Vein Care - How to Prevent and Relieve Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Varicose and spider veins are uncomfortable and unsightly. But they can also signal a much more serious problem, chronic venous insufficiency. This is a condition that affects the blood flow to your legs and pelvic area, which in turn can cause swelling, redness, tenderness and discomfort. The underlying issue is a faulty valve in the veins that doesn’t close properly, allowing fluid to pool and the vein to enlarge. It isn’t as common as varicose or spider veins, but it can cause symptoms that are just as severe.

There are a few things that you can do to help prevent or relieve pain from these conditions. First, try to avoid tight clothing or shoes that can impact your normal blood flow. Instead, wear loose-fitting clothes that allow for normal circulation. You should also drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Secondly, try to exercise on a regular basis. Exercise encourages proper blood flow, which can alleviate pain and swelling. And lastly, keep your weight under control. Being overweight puts pressure on your veins, especially in your legs. If you need to wear heels, choose low-heeled options that work your calf muscles more and won’t restrict your circulation.

If the above home treatments aren’t helping you manage your symptoms, Vein Care Center can offer a variety of procedures to address your vein problems. One of the most common is a sclerotherapy procedure, which involves injecting a liquid or foam into your varicose or spider veins to shrink and eventually dissolve them. This is usually done in our office and doesn’t require anesthesia. While stinging and bruising can occur, you’ll be able to return to your daily activities immediately following the 20- to 30-minute procedure.

Another treatment option is called a radiofrequency ablation, in which a catheter is inserted into the vein and heats it up, which causes it to seal shut. This is used to treat large varicose veins and can be performed in our office, again with no anesthesia. The final method is called ambulatory mini-phlebectomy, in which we surgically remove large varicose veins with the help of small punctures on the surface of your skin.

The most dangerous type of vein disorder is DVT, or deep vein thrombosis. This is a blood clot that can form in the larger veins in your lower leg and thigh, and can be life-threatening if the clot breaks off and moves to your lungs, known as a pulmonary embolism. A duplex ultrasound evaluation will be performed prior to any vein procedure to check for this. Additionally, we will recommend that you receive a DVT screening using ultrasound on a regular basis. This is often recommended following any vein procedure, but can also be a useful tool in the prevention of DVT.