What is venous insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency, also called chronic venous insufficiency, develops when the blood flow in your leg veins slows down due to damaged valves.
These one-way valves are essential for moving blood up the leg. They open to let blood go up the vein toward the heart, then they close to stop it from flowing backward.
When one or more valves dysfunction, some of the blood refluxes, or goes down the vein. As a result, blood accumulates in the vein and the pressure in your lower leg veins increases.
What symptoms develop due to venous insufficiency?
As venous insufficiency progresses, you may develop symptoms such as:
One of the hallmark symptoms of venous insufficiency is leg pain that gets worse when you stand still for a prolonged time and then improves when you elevate your leg. The last four symptoms on this list appear as your venous insufficiency progresses to an advanced stage.
How is venous insufficiency treated?
The team at NJ Vein Specialists starts your treatment with conservative therapies such as elevating your leg, wearing compression stockings, and taking medications to improve blood flow. They also treat underlying problems such as blood clots and varicose veins.
Venous insufficiency and varicose veins are both treated by closing and eliminating the area of the vein affected by damaged valves. When the vein is closed, your body reroutes the blood flow to a healthy vein, which improves circulation and relieves pressure in the vein.
Your provider at NJ Vein Specialists may recommend a minimally invasive procedure such as:
Endovenous radiofrequency ablation
Your provider threads a narrow catheter through your veins to the damaged area or varicose veins. Then they slowly withdraw the catheter while sending radiofrequency energy into the vein wall. The energy makes the vein collapse and your body gradually reabsorbs the scarred vein.
Sclerotherapy
During sclerotherapy, your provider injects a medication that closes the vein and turns the treated area into scar tissue that your body reabsorbs.
Phlebectomy (microphlebectomy)
A phlebectomy is performed using a pinhole-sized opening at the site of the damaged valve and/or varicose veins. Then your provider uses a special tool to gently grab the vein and remove it.
If you develop signs of venous insufficiency, call NJ Vein Specialists or book an appointment online.
