Is venous insufficiency the real reason you are always tired?
The presence of venous stasis ulcers. Of course, venous insufficiency, or chronic venous insufficiency, is not always the cause of tired and heavy legs. Other conditions may also cause this sensation, such as neuropathy or damage to the nerves in the legs or feet.
How can pain caused by venous insufficiency be relieved?
To reduce swelling and relieve pain caused by venous insufficiency, you can wear compression stockings. They are tighter at the ankles than at the top of the legs. They also can help venous skin ulcers heal. But there are different types of stockings, and they need to fit right. So your doctor will recommend what you need. You also can try to:
How do you reverse venous insufficiency?
- Wear compression stockings. They ease swelling and improve blood flow.
- Keep your feet elevated above your heart. When you can, do it for 15 minutes every 2 hours and while you sleep.
- Don't stand still for too long. Walk around often.
Is venous insufficiency really that serious?
One of the most common vein diseases, chronic venous insufficiency is a serious condition that causes the valves in the leg veins to stop working as they should. Normally, these valves prevent blood from flowing backward. However, when they malfunction, blood can pool in the veins.
What does venous insufficiency pain feel like?
Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins fail to return blood efficiently to the heart. This condition usually involves one or more veins. Symptoms include swelling of the legs and pain in the extremities such as a dull aching, heaviness, or cramping.
How painful is chronic venous insufficiency?
Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency are similar to signs of varicose veins. But as CVI worsens, many people also notice skin changes and more severe pain and discomfort. Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency include: Dull aching, cramping or heavy feeling in the legs.
What helps pain from venous insufficiency?
Relieve Pain with Venous Insufficiency Treatment on the Central CoastCompression stockings to reduce swelling in your legs.Weight loss.Minimally invasive procedures that remove or seal your damaged veins.Physical activity.Not standing or sitting for long times.Stents to hold open major veins for increased blood flow.
What are the dangers of venous insufficiency?
Untreated venous insufficiency results not only in a gradual loss of cosmesis but also in variety of complications, the major ones being persistent pain and discomfort, hemorrhage, superficial thrombophlebitis, and progressive skin changes that may ultimately lead to ulceration.
Can you lose your leg from venous insufficiency?
The risk of amputation primarily comes from two common vascular diseases, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and venous insufficiency. Both conditions are progressive diseases.
Can you live a normal life with venous insufficiency?
Chronic venous insufficiency affects millions of Americans, but the good news is that people with this condition can find relief from pain, avoid the complications, and lead a normal life by making lifestyle changes that include: Exercising. Keeping your salt intake to a minimum. Drinking plenty of water.
What is the most serious complication of venous insufficiency?
Left untreated, these damaged veins can cause serious complications, such as ulcers, bleeding, and a potentially fatal condition called deep vein thrombosis.
Do you need surgery for venous insufficiency?
Though the majority of people with chronic venous insufficiency are successfully treated at NYU Langone with minimally invasive procedures, surgery is sometimes required if the condition of the veins doesn't improve. Our doctors perform vascular surgeries to repair faulty valves and remove blockages.
What is the most common cause of venous insufficiency?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the most common cause of chronic venous insufficiency. The blood clot damages the valve in your leg vein. People with a history of DVT face a higher risk of developing CVI.
What are 2 of the main causes of chronic venous insufficiency?
The causes of chronic venous insufficiency include:High blood pressure in the leg veins over time, due to sitting or standing for long periods.Lack of exercise.Smoking.A blood clot in a deep vein, often in the calf or thigh (deep vein thrombosis)More items...
What causes sudden venous insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency is most often caused by either blood clots or varicose veins. In healthy veins, there is a continuous flow of blood from the limbs back toward the heart. Valves within the veins of the legs help prevent the backflow of blood.
What happens if you don't treat venous insufficiency?
Without treatment, the pressure and swelling will burst the tiny blood vessels in your legs called capillaries. That could turn your skin reddish-brown, especially near the ankles. This can lead to swelling and ulcers. These ulcers are tough to heal.
What is the most serious complication of venous insufficiency?
Left untreated, these damaged veins can cause serious complications, such as ulcers, bleeding, and a potentially fatal condition called deep vein thrombosis.
