If you experience frequent leg discomfort but are unsure of the cause, you may be living with chronic venous insufficiency. Chronic venous insufficiency is a fairly common medical condition, affecting around 2 out of 5 people in the United States. It is often the cause of swelling in the legs. This condition occurs when blood valves in the leg veins are clogged, making it difficult for blood to be transported to and from the heart and leg.
Identifying chronic venous insufficiency can often be difficult. Its symptoms include pain, leather-like skin, discolored skin, swollen veins, or varicose veins. If you are experiencing these symptoms and think you may be experiencing chronic venous insufficiency, schedule an appointment with your doctor. If left untreated, chronic venous insufficiency can cause bleeding and ulcers.
There are multiple treatments for chronic venous insufficiency, both invasive and non-invasive. Invasive procedures include ligation and stripping. This process is usually performed in a series together. Even though it is a surgery, most patients recover in under two weeks. Bruising is often present. Ligation and stripping are done by a vein surgeon who cuts veins, accessing them from two incisions.
Non-invasive treatments include sclerotherapy and endovenous thermal ablation and, in most cases, can be done instead of surgery. Sclerotherapy is performed by directly injecting the affected vein with a solution. This solution treats and shocks the vein, causing it to disintegrate until fading away. For multiple veins, more than one treatment is usually required. It is highly affected in eliminating pain and any disturbances caused by varicose veins. Sclerotherapy is great for cosmetic purposes since varicose veins are often unsightly.
Endovenous thermal ablation uses heating technology through the application of a laser. This treatment directly treats the blood in the veins and not the veins themselves. The loss of blood allows the veins to slowly disappear in a painless and simple process. For these reasons, many patients prefer this process over other varicose vein treatments.
After you and your doctor have decided on one of the venous insufficiency treatments, it is important to establish a plan for after the operation. Depending on your treatment, you may want to coordinate a ride to and from the appointment. If you are a frequent smoker or user of alcohol, tell your doctor and consider a substitute or plan to eliminate these activities, at least while you are recovering from treatment. Figure out if you will have to take any time off of work before your treatment and avoid any heavy lifting during recovery.
In some cases, compression socks may be required for a few weeks following treatment. Compression socks help increase circulation, but eating foods with high fibers and going on daily walks are also excellent for circulation. Other dietary aids can be beneficial post-treatment, such as sticking to a low-sodium diet. All of these lifestyle changes can help make your chronic venous insufficiency treatment more successful, especially if your treatment was more significant.
If these symptoms sound familiar to what you are experiencing, reach out to a doctor for a consultation. BASS Vein Center is a group of vein specialists with many years of experience in treating varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency. Reach out to BASS Vein Center at 925-281-5912 to discuss a plan that’s best for you so you can get back to living freely without any discomfort.
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