GENERAL INFORMATION
Venous insufficiency, or vein disease, is when the vein valves are not working properly. Blood begins to pool in the legs, ankles, and feet. People can experience minor cases of this vein disorder or extreme cases. Some people experience painful and chronic symptoms, while others have little to no symptoms at all. Often, a person can experience other vein disorders while having venous insufficiency, because not every vein problem is an insufficiency. Below are a view associated conditions that can coincide with venous sufficiency.
- Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a condition where a person experiences the constant, strong urge to move his or her legs, especially in the evenings or in bed; it is known to disrupt sleep. This is a neurologic disorder. Many patients with venous insufficiency experience RLS.
Edema is swelling that occurs from inflammation or injury. When experiencing venous insufficiency, edema may occur when a blood clot develops in an inflamed vein. The clot prevents the blood from flowing properly, so an increased pressure and too much fluid moving from the blood vessels into the tissues occurs.
Stasis Dermatitis is a pooling of the blood in the veins in the legs from a venous insufficiency. Blood and other fluid will leak out of the veins and into tissues and the skin. The blood pooling and leaking can lead to inflammation, itching, and discoloration. The skin will develop a tissue-like appearance and turn a brownish/reddish color.
Venous ulcers are an open sore that develop from a malfunctioning vein, and it develops when the blood isn’t being pushed back to the heart. The blood pooling in the legs creates excess pressure and fluid to form, which can lead to an ulcer. Ulcers can be painful, may smell, are uneven in shape, and may be surrounded by warm, tight, shiny, discolored skin.
Nighttime leg cramps are a good sign of a vein disorder; they occur from swelling in the veins and legs. As the day progresses, the swelling gets worse, so by nighttime there is a lot of fluid to move out of body’s tissues. When laying down, it can be hard for the veins in the legs to bring the blood back up the body. Leg cramps can disrupt sleep.
Orthopedic Leg Pain, Venous disease can cause pain in a person’s legs, knees, or ankles. This pain should be evaluated to rule out any vein disorder or insufficiency. If a vein issue is discovered, it should be treated first, so all the pain and swelling associated with the disorder/diseased vein will disappear before dealing with any other pains or arthritis in these areas.
