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Chronic Venous Insufficiency / Venous Reflux

What may feel like routine leg aches and pains at the beginning, if venous insufficiency is left untreated, can evolve over time into a painful and even debilitating problem.

Because the pain and swelling associated with chronic venous insufficiency are typically exacerbated by prolonged standing and/or walking, many people mislabel the issue as standard soreness. Then, over the following months, the progressive symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency worsen, until the pain and swelling begin to interfere with simple, everyday tasks.

Proudly serving Lima, Celina, and the surrounding areas of Auglaize County, OH, the Vein Care Center specializes in helping patients experiencing this uncomfortable and potentially harmful issue restore their comfort and reclaim their active lifestyles.

Board-certified family physician Dr. Manu B. Aggarwal, MHSA, MD, and her team utilize their expertise and experience, including certification in venous and lymphatic medicine, to deliver a safe, effective, and personalized treatment plan for every venous insufficiency patient.

What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Venous Reflux?

To first clarify between the two terms, venous reflux is an isolated condition that often results in chronic venous insufficiency, where chronic venous insufficiency refers to a broader disease process that can develop from and be exacerbated by a number of factors beyond reflux alone.

Healthy veins are equipped with specialized one-way valves that allow blood to travel towards the heart but not away from it. However, when these valves are weakened, malfunctioning, and/or damaged, they fail, allowing blood to backflow. As a result, blood begins to pool in the extremities as it cannot overcome the influence of gravity. This malfunctioning of the blood vessels is venous reflux.

The condition caused by venous reflux, known as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), is progressive and multi-factorial. Over time (that’s the “chronic” component), the pressure within the vein and the associated swelling break down the skin. This causes the skin to thin out, increasing its susceptibility to bruising and bleeding.

Patients with CVI are also at a greater risk of developing blood clots, varicose veins, and other issues. As the condition progresses, you may experience a feeling of heaviness in the legs, leg cramps, and/or skin disturbances.

Additional symptoms of CVI include:

  • Progressively increasing leg pain
  • Restless legs
  • Venous ulcers
  • Dry, itchy skin
  • Leg swelling
  • Venous eczema

What Causes Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Venous Reflux?

From hereditary components to body weight and medical history, there are a number of reliable predictors of chronic venous insufficiency and venous reflex found across several categories (lifestyle, genetics, etc.).

These potential causes include the following:

Heredity: Studies have proven the hereditary nature of CVI. If a parent had CVI, you are statistically at a greater risk of developing the condition.

Positioning: Both prolonged standing and prolonged sitting can increase your risk of developing CVI, as the veins have to work directly against the force of gravity to move blood towards the heart.

Pregnancy: Hormonal changes and increased blood volume associated with pregnancy can cause venous insufficiency, especially with multiple pregnancies.

Age and gender: Women over the age of 40 are at a higher risk of developing CVI, especially when experiencing menopause-related hormone fluctuations.

Body weight: Obese people are more likely to develop CVI, as the weight steadily exerts pressure on the veins, making it harder for blood to return.

Lifestyle: Because the calf muscles normally help your leg veins return blood to the heart, a sedentary lifestyle will have the opposite effect.

How Are Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Venous Reflux Treated?

The first step in any effective treatment plan requires properly diagnosing the problem. Our team at the Vein Care Center employs a thorough, leading-edge approach to carefully examine your veins for diagnostic purposes. Our sonographers use state-of-the-art ultrasound technology that allows her to view blood flow patterns and screen for telltale signs of CVI and other problems.

Our facility is the only private office in the region accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for venous ultrasound, and all our ultrasonographers are certified to provide comprehensive deep and superficial venous mapping.

Once you have been diagnosed with CVI, our treatment approach progresses from conservative measures to more intensive options based on how your body responds to treatment. These include compression therapy, endovenous laser, and sclerotherapy.

 

01 /
Compression Therapy

Compression Therapy can be an effective initial treatment plan for CVI patients who experience swelling and discomfort. This approach involves using graduated compression stockings to apply steady, gentle pressure to the affected leg(s). The compression prevents more blood from pooling while, in many cases, relieving discomfort.

02 /
Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT)

Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) is more commonly used by patients with more advanced venous reflux. EVLT administers precisely targeted laser energy through a catheter, effectively sealing the vein closed. Treatment sessions often take less than an hour, and patients can return to normal activities within one or two days.

03 /
Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy involves using a “sclerosing” agent, a specialized medication that causes the targeted veins to close. In sclerotherapy, after the sclerosing solution is injected into the affected vein, the vein walls close in on each other, fading away over time until they disappear (as the body routes blood through neighboring vessels).

04 /
Comprehensive education and lifestyle guidance

Comprehensive education and lifestyle guidance are critically important for preserving your results in the long term. Think of the treatment process itself as only the beginning. We will partner with you to establish dietary, exercise-related, occupational, and other modifications that can help you keep CVI at bay for years or even decades.

Addressing Chronic Venous Insufficiency at the Vein Care Center

Our team personally invests in every patient’s success. Dr. Aggarwal, who serves as a preceptor for the American Vein and Lymphatic Society and the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery, merges deep expertise with genuine compassion to ensure every treatment plan delivers real, radical results.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, you don’t have to accept them as a rite of aging (or of your occupation). Effective treatments are waiting for you at the Vein Care Center.

Call 419-227-4472 or contact us online to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward healthier, more comfortable legs. With convenient locations in Lima and Celina, OH, relief from chronic venous insufficiency is closer than you think.

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Aesthetic Care Center, our specialized aesthetic treatment facility led by Dr. Aggarwal, combines advanced anti-aging technologies with personalized treatment plans to address your unique skin concerns. Our comprehensive suite of medical-grade aesthetic services includes the latest innovations in skin rejuvenation and body contouring, such as Botox, RF microneedling and truSculpt, all delivered with the same expertise and attention to detail that defines our vein care practice. Begin your transformation with a complimentary skin care screening, where we’ll create a customized plan to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

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