Are your ankles and legs swollen with leg cramps and pain that worsen when you stand for an extended period? This could mean you might have chronic venous insufficiency, which occurs when the veins that should transport blood to the heart develop weak valves that allow backward blood flow. You should look for experts in chronic venous insufficiency in Rockledge who will help you understand the condition, its cause, and how to prevent it.
What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the valves in the veins weaken, allowing the blood to flow backward. The backward flow of blood means that the blood might not flow properly to the heart, causing blood to pool in the hands and legs. Many factors can cause chronic venous insufficiency, but the most common are blood clots and varicose veins. Even when you have a family history of the condition, you can take some elaborate steps to lower the infection chances.
Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency
You might have swelling of the legs and ankles, which is not attributed to any infection. Chronic venous insufficiency could lead to pain that gets worse when you stand for long periods and gets better when you raise your legs above other body parts. It could result in leg cramps, itchiness, weakness, or skin thickness in the legs and hands. Moreover, it can result in skin color change, and severe cases could lead to leg ulcers and swelling of the calves.
How to Treat Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Treatment will depend on the cause of venous insufficiency, your medical history, and your health status. Your doctor will consider the severity of the chronic venous insufficiency, specific symptoms, your age, and how well you tolerate the procedures and medications. The first cause of action might be getting prescription compression stockings which are medical-grade elastic stockings used to apply pressure on the ankles and the legs. The elastic stockings can help improve blood flow and reduce leg swelling while seeking other available medical treatments. Keep the legs elevated whenever possible, keep them uncrossed when seated, and exercise frequently to reduce discomfort.
Home remedies might not work well, and you could need medications that deal with chronic venous insufficiency. You can take diuretics which draw extra fluid from the body and are excreted by the kidneys. You can also opt for anticoagulants which thin blood making it flow back to the heart efficiently. Medications such as Trental can improve blood flow. If the medications do not improve the blood flow, you can opt for surgical repairs of veins and valves. Sometimes you can opt for the removal of the damaged veins. Moreover, laser surgery uses laser beams to fade and close damaged veins.
The Bottom Line
Chronic venous insufficiency can reduce your life quality as it causes severe discomfort such as the swelling of the arms and legs. In some instances, it can lead to leg ulcers and severe pain when you stand for an extended time. It is wise to use medical-grade elastic bands that compress the legs allowing the blood to flow effectively. You could resort to medications that facilitate blood flow and opt for surgical procedures that correct the weakened vein valves.
