Venous Insufficiency

Chronic venous insufficiency is a long-term condition. It is most commonly due to malfunctioning (incompetent) valves in the veins. It may also occur as the result of a past blood clot in the legs.

Risk factors for venous insufficiency include:

• Age
• Family history of this condition
• Female gender (related to levels of the hormone progesterone)
• History of deep vein thrombosis in the legs
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Sitting or standing for long periods
• Tall height

Pain or other symptoms include:

• Dull aching, heaviness, or cramping in legs
• Itching and tingling
• Pain that gets worse when standing
• Pain that gets better when legs are raised

Skin changes in the legs include:

• Swelling of the legs
• Irritated or cracked skin if you scratch it
• Red or swollen, crusted, or weepy skin (stasis dermatitis)
• Varicose veins on the surface
• Thickening and hardening of the skin on the legs and ankles (lipodermatosclerosis)
• Wound or ulcer that is slow to heal on the legs or ankles

The team of surgical specialists at Northwest Surgical Specialists provides excellent care to adults, senior citizens, and children of all ages. With many years of experience in diagnosing and treating vascular conditions that affect the feet, they will be able to offer excellent, personalized advice and treatment.