Chronic Venous Insufficiency is a diagnosis that is usually treated easily. Vein surgeons and specialists usually recommend options for treatments and medications that can eliminate varicose and spider veins from developing. 

What is Chronic Venous Insufficiency?

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is the occurrence of weak blood flow to the legs and back to the heart. The valves in your veins direct blood flow in only one direction from the heart and back. Unfortunately, these valves can weaken as people age. When these damaged valves stop working, the blood can flow backwards. As a result, blood begins to pull in veins near the legs. 

Although Chronic Venous Insufficiency is not a detrimental health threat, it can cause pain and discomfort for many individuals. If Chronic Venous Insufficiency is not treated, one may experience pain, swelling, cramps. Skin discolorations, varicose veins, and ulcers on their legs.

What causes Chronic Venous Insufficiency?

Chronic Venous Insufficiency occurs when valves from the vein become weak and damaged. As a result, blood that flows in one direction flows in the opposite direction. The blood then pools in the veins, causing the veins to swell and lump. These valves become damaged from many probable causes. 

Damaged valves may result from aging, prolonged sitting or standing, pregnancy, or weight issues. The veins become weak to the point where blood pressure stays elevated for long periods of time. The clotting that formed results in Chronic Venous Insufficiency. 

What are the symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency?

Chronic Venous Insufficiency becomes more serious as far as an individual’s vein disease progresses. Waiting for varicose veins and spider veins to go away will not fix any complications from Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency include the following:

• Aching or pain in the legs or ankles
• Heaviness and tightness in legs when walking
• Swelling of legs and ankles
• Development of spider veins and varicose veins
• Restless leg syndrome
• Leg ulcers
• Flakiness, itchiness, and discoloration of skin

How is Chronic Venous Insufficiency diagnosed?

Chronic Venous Insufficiency diagnosis may be completed by your doctor to determine if treatment is needed. In the exam, your legs will be examined for any spotted varicose and spider veins. Your medical history and symptoms may also be discussed. If obvious signs of Chronic Venous Insufficiency are shown, your medical doctor may complete further tests. 

The common test that is performed to examine blood circulation in the legs is a Duplex Ultrasound. This ultrasound uses a transducer to emit sound waves against the skin. These sound waves then display an image of the veins that are causing any probable issues.  

What is the treatment for Chronic Venous Insufficiency?

Chronic Venous Insufficiency is often most treatable early on in the stages of vein disease. Vascular health practitioners often recommend different treatments based on an individual’s severity of Chronic Venous Insufficiency. 

Lifestyle Changes

Easy lifestyle changes will often be recommended to you by your doctor. These changes can help promote better blood flow, avoiding complications created from improper blood flow. 

Regular Exercise

Frequently performing light exercise can improve blood flow to the lower legs. Walking or jogging are perfect exercises to promote better circulation. 

Weight Loss

Being overweight can cause a multitude of health strains. As for Chronic Venous Insufficiency, being overweight causes pressure on the body. This pressure makes proper blood flow difficult. Being overweight can also easily damage vessels that direct blood flow. 

Leg Elevation

Keep your legs elevated above your heart when sitting or lying down. Doing so can make it easier for blood to flow from the legs back to the heart.  

Avoid prolonged sitting and standing

Sitting and standing can restrict blood flow from the heart, creating pools in lower body veins. If you have to sit or stand for long periods of time at work, take frequent breaks. Getting up for a walk once every couple of hours can get blood flowing properly to the right parts of the body. 

Compression Stockings

Compression stockings, also called compression socks, place pressure on the offending veins that need better blood flow. Their design keeps varicose veins from swelling and bulging. Your doctor will most likely suggest compression stockings early on in Chronic Venous Insufficiency. 

Take antibiotics 

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. These will most likely be given to those who experience skin ulcers in the later stages of vein disease. 

Medical Procedures

RejuVeination offers radio frequency (RF) ablation treatments for patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency disease. The use of RF ablation may also improve the appearance of superficial varicose veins. Do you want to learn more about how you can benefit from the radio frequency (RF) ablation treatments offered at RejuVeination? Contact our office in Cincinnati today for further information or to schedule a consultation with a member of our medical staff!

What is radio frequency (RF) ablation?

RF ablation is a minimally-invasive venous insufficiency treatment that uses radio frequency energy to heat and damage the interior walls of the targeted veins, causing the veins to close and turn into scar tissue.  The body absorbs this tissue and the body naturally reroutes the blood through the vascular system.  This procedure can be performed under a local anesthetic and has little to no downtime associated with it.  Most patients walk out of the clinic and are back to work the next day.  You can expect this procedure to take 30-45 minutes on average.  We recommend patients wear compression stockings for at least one week following an RF ablation treatment to further aid the healing process. 

