comfortable; you are comfortable with that. We did the VenaSeal™ – the glue – in my [veins], and I recommend it. It’s literally painless, and it’s helped out; it’s helped me tremendously. I would recommend the VenaSeal™ and I would recommend Dr. Gupta and Alsara Vein Clinic 100%.

How was your insurance coverage?

I had no insurance issues at all. It was covered 100%. And I was informed early on – my first visit – that the staff here would work to utilize my insurance and let me know if there were any problems before we went any further, and, if they could, make accommodations as to help however they could with the insurance.

What was your impression of the staff at Alsara Vein Clinic?

From the first moment I arrived here at the facility and you walked in the door, I felt the staff was very accommodating, very friendly. The place is amazingly clean and comfortable, and it’s very user-friendly here. You feel right at home. And it’s not crowded. And you don’t feel like a number here – you feel like a person here. And I think that’s very important to people that are already coming in here nervous, and uninformed, and unaware of what’s going to happen, and that all disappears pretty much at the front door when you come in.

How did you feel after your treatment?

After treatment, I feel… I’m pretty much pain-free when I leave here. And from then on, I mean, it’s amazing – it’s night-and-day difference, it really is. It makes you feel like ‘Why didn’t I come here before? Why did I wait so long to come here?’ There is help out there, and don’t wait.

Would you recommend Alsara Vein Clinic to family or friends?

I would definitely recommend someone to this facility, to Alsara Vein Clinic. I have, actually, recommended a couple of people, and I hope they don’t wait, like I did. Pain is a serious problem, and it doesn’t have to be. We can make it go away, and that’s what you guys do.

Because heat dilates the veins, many vein issues increase during the summertime. As the veins expand with higher temperatures, leaky veins can get even worse, leading to more pooling of blood in your legs and problems associated with it such as pain, tiredness, cramps, swelling, and clots. There is an increased chance of seeing new spider veins, pain, and symptoms. Here are tips to help you enjoy the warm season:

1 Stay Cool

Make sure you wear clothes that won’t trap heat. Always use sunblock (SPF 30 or above) not just on your legs, but also on your face and nose, where thinner skin is more prone to developing spider veins.

2 Take a Dive

In addition to offering great respite from the summer heat, swimming is one of the best ways to promote normal circulation in your legs. Swimming is a low-impact exercise that saves your joints from the pounding, yet increases your heart rate and improves circulation overall. Also, cooling exercises like swimming and brisk evening walks are best because the lower temperatures help prevent the blood vessels from dilating.

3 Stay Hydrated

Keeping your body properly hydrated will help it effectively circulate blood, heal injuries faster, and allow for healthier skin. Though it seems like a no-brainer, patients with vein problems should pay close attention to their hydration levels during the summer when the heat can easily dry anyone out. If you plan on being out of the A/C, plan to also bring a water bottle along. Avoid caffeine.

4 Avoid Heels

We recommend flats and sandals rather than high heels as they keep your calf muscles from effectively pumping blood out of the leg. Wearing lower heels makes your calves work a little harder, keeping blood pumping throughout your legs and back to your heart where it belongs.

5 Elevate Your Legs

Since veins in our legs have to work against gravity to send blood back to the heart, it helps them if you take periodic 15-minute breaks, elevating your legs above the level of your heart. This facilitates the flow of blood back to the heart and helps “empty” some of the blood pooled in your legs.

6 Calf Pumps

Our calf muscles play a very important role in helping “push” blood upwards towards the heart against gravity. Sitting or standing for prolonged periods renders the calf pump inactive. We recommend taking breaks to walk or stand on tiptoes for 10-second intervals throughout the day whenever possible. Brisk walking, bicycling, using a stepper, and swimming is some of the best ways to strengthen calf muscles.

7 Wear Compression Stockings

They may not be at the top of anyone’s list of hot summer fashions, but compression stockings put pressure on your legs which helps to move blood up and away from your lower legs. Though you may not want to wear them outside during July and August for fear of overheating, wearing them regularly may prevent blood from pooling in your legs, which can cause or worsen vein problems.

