Chronic venous insufficiency is the end stage result following deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and thrombophlebitis, more commonly called blood clots in the legs. This condition can cause severe leg swelling, varicose veins, skin discoloration and much more, so it’s important to seek treatment early to prevent real damage to your legs. Read on for more information about this condition and tips for relief and prevention.

Causes:

As stated above, people diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency first develop a blood clot (venous thrombosis). These blood clots can be caused by any of the following factors:

• Injuring a vein’s inner lining.
• Hypercoagulability within the vein. Hypercoagulability is defined in the dictionary as the "tendency for excessive blood clotting. It is a potentially dangerous condition in which blood coagulates excessively, even within the blood vessels."
• Little or no movement following surgery or pregnancy.
• Long periods of sitting in a cramped and immobile position (economy class syndrome).
  • Please note: Even normal and healthy people can get this condition, especially travelers on prolonged air flights.

Symptoms:

People with chronic venous insufficiency may develop the following symptoms:

• Edema
• Dilated or engorged superficial veins
• Fullness, aching or tiredness in the legs

Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency are worse when standing and walking, and can be relieved with rest.

Relief and Prevention:

If you develop acute thrombophlebitis and DVT, you will need to check into a hospital for treatment. You will need blood thinners to prevent a pulmonary embolism, a condition where the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs.

Bed rest and leg elevation – using such products as leg and bed wedges or leg elevators – are initially required to treat chronic venous insufficiency.

Once you are up and moving around again, you will need to wear firm below-the-knee elastic support stockings to help control the swelling.

Later on, if you do not wear support stockings, you could develop the following symptoms and should see a doctor for treatment:

• Skin pigmentation (dark discoloration), especially on the inside parts of the ankle and lower leg.
• Scaling, itching rash.
• Breakdown of the skin with fluid weeping out.
• Development of varicose veins.

Again, the key to prevention of the late sequelae of DVT and thrombophlebitis, called chronic venous insufficiency, is wearing supportive hose.

Information on foot, leg and lower body health conditions provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on musculoskeletal health.