Venous insufficiency is a condition in which there is not enough blood flowing through the veins of your legs. The cause of venous insufficiency is unclear, but it may be related to a condition called venous stasis. Venous stasis means that the veins in your legs are not working properly, and this can cause them to become weak and leak fluid. Venous insufficiency St. Louis is more common in older adults than in young people.
Many different factors, including obesity and pregnancy, can cause venous insufficiency. It can also occur when a person has had a leg or foot amputated or when they have sustained an injury to their leg. In addition to these causes, venous insufficiency may be caused by high blood pressure restricting blood flow to the legs.
What are the symptoms of venous insufficiency?
- Itchy and painful legs
- Feet may be swollen, red, and sensitive to the touch
- Pale or bluish skin color
- Swollen ankles and feet (edema)
- Nonhealing ulcers on your lower leg or ankle
- Fluid retention, which causes swelling of the ankles and legs, particularly your feet
- Swollen and tender lymph nodes in the groin area
- Decreased blood flow to the hands and feet
Compression stockings
The best way to treat venous insufficiency is with compression stockings. These socks are designed to reduce swelling and improve blood flow to the legs. The compression also helps keep the legs warm, which can help prevent damage from occurring.
Compression stockings are available in graduated sizes that begin at 8mm and go up to 20mm. These socks are worn on the lower leg, above the ankle on both legs, and should be worn for 12 hours a day when possible. They can be worn during activities such as walking or running.
VenaSeal™
The VenaSeal™ device is a surgical procedure that helps treat venous insufficiency. The doctor will make an incision in the patient’s skin and insert a tube through the incision. The tube has holes, allowing fluids to drain from the legs. Then, the doctor will seal off these holes with sutures or stitches.
Sclerotherapy
In this procedure, a solution called sclerosant (a medicine that causes inflammation) is injected into the damaged veins. This causes swelling and shrinkage of the vein over time, which helps restore normal blood flow. Sclerotherapy can be used for varicose vein treatment and chronic venous insufficiency.
Vein ablation
Vein ablation is a procedure that uses an electrical current to burn or destroy the vein wall. The procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis and requires no general anesthesia. The treatment is similar to that for varicose veins. The vein is destroyed by using radiofrequency energy. However, unlike in varicose veins, the vein is not removed. Instead, it is heated with radiofrequency energy and then cooled down to stop its destruction. The heat causes the vein to swell up and become scarred. Over time, it is replaced with healthy tissue.
If you have venous insufficiency, your veins may become swollen and inflamed due to the pressure that builds in them when they become injured or damaged. In this case, you should book an appointment with Midwest Institute for Non-surgical Therapy (MINT).