Varicose and spider veins have ruined too many summers. To keep them from ruining this one, schedule a free consultation and complimentary vein screening at Alsara Vein Clinic at 816-396-0245 to set up a Consultation today. Current treatments allow us to permanently treat affected veins with no downtime and you can be rid of your compression stockings within days of treatments. Many insurers, including Medicare, offer coverage.

– and bikini contests!

Where did summer go? It seems like only yesterday the snow had finally melted, after a prolonged winter, and here I am talking about fall. In fairness, this summer was an extraordinarily busy time for us at Alsara Vein Clinic. We saw more new patients in July than any other month in the past. Every one of my staff members worked extra, long hours to ensure each patient received top-notch care, even in the face of increased patient volume and the numerous urgent requests to see a patient the same day.

I am humbled by both the confidence that numerous referring providers have in our care and the trust of patients who refer family and friends. For example, Jim*, a 76-year-old gentleman, came to Alsara Vein Clinic after exhausting all options at hospitals and other clinics in the area. With a tracheostomy collar in place, he was unable to talk and breathe at the same time, yet he had much to discuss. After providing his medical history, he cleared his “airway trash”, drew a deep breath, and concluded by saying, “I am hanging by the last straw. My neighbor across the street advised me to come to you. You took care of him when he had no hope that anything could be done.” Since then, the topic of his conversation has been anything but medical. Taking swift breaks to inhale, he seemed more interested in talking about his friends, family and his many aspirations although, as he politely stated, “I realize that I won’t be able to participate in a bikini contest anytime soon!”

Later that week I saw Tom**, a 58-year-old, who had avoided seeking care as he was sure that leg amputation was going to be the only option available, given the advanced stage of chronic venous insufficiency in his leg. It seems that every clinic day has its fair share of patients with swelling, severe leg cramps, and restlessness. We also see many male patients with clots, bleeding, and poorly healing sores in their legs, all of which are features of advanced, chronic venous insufficiency.

A detailed duplex ultrasound scan (Mapping) provides us with a “road map” of all the key veins in the legs. The goal of every treatment modality is to get rid of the underlying varicose veins and restore proper blood flow by routing blood to the healthy veins. The new, modern, minimally invasive treatments allow us the opportunity to eliminate the diseased veins safely and effectively with very little downtime; these are also much safer than surgeries used in the past. Over the last 10 years, further advancements have occurred in our understanding of venous diseases and the options available to treat them. For instance, the latest 1470 nm laser used at Alsara Vein Clinic offers a 40-fold improvement in energy absorption, compared to older generation lasers, resulting in even less bruising and discomfort. All treatments including Endovenous Laser Ablation and Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy are performed in the comfort of the office setting and patients can resume normal activities immediately.

I feel very fortunate for the technology and scientific knowledge backed by the experience of successfully treating thousands of patients over the past decade. Although participating in a bikini contest is not completely ruled out for Jim*, I suspect that he will put his legs to much greater use in the years ahead!

Concerns about your legs? Call Alsara Vein Clinic at 816-396-0245 to set up a Consultation today.

Sam Gupta, MD, MPH

* Jim is an actual patient of Alsara Clinic and has graciously given permission to use his quotes, story and images.
** Tom – his name changed to protect confidentiality.

An estimated 60% of women and men suffer from vein disease.

Some of the signs and symptoms include leg pain, achy legs, burning in legs, numbness in legs, leg cramps, heaviness in legs, itching legs, restless legs, tired legs, swelling in ankles or leg calves. Left untreated, it may result in skin discoloration, bleeding veins, sores that heal poorly, and blood clots.

To understand vein disease, you must first understand the function of veins. Arteries are blood vessels responsible for delivering blood to all areas of the body, including the legs. Veins are responsible for collecting the same blood and bringing it back to the heart. Leg veins, located farthest from the heart, have to work extra hard to push blood upward against gravity toward the heart.

