Vein Disorders

Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body, and veins are those that carry blood from the body back to the heart. People may experience problems with the return of blood to the heart, especially from leg veins. The spectrum of problems range from barely noticeable to disabling. Fortunately, venous disorders are treatable.

Tired, aching, throbbing legs can be a sign of venous reflux, a condition caused by malfunction of the valves inside veins. Nighttime calf cramps, restless legs, and swelling are commonly associated with reflux, even if veins are not obviously abnormal to inspection.

Spider veins are tiny red or purple veins within the skin. Often more unsightly than problematic, these small veins can cause itching and burning, and may bleed. The severity of symptoms is related to the pressure of blood inside the veins, not their size or extent.

Varicose veins are larger, bulging veins that can be felt with the fingers. Varicose veins can cause symptoms, such as aching, throbbing, heaviness, burning, and swelling. Rarely clots can form inside these veins, causing pain, redness, swelling, and tenderness around the affected vein segments.

In more unusual cases, insufficiency of the veins can cause the skin to darken, become scarred, or even breakdown, leaving a person with an open ulcer that is difficult to heal. The effort put forth to heal the wound, and time lost from work, can be significant.

The good news is that many options for the treatment of venous insufficiency are available. Treatment depends on the nature of the problem and one's treatment goals. The first step in treatment is usually an ultrasound test, in which the problem is uncovered and defined, in greater detail. This is a comfortable test, performed in our office. Treatment options include prescription support hose, injection treatment of spider veins and small varicose veins, and surgery for those veins more severely damaged. Often, though not always, these treatments are covered by insurance. They are typically performed on an outpatient basis. Treatments for almost all venous disorders are available so that needless suffering can be relieved.