Benefits of RF Ablation:

• Minimal downtime
• Minimally-invasive
• Safe and effective
• High patient satisfaction
• Long term relief

What can I expect during a treatment session?

Prior to your procedure, we will thoroughly cleanse the designated treatment area and inject a local anesthetic into the treatment area to increase patient comfort during the procedure. We will gently insert a catheter into the designated vein. The catheter will deliver the radio frequency energy to heat the vein and cause it to collapse. You may experience a mild warming sensation during the treatment, but this sensation is typically well-tolerated.

When will I see results?

Radio frequency ablation treatments will cause the vein to eventually be absorbed by the body.  Improvement in blood flow will be realized following the internal healing process . Healing of the access point usually takes about 10 to 14 days after a treatment session and final results of a radio frequency ablation treatment will be visible a few months following your treatment session.

What is the recovery period like?

Most patients walk out of our office after the procedure and return to their normal activities the day after their RF ablation procedure. We recommend patients avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and/or sporting activities for at least five to seven days after their procedure. We will discuss the recovery process, dressing treatment and compression with you further in preparation for your radiofrequency ablation treatment.

Are there any side effects?

While generally minor, you may experience some temporary side effects. Including bruising, swelling, tenderness, or discomfort in the treatment area. These side effects are mild and typically subside on their own within 10 to 14 days of your radio frequency ablation treatment.

Am I a candidate?

Men and women who are concerned about large varicose veins in their thigh or leg areas may be candidates for this vascular treatment. During your initial consultation, we will review your general health, medical history, and goals of treatment and determine if RF ablation is the right procedure for you. Prior to your consultation, we recommend you take our free, three-minute online vein screening or call our office and talk with a member of our staff.

Are you interested in finding out if the radio frequency (RF) ablation treatments offered at RejuVeination are the right choice for you? Contact our office in Cincinnati today for more information or to schedule a consultation with a member of our elite team. We look forward to assisting you!

Other Minimally Invasive Treatments and Procedures

Radio frequency is not the only minimally invasive treatment used for those who suffer from venous insufficiency. There are other medical treatments available that do not use thermal ablation. Contact our office in Cincinnati for more information. You can also schedule a consultation with a member of our team to determine which treatment for venous insufficiency is best for you. 

Nonthermal Ablation

New non-thermal ablation treatments FDA approved for veins have been discovered. The procedure is performed by placing a catheter inside the great saphenous vein with local anesthesia and ultrasound guidance. Then, aliquots of an adhesive from the tube are delivered along the walls of the great saphenous vein. Compression is applied to the vein until the vein is completely sealed. 

This procedure lasts about one hour. No anesthesia is required because there is no heat involved, and patients may return to normal activities immediately after the procedure. Many do not feel any pain or pressure that may be felt in thermal therapy. 

Phlebectomy is another minimally invasive procedure that uses surgical instruments to remove varicose veins below the surface of a leg. The procedure is started by numbing the affected vein area with a local anesthetic. Then once the skin is cleansed and anesthetized, incisions are made in the skin next to the target vein. A phlebectomy hook is then inserted into the skin to remove the vein via incision. 

Phlebectomy is generally completed within 30 minutes to an hour. Once the procedure is completed. Patients will have their legs wrapped in a compression wrap. Unlike a non-thermal ablation, phlebectomy requires patients to wear compression stockings after their procedure for up to three weeks. As long as the compression stockings are properly worn, activities can resume 24 hours after the surgery. Any strenuous activity should be avoided for roughly two weeks. 

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a procedure performed to treat varicose and spider veins. For those with small varicose veins, sclerotherapy is often the treatment of choice. This procedure includes directing a solution into the veins. The solution causes the walls of the vein to scar, so blood is forced to redirect to healthier veins as a result. Eventually, the collapsed vein will be reabsorbed into the leg tissue. 

Treated veins from sclerotherapy will fade within a few weeks of treatment. On rare occasions, it may take a month or more to see complete results. In certain cases, patients may require more sclerotherapy treatments to completely eliminate the varicose vein. 

People Also Ask:

Here are some commonly asked questions by those who recognize symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency. 

What is the best treatment for venous insufficiency?

The best treatment for Chronic Venous Insufficiency will be recommended by their doctor. Depending on how severe an individual’s condition is, treatment may be more or less in depth. Those who have slight symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency may only need to wear compression stockings. However, those who are deep in the late stages of vein disease may need a minimally invasive treatment to rid their varicose veins.