Studies have shown that a vast majority of people have genetically weak veins. Now, if you add more risk factors such as standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, pregnancy, excess weight, and trauma, veins can start to fail. As veins begin to fail, blood starts to pool in the legs resulting in veins that are "varicose"—abnormally swollen or knotted.

It might be surprising to learn that restless leg syndrome, leg cramps, swollen ankles (edema), leg ulcers, varicose veins, and spider veins could all be symptoms of vein disease. We've helped thousands achieve relief with in-office treatments. Alsara Vein Clinic is located north of Kansas City in St. Joseph, MO a.k.a. St. Joe. Schedule your Free Consultation today with Alsara Vein Clinic. Walk-ins are welcome, no referral necessary!

Varicose Vein Treatments are covered by insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Please describe your experience with us:

Everyone was helpful and friendly.

Front Desk staff:

Helpful, pleasant & friendly.

Ultrasound Technologist:

Kati so friendly & gentle & explains what she was doing.

Provider/Doctor/Nurse Practitioner:

Dr. Gupta very polite & explains the procedure.

What made you choose us?

Primary doctor sent me here.

What symptoms were you experiencing?

Swelling & blood clot in the right leg, swelling in the left leg.

How were you affected by your legs previously? What couldn't you do? How has that changed now?

Couldn't do what I wanted because my leg wouldn't let me. I didn't realize there was something wrong with them.

What improvements have you seen in your legs?

Walk a whole lot better, pick legs up easier; less swelling. Legs don't give out on me. Must have had problems for years & didn't know it.

Additional Comments: What did you appreciate? What makes us different than other medical clinics? What could we have done better to exceed your expectations? What changes would you like to see?

Very friendly and explained things to us & let us watch on screen. Didn't spend any time in the waiting room. They seem to get to you right away.

Because heat dilates the veins, many vein issues worsen during the summertime. As the veins expand with higher temperatures, leaky veins can get even worse, leading to more pooling of blood in your legs and problems associated with it such as pain, tiredness, cramps, swelling, and clots. There is an increased chance of seeing new spider veins, pain, and worse symptoms. Here are tips to help you enjoy the warm season:

Five Tips To Fight Back

1. Stay Cool
   Make sure you wear clothes that won’t trap heat. Always use sunblock (SPF 30 or above) not just on your legs, but also on your face and nose, where thinner skin is more prone to developing spider veins
2. Take a Dive
   In addition to offering great respite from the summer heat, swimming is one of the best ways to promote normal circulation in your legs. Swimming is a low-impact exercise that saves your joints from the pounding yet increases your heart rate and improves circulation overall. Also, cooling exercises like swimming and brisk evening walks are best because the coolness helps keep the blood vessels from dilating.
3. Stay Hydrated
   Keeping your body properly hydrated will help it effectively circulate blood, heal injuries faster, and allow for healthier skin. Though it seems like a no-brainer, patients with vein problems should pay especially close attention to their hydration levels during the summer when the heat can easily dry anyone out. If you plan on being out of the AC, plan to also bring a water bottle along. Avoid caffeine.
4. Avoid Heels
   We recommend ats and sandals rather than high heels that keep your calf muscles from effectively pumping blood out of the leg. Wearing lower heels makes your calves work a little harder, keeping blood pumping out of your legs and back to your heart where it belongs.
5. Wear Compression Stockings
   They may not be at the top of anyone’s list of hot summer fashions, but compression stockings put pressure on your legs that helps to move blood up and away from your lower legs. Though you may not want to wear them outside during July and August for fear of overheating, wearing them regularly may prevent blood from pooling in your legs, which can cause or worsen vein problems.

Varicose and spider veins have ruined too many summers. To keep them from ruining this one, schedule a free consultation and complimentary vein screening at Alsara Vein Clinic. Current treatments allow us to permanently treat affected veins with no downtime and you can be rid of your compression stockings within days of treatments. Many insurers including Medicare offer coverage.  Click here to see Insurance We Typically Accept.

Kick start this summer with healthy legs that look and feel great.