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Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Carolina Vein Institute

Varicose Vein Specialists & Aesthetic Injectors located in Chapel Hill, NC; Raleigh, NC; & Apex, NC

If you experience leg pain, heaviness, cramping, or tingling, chronic venous insufficiency could be the culprit. It can lead to varicose veins, open sores, or other complications when left untreated. At Carolina Vein Institute in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Apex, North Carolina, board-certified varicose vein specialists Ashley Baquero, MD, Luan Tran, MD, and the team offer advanced vein treatments to reduce unpleasant symptoms associated with chronic venous insufficiency. Call the office for an appointment today or use the online booking feature.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency Q & A

What is chronic venous insufficiency?

Chronic venous insufficiency, also known as CVI, is a condition that occurs when valves in your leg veins don’t work as designed, causing problems with blood returning to your heart from your legs. The result is blood pooling in damaged veins, which can cause complications if CVI is left untreated.

About 40% of people in the United States have chronic venous insufficiency, which occurs more often over age 50. Women are more likely to experience chronic venous insufficiency than men.

What are the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency?

The following signs and symptoms may indicate you have chronic venous insufficiency:

  • Itching or tingling in your leg
  • Pain that worsens when standing
  • Heaviness or cramping in your legs
  • Dull aching in your legs
  • Leg swelling
  • Varicose veins
  • Crusted or swollen skin
  • Hard, thick skin
  • Leg or ankle wounds
  • Leathery-looking skin

Seek treatment from Carolina Vein Institute as soon as you suspect CVI to help prevent complications from occurring.

How do you diagnose chronic venous insufficiency?

To diagnose chronic venous insufficiency and develop a treatment plan, your vein specialist reviews your medical history and asks questions about your symptoms. They complete a physical examination to detect or rule out visible signs of chronic venous insufficiency. 

Your provider might recommend an in-office vascular ultrasound to examine the effectiveness of blood circulation in your legs and rule out blood clots. During the ultrasound, your practitioner places a handheld device over your skin. It emits soundwaves to create images of vessels on a monitor for your doctor to review.

What are my chronic venous insufficiency treatment options?

Depending on the severity of CVI and whether you experience complications associated with the condition, your vein specialist might recommend any of the following:

  • Weight loss
  • Regular exercise
  • Other lifestyle changes
  • Compression therapy
  • Sclerotherapy including Varithena
  • Medications
  • Proper skin care
  • VenaSeal™
  • Endovenous laser ablation
  • Radiofrequency ablation

Carolina Vein Institute specialists personalize each treatment to give you the best outcome, optimizing the way you look and feel.

At the first sign of chronic venous insufficiency, schedule an appointment with the vein experts at Carolina Vein Institute by phone or online today.