What does a leg with venous insufficiency look like?

Brown-colored skin, often near the ankles. 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)

How would you describe appearance of venous insufficiency?

Typical symptoms of venous insufficiency include aching, pain, tightness, skin irritation, pruritus, heaviness, tingling, muscle cramps, and cosmetically unsatisfying varicose veins. Symptoms often worsen during the course of the day and with prolonged standing.

Should you walk if you have venous insufficiency?

Your doctor may recommend that you walk, ride a stationary bicycle, or jog for 30 minutes several times a week. Being active helps improve circulation and tones muscles in your legs. This can help pump blood toward the heart. Stretching your calf and thigh muscles can also help improve blood flow.

Can you feel venous insufficiency?

A blockage in your vein from a blood clot, called a deep venous thrombosis, can also cause this problem. So, how do you know if you have venous insufficiency? Well, you'll probably feel a dull aching, heaviness, or cramping in your legs. Your legs will swell up when you're on them too long.

What does venous disease look like?

Symptoms. Symptoms of venous disease include: Varicose Veins: enlarged, swollen, knotted clusters of purple veins; edema (swelling in the legs); aching or a sensation of heaviness in the legs; itching skin above the affected veins; skin discoloration and ulcers on the inner aspect of the ankles (in advanced cases).

What is Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI?)

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.

What are the stages of venous insufficiency?

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.

How serious is venous insufficiency?

Chronic venous insufficiency is not a serious health threat. But it can be painful and disabling.

What is the most common cause of venous insufficiency?

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.

Can venous insufficiency lead to amputation?

The risk of amputation primarily comes from two common vascular diseases, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and venous insufficiency. Both conditions are progressive diseases. As they get worse and the disease progresses, you experience different symptoms.

Can venous insufficiency affect the heart?

So, to sum up, venous insufficiency doesn't affect the heart or cause heart problems to progress. On the other hand, existing heart problems, especially congestive heart failure, can make vein problems in the legs much worse depending on the degree of the heart issue.

Do compression socks help venous insufficiency?

Compression stockings are an important tool in the treatment of varicose veins and venous insufficiency. They help to alleviate the symptoms of venous disease, prevent blood clots, and are used after varicose vein treatment.

When should you go to ER for venous insufficiency?

In the lungs, the clot can cut off the flow of blood. This may cause chest pain, trouble breathing, sweating, a fast heartbeat, coughing (may cough up blood), and fainting. This is a medical emergency and may cause death. Call 911 if you have these symptoms.

Where is the most common location for venous dysfunction?

The leaky valve in most cases is located near the termination of the greater saphenous vein into the common femoral vein. While in some cases the valve dysfunction may be congenital, it can also be a result of trauma, prolonged standing, hormonal changes or thrombosis.

How do you treat venous insufficiency in the legs?

The most common treatment for venous insufficiency is prescription compression stockings. These special elastic stockings apply pressure at the ankle and lower leg. They help improve blood flow and can reduce leg swelling.

Does venous insufficiency make you tired?

Signs and Symptoms

Chronic venous insufficiency and fatigue are a more common pairing. Instead, watch for swelling in your calves and ankles, flaky and itchy skin, leg cramps, and cramping. You can also experience restless leg syndrome, burning, heaviness, and tiredness.

Can you reverse venous insufficiency?

First, I want to be clear that there is no way to actually reverse the cause of venous insufficiency, only the symptoms. Damaged valves inside the vein cannot be repaired, but there are plenty of ways to minimize the impact of the reflux they cause. Many of my patients do eventually become symptom-free.

Can you live a normal life with chronic 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.

Can venous insufficiency cause stroke?

According to New Orleans vein specialists, blood clots can cause this type of disruption. Deep vein thrombosis, a potential consequence of untreated vein disease, can lead to the types of clots that can cause a stroke.

Can venous insufficiency cause hip pain?

They will often have pelvic fatigue with low back and or hip pain. These symptoms worsening during the daytime and are aggravated by standing.

Can venous insufficiency cause high blood pressure?

Venous insufficiency can cause chronic venous hypertension, a condition characterized by high blood pressure in the veins of the legs. Blood clots or other blockages in the veins can also lead to this condition.

Can venous insufficiency cause neuropathy?

Peripheral Neuropathy

Painful neuropathy is often a complication of Diabetes but can also be from Chronic Venous Insufficiency independent of Diabetes or they can be co-existing causes. Veins travel down the leg with peripheral nerves and arteries.

How do you sleep with venous insufficiency?

Something as simple as changing your sleeping position could help reduce varicose veins symptoms. Instead of reclining on your back or stomach, switch to sleeping on your left side. That's helpful because the body's largest vein, the vena cava, is on the right side.

Should I sleep in compression stockings?

You should wear your compression stockings during the day and take them off before going to bed. Put them on again first thing in the morning. You should be given at least 2 stockings, or 2 pairs if you're wearing them on both legs. This means you can wear 1 stocking (or pair) while the other is being washed and dried.