Why does venous insufficiency cause leg pain?
If you have chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), the valves don't work like they should and some of the blood may go back down into your legs. That causes blood to pool or collect in the veins. Over time, CVI can cause pain, swelling, and skin changes in your legs.
Is chronic venous insufficiency a disability?
Filing for Social Security Disability with a Chronic Venous Insufficiency Diagnosis. Chronic Venous Insufficiency has been determined by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to be one of the disabling conditions that can qualify a person to receive Social Security Disability benefits.
Do you need surgery for venous insufficiency?
Though the majority of people with chronic venous insufficiency are successfully treated at NYU Langone with minimally invasive procedures, surgery is sometimes required if the condition of the veins doesn't improve. Our doctors perform vascular surgeries to repair faulty valves and remove blockages.
What Is Venous Insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency is a condition that affects the way blood flows in your body. When your veins are working normally, they return blood from all your organs to your heart. Tiny valves inside these veins keep the blood flowing in the right direction.
Why do veins leak backwards?
When your veins are working normally, they return blood from all your organs to your heart. Tiny valves inside these veins keep the blood flowing in the right direction. Venous insufficiency occurs when these valves aren’t working correctly. Blood may leak backward, away from the heart, causing blood to pool in your legs.
Why do my legs get damaged?
previous damage to one of your legs due to an injury, surgery, or blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Venous insufficiency is less likely in people who are physically active since exercise and good muscle development in the calves can encourage the flow of blood.
What does DVT mean in medical terms?
Some people with venous insufficiency also have deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein located deep inside your body.
What is a vascular surgeon?
Vascular surgeons at U of U Health offer a thorough evaluation, diagnosis, and personalized treatment plan for people with symptoms of venous insufficiency. During the evaluation, the vascular surgeon will perform a complete medical history and physical, including an examination of your legs. You also will have a test called a venous reflux study.
What is the purpose of deep vein surgery?
The goal of these procedures and surgeries is to remove or neutralize diseased veins closest to the surface of your skin. Afterward, “deep veins” in your leg will take over the job of returning blood to your heart.
How to tell if blood is leaking in the wrong direction?
It helps the vascular surgeon see the blood flow in your vein and determine whether the blood is leaking in the wrong direction. During this test, you will lie down on an exam table. An ultrasound technologist will place a transducer (small, handheld device) on the skin where the affected vein is located.
What are the symptoms of venous insufficiency?
Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency may include: Having an uncomfortable feeling in your legs and an urge to move your legs (restless legs syndrome) The symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency may seem like other health conditions. Talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
How is chronic venous insufficiency diagnosed?
Your provider will take your medical history and give you an exam. You may also have an imaging test called a Duplex ultrasound. This looks at blood flow and the structure of your leg veins. It checks the speed and direction of blood flow in the blood vessel.
Why do my leg veins not flow back up to my heart?
Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when your leg veins don’t allow blood to flow back up to your heart. Normally, the valves in your veins make sure that blood flows toward your heart. But when these valves don’t work well, blood can also flow backwards. This can cause blood to collect (pool) in your legs.
What is a varicose vein?
Varicose veins. Leg ulcers that are sometimes hard to treat. Having an uncomfortable feeling in your legs and an urge to move your legs (restless legs syndrome) Painful leg cramps or muscle spasms (charley horse) The symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency may seem like other health conditions.
How to get blood flow in legs?
Improving blood flow in your leg veins. Keeping your legs raised (elevated) can reduce swelling and help increase blood flow. Wearing compression stockings may also help. Regular exercise can also improve blood flow.
What is a blood clot in the calf called?
A blood clot in a deep vein, often in the calf or thigh (deep vein thrombosis)
What is the procedure to remove a vein?
Surgery. This is done in severe cases. Ligation is a type of surgery that may be used. The affected vein is tied off so that blood no longer flows through it. If the vein or its valves are heavily damaged, the vein will be removed. This is called vein stripping.
What is venous insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency is a condition that prevents blood from flowing out of your legs and back to your heart. Veins contain valves that help blood flow in one direction. Venous insufficiency means the valves do not close correctly or fully. Blood flows back and pools in your leg. This can cause problems such as varicose veins. Venous insufficiency may also be called chronic venous insufficiency or venous stasis.
