What Is Vein Disease? Symptoms, Causes & Treatment in East Tennessee
What Is Vein Disease?
Often not even mentioned at your doctor’s office, vein disease afflicts more than 30 million Americans. Symptoms include painful, heavy, achy, tired, restless and burning feeling in the legs. Swelling and changes in your skin are common symptoms, as well. Often associated with varicose veins, vein disease often presents itself in patients with no visible signs of varicose veins. Although perceived as merely a cosmetic issue, it is a progressive disease in which symptoms often worsen over time. Vein disease can negatively affect your quality of life if left untreated.
Symptoms of Vein Disease
Spider Veins
Easily visible through the skin, spider veins appear purple and blue. They are usually visible on the legs but are occasionally seen on the face, as well. Unlike varicose veins, spider veins usually do not cause any serious medical problems and are considered a cosmetic issue.
Sclerotherapy, a minimally invasive, in-office procedure, helps to treat spider veins. A solution is injected into the affected vein which causes the vein to dissolve, thereby resolving the problem. Recovery is immediate.
This procedure is typically not covered by insurance.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins usually look dark blue, swollen, and twisted under the skin. Many patients develop symptoms over time that include pain, burning, heaviness, and aching that often curtails normal activities. These enlarged veins may look and feel better when the affected leg is elevated, however they become enlarged again while standing or walking. If left untreated, they may progress to more serious conditions such as leg swelling, discoloration or leg ulcers. Venous Reflux (venous insufficiency) is a condition in the lower extremities where blood flow back to the heart is interrupted because the tiny valves are no longer functioning properly, resulting in blood pooling in the legs and extending the veins. Many patients often go untreated because they may not be familiar with vein disease. The pain often progresses through the day and is worse in the evening. Symptoms may also increase during menstruation. Successful treatment of varicose veins can alleviate these symptoms.
Edema (Swelling)
Leg swelling occurs because of an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the lower extremity. The medical term for leg swelling from excessive fluid in the tissues is edema and is often a symptom of vascular insufficiency, the underlying cause of varicose veins. Edema typically causes swelling around the ankle and then spreads to the lower leg. Swelling will typically worsen during the day, then subside when the leg is elevated.
Skin Discoloration
Skin discoloration usually occurs during more advanced stages of venous disease associated with varicose veins. Inflammation can cause some initial redness, and, as blood continues to pool under the skin, the breakdown of red blood cells causes the skin damage to advance and take on a tan or reddish-brown appearance.
Skin discoloration is often first noticeable around the ankles or low calves, but also frequently occurs over the shins and on the feet.
Skin discoloration that worsens can change from a reddish color to tan or reddish-brown color, and the skin can become painful, hardened, and scar-like. While it may take years of untreated venous disease for skin discoloration to worsen to such a degree, it can also occur suddenly and without warning.
Active Venous Stasis Ulcer
The most severe stage of vein disease is an active leg ulcer or non-healing open wound. An active venous stasis ulcer will occur in the lower leg and can range in size from small to quite large. These ulcers are usually painful and can become infected. Many patients report severe pain while performing even simple activities like walking or standing.
Not usually identified as symptoms of venous insufficiency, venous stasis ulcers often go untreated or ineffectively treated as a wound. Without proper blood flow to the lower extremity, venous ulcers won’t heal using topical medical treatements. At Milligan Vein Clinic, we have great success treating this debilitating condition.
What Causes Vein Disease?
Vein disease often develops when the valves inside the veins of the legs stop working properly. These valves normally help blood travel upward toward the heart. When they become weakened or damaged, blood can flow backward and collect in the lower legs, creating increased pressure within the veins. This condition is commonly referred to as venous reflux or chronic venous insufficiency.
Over time, this increased pressure can contribute to varicose veins, leg swelling, aching, heaviness, skin discoloration, and other symptoms of vein disease.
Several factors may increase the likelihood of developing venous disease, including age, family history, pregnancy, prolonged periods of standing or sitting, obesity, and a previous history of blood clots or vein problems.
How Vein Disease Is Diagnosed
Because vein disease can cause symptoms even when large varicose veins are not visible, a professional evaluation may be necessary to determine what is happening beneath the surface.
A vein specialist may review your symptoms, medical history, and physical findings before recommending diagnostic testing. When appropriate, duplex ultrasound can be used to evaluate blood flow and identify venous reflux within the legs.
This information helps determine which veins are affected and whether treatment may be appropriate.
When Should You See a Vein Specialist?
Occasional leg discomfort does not always indicate vein disease, but persistent or worsening symptoms should not be ignored.
Consider scheduling an evaluation if you experience:
- Persistent leg swelling
- Aching, heaviness, or fatigue
- Restless legs or nighttime cramping
- Visible or enlarging varicose veins
- Skin discoloration near the ankles
- Burning or itching around affected veins
- A non-healing wound on the lower leg
A vein specialist can determine whether venous insufficiency is contributing to your symptoms and explain available treatment options.
Vein Disease Care Throughout East Tennessee
Milligan Vein provides evaluation and treatment for patients throughout East Tennessee, with offices in Knoxville, Crossville, and Morristown.
We also serve patients from Maryville, Oak Ridge, Seymour, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Lenoir City, Tellico Village, Farragut, Cleveland, and surrounding East Tennessee communities.
Patients experiencing varicose veins, swelling, aching, heaviness, skin changes, or other symptoms of venous disease can receive specialized evaluation and treatment from a team focused on vein health.
Learn More About Vein Disease Treatment
If you have symptoms of vein disease, the next step is determining what is causing them and whether treatment is appropriate. Milligan Vein offers minimally invasive treatment options for venous insufficiency and varicose veins based on each patient’s individual condition.
Schedule a consultation to learn more about your vein health and available treatment options.