Venous disease is a spectrum of visible signs and symptoms. Varicose veins are defined as veins underneath the skin which have dilated to the point of invisibility. Venous disease has developed because the flow out of the leg through the veins using valves at multiple levels are no longer efficient. There is backflow down into the leg and therefore back pressure into the main and branch veins in the leg.
Can I have treatment for my venous disease?
Most of these can be done with a local anesthetic or light sedation for comfort. We are able to use heavier anesthesia for persons with more anxiety or broader health issues for safety.
Age is not an issue for treatment. The health of the patient is. I have treated patients from the 20s into the 90s for venous-related problems. Very few are not able to have treatments.
Venous disease is more prevalent in the United States than coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, congestive heart failure, and stroke combined.
In 2011 the Society for Vascular Surgery in the American Venous Forum developed strategic guidelines pertaining to chronic venous disease and varicose veins. At that time an estimated 23% of adults had varicose veins and 6% had more advanced chronic venous disease which included skin changes, inflammation, and possible ulcers. In today’s population that would be 69 million people have some form of varicose veins and 18 million have advanced chronic venous disease.
The anatomic cause is understood but beyond that, there are only three relatively consistent factors for developing varicose veins.
-Two or more pregnancies
-Heredity/ genetics – passed down within a family.
-Busy lifestyle with standing or sitting.
Signs of venous disease with or without varicose veins include:
- Visible prominent veins of different sizes above the feet in the ankles, calf and thighs.
- Pigmentation or darkening of the skin in the calf areas secondary to chronic venous congestion of the skin.
- Lipodermatosclerosis – this is changes in the skin of the lower legs including inflammation of the fat layer which will cause pain, hardening of the skin or firmness, redness ( not to be confused with cellulitis or infection), swelling and a tapering of the legs above the ankles.
- Active or history of open skin wounds or ulcers
Symptoms include:
- Aching
- Pain
- Burning
- Tightness
- Swelling
- Skin irritation
- Itching
- Heaviness of the legs
- Tiredness
- Muscle cramps