What are the signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency?
Visible veins on your legs that may be small and red or large, thick, and blue
How is venous insufficiency treated?
Medicine may be given to improve blood flow. The medicines may thin your blood or reduce swelling to help blood flow. You may also need medicine to treat a bacterial infection.
Why do my varicose veins bleed?
You have an injury that has broken your skin and caused your varicose veins to bleed.
How to keep blood flowing in your legs?
If you have to sit for a long time, flex and extend your legs, feet, and ankles. Do this about 10 times every 30 minutes to help keep blood flowing. If you have to stand for a long time, take breaks and sit with your legs elevated. Elevate your legs.
Is leg pain worse when you are menstruating?
Leg pain that is worse when you are menstruating (women) or when you stand, and better when you elevate your legs
Can you have a vein removed during surgery?
Your body will then absorb the vein. Surgery may be needed if other treatments do not work. Surgery may be used to repair a leg vein valve or to clip or tie off a vein so blood cannot flow through it. You may need to have a veins removed during surgery called stripping.
What happens when you have varicose veins?
As vein disease progresses, the body’s veins either become enlarged or deteriorate over time. If the vein’s capabilities have decreased dramatically, blood may pool in the varicose veins. This forces them to become more swollen and create painful ulcers.
What happens when a vein is blocked?
It can happen when veins are no longer able to bring blood back to the heart and create a clot within the leg. When a clot is created because of untreated vein disease, a pulmonary embolism can occur. This occurs when a blood vessel becomes blocked by a clot that has traveled to the lung.
What does it mean when your leg hurts?
If you’ve experienced leg pain that seems to be emanating from a vein but are unsure what it is, it may be venous insufficiency. Pain, swelling, itchiness, leathery skin, or loss of cosmesis are symptoms of venous insufficiency and a warning of when to see a vascular specialist.
Why do veins pool?
Valves act as the stopgap in your veins to keep blood from flowing backward. If the veins are not able to return blood to your heart for some reason, then it begins to pool where its movement is blocked in your legs. This is known as venous insufficiency. You may be having trouble with a blood clot or varicose veins.
Can venous insufficiency cause thrombosis?
If left untreated, however, venous insufficiency can result in loss of cosmesis in addition to serious complications, such as thrombosis, ulcers, or bleeding.
Is vein disease a common disease?
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Institute (NCBI), vein disease is common and manageable if caught during the early stages. A vascular specialist can diagnose the severity of your situation.
Is Venous Insufficiency Painful?
While pain is one of the symptoms associated with venous insufficiency, its effects may vary depending on the severity and placement of the vein condition.
What is venous insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency occurs when the normal flow of blood from the superficial veins to the heart via the perforating deep veins in the lower limbs is impaired, resulting in chronic venous congestion. It can be classified as superficial vein insufficiency, perforating, or deep vein insufficiency.
How is venous insufficiency diagnosed?
Venous insufficiency is usually diagnosed on history and examination. Varicose veins may require the patient to be standing to appreciate. Duplex ultrasonography is the preferred investigation to demonstrate reflux and communications between the deep and superficial venous networks.
What is the venous system?
The venous system in the lower legs consists of a low-pressure superficial network connected by perforating veins to a high-pressure deep network. Venous blood flows from the superficial to deep veins by the action of the calf muscle pump. Retrograde flow is prevented by competent valves.
How many people with varicose veins will develop ulcers in their lifetime?
Leg ulceration is the most important complication and is a major burden for health systems throughout the world. Estimates suggest 4% of patients with varicose veins will develop venous leg ulcers in their lifetime.
Is venous insufficiency common in all races?
Venous insufficiency is common, affecting all races and both sexes. Estimates suggest rates as high as 50% in some populations. A US study found ethnic whites had a higher rate of venous insufficiency compared to Hispanics, African Americans, and Asians. The Edinburgh Vein Study reported the incidence of chronic venous insufficiency was similar in men and women. Prevalence increases with age, obesity, a family history of varicose veins, and multiple pregnancies.
Can superficial venous insufficiency cause heaviness?
