Your doctor will examine your legs while you're standing and look for swelling, discoloration, bulging veins and tenderness. The doctor may ask you to describe any pain or aching in your legs as well.

Proper diagnosis of valve competency however, is enhanced with the use of a sophisticated ultrasound scanner capable of producing both colored flow and Doppler visual images of veins and direction of blood flow within them. It is a quick and very useful non-invasive and painless method of mapping the entire venous system and identifying sites of faulty valves. A good treatment plan must be based on a thorough initial evaluation and diagnostic study.