Vein Conditions
Venous Reflux Disease
What is Venous Reflux Disease
What is
Venous Reflux Disease
Venous reflux disease, also known as venous insufficiency, is the underlying cause for the development of varicose veins and associated symptoms such as leg pain, swelling, heaviness, fatigue, and aching. Night-time symptoms include restless legs and leg cramps. Venous reflux occurs when the one-way valves in the leg veins no longer function properly.
Normally, the leg veins carry de-oxygenated blood back to the lungs to become oxygenated again before it circulates to the heart and rest of the body. When the one-way valves become weak and leaky, blood backs up in your leg veins. The backflow of blood is termed, ‘venous reflux.’ The backflow of blood may occur in the deep and/or superficial leg veins. Most often, venous reflux begins in the superficial leg veins called the great and small saphenous veins. The backflow problem within these veins eventually causes enlargement of surface veins. When the surface veins become swollen and twisted, they are referred to as varicose veins. Symptoms venous reflux can occur with or without visible signs of underlying venous reflux.
Symptoms tend to get worse throughout the day and with prolonged standing. The more you stand, the more gravity causes the blood to pool within the bad veins. For women, symptoms get worse with menstruation and pregnancy because hormones also affect the veins. Your legs may feel better when you elevate the legs, exercise, or use compression stockings, which all lessen the pooling of blood within the veins. Over time, venous reflux disease
Who is at risk?
GENETICS
PREGNACNY
BEING FEMALE
INCREASING AGE
BEING OVERWEIGHT
HORMONES
SITTING OR STANDING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS
What are the signs and symptoms of venous reflux disease?
Symptoms of venous reflux disease include:
• Swelling of the legs or ankles (edema)
Swelling of the legs and ankles
• Leg pain
Leg pain is often associated with vein disease
• Heavy, tired legs
Link between leg heaviness and your veins
• Aching, throbbing, or a feeling of heaviness in your legs
aching and throbbing in legs is often linked to vein disease
• Itchy legs
Itchy legs can be an early warning of venous reflux
• Spider Veins
especially along the inner knees and inner ankles
Spider Veins around ankles
• Varicose veins
Varicose Veins
• Night Cramps
(usually in the calves)
Leg cramps in calves is often caused by varicose veins
• Restless Leg Symptoms
Night cramps and restless legs are common symptoms of varicose veins
•Skin that is darkening
especially around the ankles
venous stasis sign of underlying venous disease
• Itching and Eczema of the skin
around the ankles
itchy skin around ankles
• Leg ulcers around the ankles
Varicose Vein hemorrhage
How Is Venous Reflux Disease Diagnosed?
Since venous reflux disease affects the veins beneath the surface of the skin, ultrasound evaluation is important to see how the leg veins are functioning. Ultrasound can determine if the valves are leaky and if backflow is present and identify which veins are problematic.
What is Duplex Ultrasound?
How is venous reflux disease treated?
Conservative management such as leg elevation, exercise, compression stockings, ice packs, flavonoid supplements and NSAIDS can be helpful in reducing symptoms. When symptoms worsen or if complications develop, such as skin changes, leg ulceration, spontaneous bleeding from varicose veins and blood clots, then treatment of the underlying venous reflux condition may be recommended. We offer a variety of endovenous (non-surgical) treatment options that can be tailored to the individual.
OUR PATIENTS SAY
Dr De Young is personable and thorough in his explanations. Exceptional.
I am pleased to recommend La Jolla Vein & Vascular. I am in the process of receiving treatment there. The entire medical staff are super friendly, welcoming and very helpful. Everyone is courteous, including the physicians. I’ve had one doctor follow my case. He’s the one who always treats me at appointments and closely follows my health. I am very comfortable going there. Would go again if needed and encourage anyone who’s thinking of making an appointment to do so asap. You’ll see what a wonderful experience it is. It’s the people who make it so special!
From my greeting at the front desk to the ultrasound and visit with the doctor, I received excellent care. It’s clear they care about their patients and all the staff couldn’t have been nicer or more helpful. I also appreciate how much time the doctor spent with me to explain the results and the next steps. I would definitely recommend this office to friends with vein issues.
We were early and didn’t have to wait at all. The tech that did my husband’s ultrasound, Monica, was very accommodating with my husband’s Parkinson’s. Doctor Lucas whom we hadn’t seen before, came to us instead of making my husband walk down to another office. She spent a lot of time getting caught up on Steve’s background issues/conditions. I was impressed by this medical group before, so I was surprised that the staff was even better this time around; I honestly didn’t think there was room for improvement!
I have been having leg treatments for several months now La Jolla Vein Care. Every time I go to an appointment; the staff is so friendly and takes such good care of me; always informative; not in a rush and always friendly (especially Alejandra & Anna to name a few). Of course Dr. Lucas is amazing. The treatments have changed my life. Overall this has been an incredible experience.
Beautiful facility! I walked in without an appointment and they took me right away! It was even the end of the day…I was so grateful…Every single person was soooo pleasant! Super impressed ❤️
Highly recommend! Entire staff are warm& friendly, professional and accommodating. The doctor took the time to thoroughly explain everything and encouraged me to ask questions. I never felt rushed. Significantly better experience than the other 2 vein clinics I’ve been to on the east coast. I wish I could’ve just come here from the beginning.
The staff kept you informed as to when you would be seen and the wait was not too long. Emily took care of my ultrasound and was very accommodating giving me an extra pillow and playing a video to watch. The office is very courteous and professional- Nadia answered our questions and offered us a bottle of water. I have been seeing Dr. Bunke, but now Dr. Lucas and will continue coming to La Jolla Vein Care!
I had the best experience at La Jolla Vein Care. Dr.Bunke is an amazing doctor with the best bedside manners, she truly cares about her patients, she explained everything to me. My procedures where so easy I was impressed how painless and fast my appointments. Anna M was very helpful scheduling my treatments and checking on me to make sure all of my questions were answered. I am very pleased thank you !!! I truly recommend La Jolla Vein Care!
Everyone here is so nice! Usually front desk medical personnel are so rude. The front desk ladies Alejandra, Anna, and I think her name is Liz, went above and beyond to take care of me and my insurance issues. The techs are great too! Rachel and a male technician assisted me…both of them implemented different techniques to make me feel more at ease during an uncomfortable and painful process. These procedures were rough…and I am grateful everyone was so sweet to me. Thanks again.
When I arrived for the first time, I could barely walk. My legs were red and swollen. After my treatments, I can now walk again. I’m so thankful to the doctor and his staff. They are caring, supporting and knowledgeable about my issues. Five Stars all the way!!!!
La Jolla Vein care has the best staff ever. They are so nice, accommodating and professional!! Dr. Bunke is the best doctor that I ever seen. She is so friendly upfront and has the best bed side manner. I thank this office for letting me be their patient. 💜. Plus they are so careful with COVID which I really appreciate!!!
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