Superficial venous insufficiency can be asymptomatic but may cause aching, cramping, throbbing, burning, or heaviness in the leg. Pain is typical of deep venous insufficiency. Symptoms improve with leg elevation.
What causes venous insufficiency?
Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when these valves become damaged, allowing the blood to leak backward. Valve damage may occur as the result of aging, extended sitting or standing or a combination of aging and reduced mobility. When the veins and valves are weakened to the point where it is difficult for the blood to flow up to the heart, ...
How to stop leg veins from swollen?
Avoid long periods of standing or sitting: If you must take a long trip and will be sitting for a long time, flex and extend your legs, feet, and ankles about 10 times every 30 minutes to keep the blood flowing in the leg veins. If you need to stand for long periods of time, take frequent breaks to sit down and elevate your feet.
What is CVI in a patient?
What is chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)? Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a condition that occurs when the venous wall and/or valves in the leg veins are not working effectively, making it difficult for blood to return to the heart from the legs.
What is the cause of CVI?
CVI most commonly occurs as the result of a blood clot in the deep veins of the legs, a disease known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). CVI also results from pelvic tumors and vascular malformations, and sometimes occurs for unknown reasons.
What are the symptoms of CVI?
New varicose veins. Leathery-looking skin on the legs. Flaking or itching skin on the legs or feet. Stasis ulcers (or venous stasis ulcers) If CVI is not treated, the pressure and swelling increase until the tiniest blood vessels in the legs (capillaries) burst.
Can a burst capillary cause ulcers?
At the least, burst capillaries can cause local tissue inflammation and internal tissue damage. At worst, this leads to ulcers, open sores on the skin surface. These venous stasis ulcers can be difficult to heal and can become infected.
What are the risk factors for venous insufficiency?from pennmedicine.org
Risk factors for venous insufficiency include: Age. Family history of this condition. Female sex (related to levels of the hormone progesterone) History of deep vein thrombosis in the legs. Obesity. Pregnancy. Sitting or standing for long periods. Tall height.
How is chronic venous insufficiency diagnosed?from hopkinsmedicine.org
Your provider will take your medical history and give you an exam. You may also have an imaging test called a Duplex ultrasound. This looks at blood flow and the structure of your leg veins. It checks the speed and direction of blood flow in the blood vessel.
How to remove veins from legs?from dignityhealth.org
If you have bulging, bluish veins in your legs, you may be hesitant to show your legs. Our varicose vein treatments include: 1 Laser procedures that lighten the veins’ appearance 2 Lifestyle changes similar to those for chronic venous insufficiency 3 Minimally invasive procedures to seal or remove problem veins 4 Phlebectomy to remove varicose veins near your skin surface
What is non surgical treatment for spider veins?from my.clevelandclinic.org
Nonsurgical treatments include sclerotherapy and endovenous thermal ablation. Sclerotherapy involves the injection of a solution directly into spider veins or small varicose veins that causes them to collapse and disappear. Several sclerotherapy treatments are usually required to achieve the desired results.
What is CVI in a patient?from my.clevelandclinic.org
What is chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)? Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a condition that occurs when the venous wall and/or valves in the leg veins are not working effectively, making it difficult for blood to return to the heart from the legs.
What is endovenous thermal ablation?from my.clevelandclinic.org
Endovenous thermal ablation is a newer technique that uses a laser or high-frequency radio waves to create intense local heat in the affected vein. The technology is different with each energy source, but both forms of local heat close up the targeted vessel. This treatment closes off the problem veins but leaves them in place so there is minimal bleeding and bruising. Compared with ligation and stripping, endovenous thermal ablation results in less pain and a faster return to normal activities, with similar cosmetic results.
What is a varicose vein?from hopkinsmedicine.org
Varicose veins. Leg ulcers that are sometimes hard to treat. Having an uncomfortable feeling in your legs and an urge to move your legs (restless legs syndrome) Painful leg cramps or muscle spasms (charley horse) The symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency may seem like other health conditions.
What is superficial venous hypertension?
