What are the symptoms of varicose veins and venous insufficiency?

Venous insufficiency, or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), is a disease where the veins in the legs have difficulty returning blood back to the heart. The underlying problem is usually due to a failure of one-way valves in the veins that normally direct the blood flow upwards towards the heart.  These valves are critically important as they help to counteract the effects of gravity.  With venous insufficiency, those one-way valves fail and allow gravity to pull backwards on the blood in the veins.  This can cause blood to pool in the legs, leading to a variety of symptoms. 

Some of the common symptoms of venous insufficiency include:

1. Swelling: Swelling in the legs and ankles is a common symptom of venous insufficiency.

2. Varicose veins: Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that are visible just below the surface of the skin. They are a common sign of venous insufficiency, however, you can still have venous insufficiency without seeing varicose veins on the surface.  Because you can’t always see venous insufficiency, it is important to be aware of the symptoms so that you can have your venous disease treated to avoid complications or unnecessary discomfort.

3. Leg pain: People with venous insufficiency may experience leg aching, burning, or throbbing.  The symptoms are typically in the lower legs, but they may occur in the upper legs.  The discomfort is usually worse at the end of the day, with prolonged sitting or standing, and improve with leg elevation.

4. Leg cramps:  Varicose veins and venous insufficiency frequently cause leg or foot cramps.  This is often overlooked as a cause of leg cramps, even among doctors.  The cramps frequently occur at night and interrupt sleep.  If the leg cramps are caused by venous insufficiency, they usually improve with vein treatments.

5.  Leg heaviness and fatigue:  If your legs feel very heavy or tired at the end of the day, it may be due to the veins not clearing out the waste products of metabolism throughout the day.  

6. Skin changes: Venous insufficiency can cause the skin on the legs and ankles to become red, discolored or thickened.  The discoloration typically appears dark or rusty in color.  The red rashes around the ankles can come and go and are called venous stasis dermatitis.  The discoloration can be caused by iron from your blood staining the skin.  

7. Itching or tingling: Some people with venous insufficiency may experience itching or tingling in the legs.

8. Ulcers: In severe cases, venous insufficiency can cause ulcers (open sores) to form on the skin of the legs and ankles.  The majority of leg ulcers are caused by venous insufficiency.  Many patients with diabetes presume that their ulcers are caused by their diabetes when the real culprit is often their veins.  Venous leg ulcers heal faster and are far less likely to occur again if the underlying cause of the wound - venous insufficiency - is addressed.  Unfortunately, most patients in the United States with venous leg ulcers are never referred to have their veins evaluated.  They are typically referred to wound care specialists to treat the wounds, but they are often not referred to have the cause of the wound treated.  Even if the wound is healed with good wound care, it can often come back if the veins are not treated.

It's important to note that some people with venous insufficiency may not experience any symptoms at all. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important to schedule an appointment at Aleman Vein Center.  We can help determine the underlying cause of your symptoms and recommend appropriate treatment options.