Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Can result in Varicose Veins & Spider Veins
What is chronic venous insufficiency?
Veins are blood vessels that move blood against gravity from the periphery of your body to your heart. Normal veins have competent valves that prevent blood from flowing backwards towards your legs. Valves are one-way-doors that are present along the veins. When these valves don’t function, the blood can flow backwards, a condition known as venous reflux. When the blood falls backwards, it pool in your legs. The pooling of blood results in formation of spider veins and varicose veins on your skin surface. This condition is known as chronic venous insufficiency.
What are the causes of chronic venous insufficiency?
Common causes of chronic venous insufficiency include:
Weight gain
Lack of exercise
Smoking
High blood pressure
Pregnancy
Family history of chronic venous insufficiency
Blood clot in your legs
Inflammation of your leg veins (phlebitis)
Jobs that requires prolonged sitting or standing
Take our ‘Varicose Vein Quiz’ to find out if you suffer from vein disease
What are the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency?
Chronic venous insufficiency can present in many different ways. Common symptoms include:
Swelling in your ankles or legs
Tightness or pain in your legs
Painful leg cramps also known as Charley Horse
Thickening or discoloration of the skin of your legs
Varicose or spider veins
Venous leg ulcers
Restless leg syndrome
How is chronic venous insufficiency diagnosed?
When you visit our office, your medical history and physical examination can give us a clue regarding your condition. The diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency is confirmed by a ultrasound looking at the blood flow and the structure of your leg veins.
Does chronic venous insufficiency require treatment?
The incompetent valves and poor circulation can result in chronic venous insufficiency. This process can lead to development of spider veins and varicose veins.Spider veins are unhealthy veins on the the surface of the skin. They are blue or purple in color and are usually found in your legs. They get their name from the spidery appearance. They are also known as telangiactasias.Varicose veins are larger, twisted veins, usually found slightly deeper underneath the skin. Varicose veins can be initially be asymptomatic or they can result in pain, swelling, cramping , heaviness of the legs. It can also result in restless leg syndrome. If left untreated, signs and symptoms may progress and significantly impact quality of life, and lead to discoloration of the skin and venous leg ulcers.
Take our ‘Varicose Vein Quiz’ to find out if you suffer from vein disease
What is the treatment for chronic venous insufficiency?
Treatment of chronic venous insufficiency can improve your symptoms and the cosmetic appearance of your legs. We usually start with conservative treatment that includes compression stockings or leg elevation. If conservative treatment doesn’t help usually start with non-surgical treatment. In rare cases patients might require surgical treatment.
Non-surgical treatment
Endovascular thermal ablation uses hеаt рrоduсеd by a laser or hіgh-frеquеnсу sound waves to heat uр affected veins and seal them. You can usually go back to work the same day. Sclerotherapy involves injecting medication that irritates the walls of the veins and causes them to seal closed. Over time, the veins are reabsorbed by the body.
Surgical treatment
In rare instances patients may need surgical treatment such as phlebectomy (removal of vein through tins incisions or needle puncture) or vein bypass.The progressive symptoms of vein disease are preventable with proper treatment. Without treatment, signs and symptoms may progress and significantly impact quality of life, and lead to venous leg ulcers.
Meet our Vein Doctor
Amit Goswami, MD
Experienced physician with Ivy League training & excellent outcomes