Superficial venous hypertension may result from either primary valvular incompetence due to an as-yet-undetermined etiology or perforator incompetence due to deep vein hypertension [24]. The result is the classic symptomatology associated with venous disease, including the appearance of varicosities as veins are engorged with refluxed blood [20, 24, 25]. Subsequent extravasation of macromolecules and red blood cells leads to edema with an inflammatory response and subsequent leukocyte invasion, causing the characteristic dermal changes of hyperpigmentation, ulceration, and eventual fat necrosis and fibrotic change, termed lipodermatosclerosis [26, 27].
What are the symptoms of CVI?
Patient-reported symptoms of CVI may include ache-like or cramping pain, a feeling of “heavy legs” or swelling, paresthesias, and pruritus [32]. One study of CVI patients in Belgium and Luxembourg showed that the most common symptom was heaviness in the legs, which was present in 70% of patients, while approximately 50% experienced pain and 20% pruritus or paresthesia . Of the symptomatic patients, 75% experienced two or more symptoms [12]. The occurrence of these symptoms increases with stage of disease; in another study, only approximately 25% patients with the earliest stage of disease reported symptoms, compared to a symptomatic prevalence of > 70% in middle- and late-stage disease [33]. Progression from early stages of disease such as varicose veins to frank CVI is common and occurred among 31.9% of patients in the Edinburgh Vein Study at 13-year followup, with clinical deterioration occurring in nearly all patients surveyed [34].
What are the risk factors for varicose veins?
Family history of venous disease, as well as personal history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or lower extremity injury, has been shown to increase an individual’s lifetime risk [8, 14]. Rates of CVI and varicose veins are increased in the developed world, as well as among overweight and obese patients, especially women [8, 15, 16]. Among women, increasing parity and oophorectomy have been associated with higher risk for varicose veins [6, 17, 18]. Several studies have shown increased rates of venous disease (either symptomatic or detected via imaging) among subjects who report spending significant amounts of time standing as part of their job [19–21]. Additional factors that have been suggested as possible risk factors in small numbers of studies include tobacco smoking and nonuse of oral contraceptives and/or hormone replacement therapy [18, 22]. This review article is a de-identified overview that contains factual information.
What is the prevalence of varicose veins?
Estimations of the true prevalence of varicose veins have varied widely from less than 1% to upwards of 70%, and between 1 and 40% for CVI, depending on the population surveyed and the definition of disease [1, 2]. Quantification of the prevalence of CVI is complicated by the wide range of clinical presentations of disease, which can range from purely cosmetic stigmata to serious complications, including venous stasis, ulceration, and venous embolism. Studies that distinguish between categories of severity have estimated the prevalence of clinically serious venous disease at approximately 15–25% [3, 4].
What are the risk factors for CVI?
Risk factors for CVI and varicose veins include age, gender, ethnic, and lifestyle factors . The exact effect of age on risk for CVI and varicose veins varies based on the study population, but risk for these diseases uniformly has been shown to increase with age [1, 5].
How to diagnose CVI?
Diagnosis of CVI can be accomplished by a meticulous patient history and physical exam combined with imaging methods (Table 1). The lower extremities should be examined for superficial stigmata of venous disease such as telangiectasia or varicose veins, as well as dermal changes consistent with venous stasis and edema. The Brodie–Trendelenburg test may be performed to differentiate between deep and superficial reflux: the patient is placed in the supine position and the superficial veins are compressed with a tourniquet or manually. Upon standing, patients with superficial reflux will take greater than 20 s to refill varicose veins, while this refilling will occur more quickly in patients with deep reflux [23, 39].
How common are varicose veins?
Estimations of the true prevalence of varicose veins have varied widely, from less than 1% to upwards of 70%, and between 1 and 40% for CVI, depending on the population surveyed and the definition of disease.
Getting Off On the Wrong Foot
Simply put, when one is living with a venous disease — be it chronic venous insufficiency, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), or another vein-related diagnosis — their blood is not flowing properly throughout the body and to the extremities.
Putting Your Foot Down with Foot Pain
At the end of the day, frequent and persistent foot pain doesn’t have to remain a long-term reality, nor does it have to impede how you live your life or pursue your hobbies. Thus, if you’re ready to put your foot down with venous disease and eliminate your foot pain, it’s time to reach out to Duval Vascular Center!
