Venous Insufficiency

For proper circulation we need arteries and veins (well, this gets more complicated, but that's another research for you to do:)

• Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood and nutrients from your heart to all parts of your body
• Veins carry oxygen-depleted blood back to your heart and lungs for “refurbishing”

Since your heart pump is located far, far away from your feet, and ankles, our legs depend on a muscle pump to remove oxygen-depleted blood and to supply fresh oxygen back to peripheries.

Veins in legs, come with system of valves, opening and closing only in one direction, to prevent backflow. This is where troubles with varicose veins (venous insufficiency) start. At some point, due to prolonged periods of inactivity, inflammation, contusion etc. valves in veins fail to fully close. Pressure created by blood flowing in the wrong directions creates cascading, waterfall effect and further damages lower vein segments. This invisible to us, malfunctioning of valves, is what we eventually see and feel in our legs - Venous insufficiency (reversal of venous blood flow in superficial or deep vein system)

Early Symptoms Venous Insufficiency:

• Dull persistent ache in one area that comes and goes, with standing, sitting, walking
• Pain or stubborn throbbing sensation or leg cramps at night,
• Itching or rash on skin below knee
• Swelling of feet or ankles, end of the day
• Bluish telangiectasias or excessive spider veins

Visible Signs of Advanced Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

• Bulging varicose veins
• Bluish "spider"veins in ankle areas, might involve medial and lateral areas, known as corona phlebectatica
• Areas of mild or excessive skin pigmentation known as hemosiderin staining
• Stasis dermatitis- chronic leg eczema with inflammation, itching, dark brown pigmentation
• Leg edema
• Stasis/Venous ulcer

There are 6 steps in a in Chronic Venous Disease Classification Ladder (CEAP)

• 0 - No visible or palpable signs of venous disease
• 1 - Telangiectasias or reticular veins
• 2 - Varicose veins or Recurrent varicose veins
• 3 - Edema
• 4a - Skin pigmentation or eczema (legs)
• 4b - Lipodermatosclerosis or atrophie blanche
• 4c - Corona phlebectatica (bluish veins on ankle area)
• 5 - Healed venous ulcer
• 6 - Active venous ulcer or Recurrent active venous ulcer

Some people will never develop visible varicosities. They will have eczema, itchy skin, brown discolorations on lower legs, and open ulcer, yet still will not have visible varicosities!

With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Jozef Tryzno, is one of the very few doctors in the area, who personally conducts all ultrasound examinations & evaluations to fully assess the extent of venous insufficiency disease in each patient.

Contact our office today to get started.
Call: (847) 518-9999