How Incompetent Veins Produce Venous Disease
The venous system effectively pumps blood out of the legs against gravity unless the valves become incompetent and fail to function normally. Whether in the superficial or deeper veins, incompetent valves produce a reversal in vein blood flow, moving blood back towards the feet when the legs are at rest. The inability of the venous system to drain properly produces increased blood pressure (venous hypertension) in the affected blood vessels that expand or dilate to accommodate the enlarged blood volume.
Restricted venous drainage and increased blood pressure in the surface veins of the leg produces spider veins and varicose veins. When valves in the deeper saphenous and perforator systems become incompetent, severe venous hypertension produces a range of symptoms in the surface veins and surrounding skin including spider veins, varicose veins, leg swelling, leg ulcers and serious infection. Problems in both the saphenous and perforator vein systems are often present in a patient with advanced venous disease.
Vein Diseases include such disorders as spider veins, varicose veins, phlebitis, chronic venous insufficiency and venous stasis leg ulcers.
Spider veins are bright red to blue thread-like veins that may develop on the legs as well as face and neck. Sometimes called thread veins, spider veins occur from abnormal venous blood flow with associated increased pressure in these tiny vessels. This causes them to dilate and become prominent. Spider veins are generally a cosmetic concern but may be one of the earliest signs of venous disease.
Malfunctioning valves in superficial leg veins can reverse normal vein flow back to the heart. As vein flow is compromised, blood leaks backwards towards the feet. The result is restricted venous drainage, increased venous pressure and the development of twisted, distended varicose veins. Varicose veins affect larger surface veins in the legs with the primary areas of venous incompetence involving the Greater Saphenous Vein on the inside of the thigh and calf, the Small Saphenous Vein on the back of the calf and the Perforator veins of the calf.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Chronic venous insufficiency or CVI represents a severe venous stasis disorder originating from incompetent valves in major superficial and deep leg veins. As venous congestion worsens from a reversal in blood flow, pressure increases and produces a cluster of symptoms collectively called CVI. Symptoms often include leg pain, night cramps and unusual sensations on the legs, swelling or edema, skin thickening and brownish skin discoloration called hemosiderosis. Commonly associated venous disorders are spider veins, varicose veins, venous stasis leg ulcers and cellulitis, a severe infection of the tissue surrounding an ulcer.
Venous Leg Ulcers
A severe consequence of chronic venous insufficiency or CVI syndrome, venous stasis leg ulcers result from prolonged and extensive venous congestion and hypertension in leg veins. Impaired exchange of oxygen and nutrients with cellular wastes at the capillary level leads to skin discoloration, thickening and ulcers of the lower legs. Almost always, venous stasis leg ulcers are caused by incompetent perforator veins in the calf.
Common Vein Treatment Questions
An underlying venous problem can lead to more serious problems such as blood clots, bleeding, skin pigmentation and ulcers. Relatively simple procedures can eliminate these conditions before they become catastrophic and life threatening events. Treatments for venous diseases are generally covered by health insurance plans and Medicare.
During your initial visit, all of the following are provided:
- Office consultation with physician
- Ultrasound screening
- Diagnosis and treatment plan
- Comfortable, relaxed environment
- Professional caring staff specializing in state-of-the-art vein treatment
- Awake but comfortable with local anesthesia
- No incisions or sutures (stitches)
- Minimal to no scarring
- All procedures done through a simple needle stick
- Most patients do not require pre-medication and can drive themselves to and from the procedure
- Little downtime – resume walking the same day
- Post operative discomfort managed through OTC pain medicine
Besides people with an obvious vein problem (bulging veins), the following symptoms may be related to underlying venous disease:
- Painful and Tender legs
- Restless legs
- Itchy legs
- Swollen legs
- Strange sensations on the legs
- Leathery skin on the legs
- Skin discoloration on the legs
- Leg ulcers
When your venous screening exam reveals the presence of venous disease, we accept for payment whatever your insurance company or Medicare pays. Anyone who subscribes to our vein treatment eNewsletter will be entitled to receive a free vein screening exam at VSA. This includes patients interested in aesthetic vein treatment (not reimbursable by insurance).
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State-of-the-Art Vein Treatment
You are one step away from the most effective, technologically advanced procedures for the safe and virtually painless treatment of spider veins, varicose veins, venous leg ulcers and chronic venous insufficiency. These state-of-the-art aesthetic and medical procedures are fast, comfortable, without side effects, associated with a rapid recovery, and performed in the office while you remain awake. Procedures for the treatment of venous disease are generally covered by insurance and Medicare.
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Contact Vein Specialists of Arizona (VSA)
- Address: 9515 W. Camelback Rd., Suite 108 Phoenix, AZ 85037
- Phone: (623) 428-0068
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Vein Specialists of Arizona is conveniently located in Phoenix close to Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Camp Verde, Casa Grande, Cave Creek, Chandler, Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Lakeside, Maryville, Mesa, Peoria, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Scottsdale, Sierra Vista, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Tempe, Tucson and Yuma.