Venous Disease / Insufficiency
What is Venous Insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency is a condition in which your veins have trouble sending the blood in your limbs back up to your heart. When this occurs, the blood pools in your leg veins.
What are the Symptoms of Venous Insufficiency?
Some of the symptoms of venous insufficiency include:
- Swelling of the legs and/or ankles
- Leg pain from walking or standing that is relieved when legs are raised
- Leg cramps
- Weakness in legs
- Itchy legs
- Heaviness or aching in legs
- Thickening or color change of the skin on legs/ankles
- Leg ulcers
- Tight feeling in calves
- Varicose veins
What is the cause of Venous Insufficiency?
The most common causes of Venous Insufficiency are blood clots or varicose veins. this condition is more common in women than men and in individuals over 50 years old. Other risk factors include:
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Pregnancy
- Cancer
- Leg injury
- Family hisotry
- Sitting or standing for long periods of time
How is it Diagnosed?
Your doctor will begin diagnosing venous insufficiency with a complete physical examination. They may also order imaging tests, including the venogram and duplex ultrasound. In a venogram, contrast dye is put in your veins to help the doctor see on an X-ray if there is a blockage in a blood vessel. The duplex ultrasound tests the direction and speed of blood flow in the veins.
How is it Treated?
Your physician will make a treatment plan for you based on the details of your condition, health history, symptoms, etc. Prescription compression stocking are the most common way to treat venous insufficiency, as they improve blood flow and reduce swelling. Other ways to improve blood flow include: Regular exercise, elevating your legs regularly, not crossing your legs. For some patients, medications are prescribed to improve the condition, and for the more serious cases, surgery, phlebectomy, sclerotherapy and catheter procedures may be recommended.
Previous Page Last Review Date: May 20, 2019Venous Disease / Insufficiency Team
Richard Faro, MD, FACS
Joseph Motta, MD, FACS
