Venous Insufficiency Specialist

What is venous insufficiency?

Venous insufficiency is a vascular condition in which your veins don't send blood up to your heart properly, leading to blood pooling and an assortment of associated issues. Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when you don't treat venous insufficiency. 

What causes chronic venous insufficiency?

Leg vein valve damage is the most common cause of chronic venous insufficiency. Your vein valves are one-way, so when they send blood up to your heart, it doesn't normally doesn't flow backward. 

Damage to the valves, however, may allow the blood to flow backward, returning to your legs and collecting inside the veins. There are many causes of valve damage, with common contributors including prolonged sitting or standing and a sedentary lifestyle. 

Deep vein thrombosis — a condition in which a blood clot develops within a leg vein, far below the skin surface — causes pressure that can lead to vein valve damage and eventually chronic venous insufficiency. 

What are the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency?

Chronic venous insufficiency may cause many symptoms, including:

• Varicose veins
• Aching legs
• Itchy legs
• Leg skin discoloration
• Tired-feeling legs
• Leg ulcers
• Lower leg edema (swelling)
• Leg skin rashes

The symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency can worsen significantly if left untreated. For example, you may first notice a varicose vein and then develop increasing symptoms such as leg ulcers if you don't seek treatment. 

What is the treatment for chronic venous insufficiency?

The treatment of chronic venous insufficiency depends on the stage of the disease and what kind of symptoms you have. If you have fairly mild symptoms, treatment usually includes compression hosiery, weight loss (if needed), regular exercise, and other conservative treatments. 

Vascular Surgery Associates Medical Group offers several effective nonsurgical treatments for problem veins, including sclerotherapy (Varithena), endovenous laser ablation, and laser ablation. 

All of these options can permanently treat veins and curb your chronic venous insufficiency symptoms. After treatment, you'll wear compression stockings for about two weeks. If you have venous ulcers, you may need wound care as well. If you have a skin infection related to ulcers, you’ll usually need antibiotics.

In most cases, you can address the uncomfortable symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency with nonsurgical treatments on-site at the Vascular Surgery Associates Medical Group office. 

To learn how you can overcome symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, call the Vascular Surgery Associates Medical Group office located in your area or schedule a consultation online today.