About Veins

Spider veins

Also called telangectasia are caused by venous insufficiency just like varicose veins. They are abnormal groups of small vessels just under the surface of the skin. Most often they are only of cosmetic concern but at times can be the first signs of a more widespread venous problem. This is why a duplex ultrasound exam has to be done on all vein consultations at the CVI.

Causes of venous insufficiency -

many factors contribute to this issue but the biggest and most consistent is inheritance from your parents. Other factors include obesity, hormonal influences, job (prolonged standing), age, pregnancy, trauma or injury.

Symptoms of varicose veins

there are many possible symptoms possible, from throbbing and tenderness over the veins, to achy, heavy, tired, crampy or restless legs whose cause is often mistaken for other diagnosis. More advanced disease can cause leg swelling, skin color change, ulcers, phlebitis, and vein clots.

Complicationsof untreated varicose veins

Vein disease is far from just a cosmetic issue.  Many patients who neglect their vein problems end up with irreversible unsightly and sometimes painful complication .  In rare cases conditions that can threaten life or limb can arise. A common complication seen in patients with varicose veins is phlebitis. 

Phlebitis is an inflammatory condition in the vein wall that leads to clotting of the vein associated with red, tender overlying skin.  Most often phlebitis is of no danger and is well managed with ice packs and anti-inflammatories.  The only time this can be dangerous is when phlebitis occurs in the absence of  varicose veins (can mean a cancer is present in the body), or when the clot in the varicose vein spreads all the way up the leg and into the deep veins of the leg. 
This can lead to a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and is an emergency to diagnose and treat.  Deep venous thrombosis is a potentially life threatening condition but is thankfully only rarely associated with varicose veins.  It is diagnosed by duplex ultrasound .  It often requires immediate medical treatment with blood thinners to prevent complications.  The most dangerous result of an untreated DVT is a pulmonary embolism  (blood clot breaking off and lodging in the lung). 
Venous stasis disease is the end point of long standing elevations of the pressure in your veins.  It has an insidious onset and slowly progresses over years.  Many medical professionals have never been trained to identify early signs of stasis disease. Early changes begin around the ankle.

With time these vessels enlarge and the skin starts to darken and thicken from the longstanding damage caused to the tiny blood vessels.  In the late stages the skin around the ankle and lower leg is woody hard and darkly stained.  In its worst form non- healing ulcers form.