Treating chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), varicose veins, and spider veins can significantly enhance quality of life by reducing pain, preventing complications, improving appearance, and augmenting overall circulation and comfort.
If So, You May Be Suffering From A Vein Disease Such As Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) & May Have Visible Varicose or Spider Veins.
Blood flow from the legs to the heart is hampered by venous insufficiency, a disorder that arises when the venous wall or valves in the leg veins are not functioning properly. This causes the blood to “leak” back down the blood vessels (instead of moving properly upward toward the heart) and pool in the veins, particularly in the ankles and feet. Swelling (edema) of the ankles and feet is one of the condition’s early symptoms. Oftentimes venous insufficiency presents with varicosities, also known as varicose veins, in the legs.
It is not uncommon for venous insufficiency to be chronic. Skin alterations, ulcers, and infections can be consequences of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), and the disease can be painful and incapacitating.
It is estimated that up to 40% of Americans suffer from CVI.
Varicose veins are superficial blood vessels that become enlarged and twisted due to venous insufficency. This condition most often occurs in the veins of the legs due to the higher pressure in leg vessels causing the venous valves to fail to successfully push blood back up to the heart, thereby resulting in the “pooling” of blood, which ultimately results in varicosities.
Varicose veins are different from spider veins, which are the very small bluish and/or purple veins that are close to the skin, though both conditions arise due to poor circulation, venous valve failure, and backwards bloodflow. Spider veins are generally a cosmetic concern, but in some instances they can lead to varicose veins, pain, swelling, throbbing, itching, restless legs, and skin discoloration. Rarely, they can lead to more serious issues like skin ulcers, sores, and blood clots.
It’s estimated that over 25% of all US adults suffer from varicose veins.
Risk factors for venous insufficiency and varicose veins include:
If venous insufficiency is left untreated, there are a number of complications that can arise. Complications stemming from venous insufficiency and varicose veins include:
A tube is inserted into a vein and pulled out with heat, which causes that vein to close. This treats the underlying problem of venous reflux disease, where blood backs up into the branch veins and causes leg swelling and pain. This is done comfortably under local anesthetic as an outpatient procedure, and there is little to no downtime afterward.
Sclerotherapy requires no anesthesia and is used to treat spider veins and small varicose veins. A solution is injected directly into the vein (liquid or foam) that closes it off, and the treated veins should disappear within a few weeks. We use only FDA-approved medications for sclerotherapy so to maximize both safety and results.
Ultimately, the evolutionary basis of venous insufficiency and varicose veins is gravity and our erect posture. As humans evolved from 4 legged animals to 2 legged creatures, blood from the legs had to be returned back to the heart against the force of gravity. The calf muscles normally pump blood from the leg upwards towards the heart. The leg veins enable this by having venous valves. The failure of these valves let the blood flow in reverse direction towards the feet with the force of gravity and be pooled in the leg veins which eventually become dilated and tortuous.
Gravity is the culprit. The distance from the feet to the heart is the furthest blood has to travel in the body. Consequently, those vessels experience a great deal of pressure. If vein valves can’t handle it, the backflow of blood can cause the surface veins to become swollen and distorted.
To treat varicose veins without surgery, you can try things like wearing special socks to squeeze your legs gently, changing your lifestyle to avoid standing for too long or straining too hard, doing exercises, wearing loose clothes, working on losing weight if you need to, and taking medicine.
Dr Mohan has a great bedside manner and quiet confidence about him that puts you at ease. I first met him when he performed microwave ablation on my husband’s liver as part of his cancer treatment. One year later Dr Mohan did ablation laser therapy on my varicose veins.
Dr. Mohan makes the most complicated and complex surgeries easy and fun for the patient. He is very caring and has impeccable “Bedside Manners” which is most comforting for an afraid patient. Can’t wait to visit him again. Thanks.
Dr. Mohamed Saved my life! The care leading up till I got accepted for my liver transplant was nothing but the best and most professional and at times difficult. Being the cancer had to be controlled and not spread through out it was just that… he controlled it, got rid of it, explained every procedure thoroughly.
