Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins in the lower extremities are unable to properly return blood to the heart. Causes of venous insufficiency include malfunctioning valves and weakened vein walls. This can lead to a variety of symptoms in the legs, such as pain, warmth, tenderness, swelling, heaviness, fatigue, edema, skin changes, and ulcerations. Varicose veins are a sign of venous sufficiency.
Anyone with venous sufficiency should get their condition evaluated by a medical professional. There are factors that increase your risk of developing this problem, some of which you can control, such as being overweight and sedentary, smoking, and standing or sitting for long periods of time. Treatment for venous insufficiency includes controlling these factors (as the underlying causes of venous insufficiency), and the use of conservative treatment methods and minimally invasive vein treatments.
What Are The Goals of Venous Insufficiency Treatment?
Venous insufficiency tends to worsen without medical intervention. The doctor will discuss the goals of treatment with you, after making a diagnosis of venous insufficiency. Usually, the goals include relieving symptoms, improving the return of blood to the heart, and reducing the risk of complications from venous insufficiency, which means addressing the concern of enlarged veins.
How is Venous Insufficiency Treated?
There are different ways to treat venous insufficiency. Other than lifestyle changes, such as becoming more physically active, regularly exercising, and losing weight, the most common treatments include compression therapy, which involves wearing special stockings or socks that apply constant and even pressure on leg veins. This helps improve blood flow to the heart and prevents backflow into the leg veins. The compression provided by the stockings or socks can also help improve the healing of any ulcers.
If your doctor determines that you are a high risk for blood clots, you may be prescribed blood thinners to prevent clots from forming. Minimally invasive therapies to treat veins are usually recommended. The goal here is to remove the abnormal pathways that have been created by the increase of pressure in the vein walls. There are different techniques used to treat abnormal veins, the most commonly used are laser therapies. Cutera CoolGlide vein therapy is a modern alternative to sclerotherapy, which uses an irritant to shut off blood flow to abnormal veins and reroutes it through surrounding healthy veins. CoolGlide therapy involves the use of light therapy on abnormal veins, causing the blood vessels to coagulate, be reabsorbed by the body, and eventually fade away. CoolGlide vein therapy can be used to treat both spider veins and varicose veins.
Venous Insufficiency Treatment in Irmo, SC
Venous insufficiency is a medical condition that requires a comprehensive approach. At SC Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation, LLC, our primary care providers see patients with this problem and recommend the best course of treatment for them. The Cutera CoolGlide therapy is available at our Rejuvenations Laser Center & Medical Spa, located in the same facility as our primary care clinic, sleep laboratory, and weight loss center. We offer a wide range of services for our patients to help them effectively tackle health problems.
For any questions or to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, call us today at (803) 749-1111 or use our convenient online request form.
