Chronic venous insufficiency is a condition where the leg veins cannot effectively pump blood from the legs to the heart. This happens when the vein walls are either stretched, weakened, or damaged, or when the valves inside the vein are damaged. With the right treatment, you should be able to continue with an active life. This condition is also called venous stasis.

What are the causes?

Common causes of this condition include:

  • High blood pressure inside the veins (venous hypertension).

  • Sitting or standing too long, causing increased blood pressure in the leg veins.

  • A blood clot that blocks blood flow in a vein (deep vein thrombosis, DVT).

  • Inflammation of a vein (phlebitis) that causes a blood clot to form.

  • Tumors in the pelvis that cause blood to back up.

What increases the risk?

The following factors may make you more likely to develop this condition:

  • Having a family history of this condition.

  • Obesity.

  • Pregnancy.

  • Living without enough regular physical activity or exercise (sedentary lifestyle).

  • Smoking.

  • Having a job that requires long periods of standing or sitting in one place.

  • Being a certain age. Women in their 40s and 50s and men in their 70s are more likely to develop this condition.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

  • Veins that are enlarged, bulging, or twisted (varicose veins).

  • Skin breakdown or ulcers.

  • Reddened skin or dark discoloration of skin on the leg between the knee and ankle.

  • Brown, smooth, tight, and painful skin just above the ankle, usually on the inside of the leg (lipodermatosclerosis).

  • Swelling of the legs.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition may be diagnosed based on:

  • Your medical history.

  • A physical exam.

  • Tests, such as:

    • A procedure that creates an image of a blood vessel and nearby organs and provides information about blood flow through the blood vessel (duplex ultrasound).

    • A procedure that tests blood flow (plethysmography).

    • A procedure that looks at the veins using X-ray and dye (venogram).

How is this treated?

Compression stockings on a person's lower legs.
The goals of treatment are to help you return to an active life and to minimize pain or disability. Treatment depends on the severity of your condition, and it may include:

  • Wearing compression stockings. These can help relieve symptoms and help prevent your condition from getting worse. However, they do not cure the condition.

  • Sclerotherapy. This procedure involves an injection of a solution that shrinks damaged veins.

  • Surgery. This may involve:

    • Removing a diseased vein (vein stripping).

    • Cutting off blood flow through the vein (laser ablation surgery).

    • Repairing or reconstructing a valve within the affected vein.

Follow these instructions at home:

Couple holding hands and walking.
A comparison of three sample cups showing dark yellow, yellow, and pale yellow urine.

  • Wear compression stockings as told by your health care provider. These stockings help to prevent blood clots and reduce swelling in your legs.

  • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.

  • Stay active by exercising, walking, or doing different activities. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you and how much exercise you need.

  • Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.

  • Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and chewing tobacco. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.

  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if you:

  • Have redness, swelling, or more pain in the affected area.

  • See a red streak or line that goes up or down from the affected area.

  • Have skin breakdown or skin loss in the affected area, even if the breakdown is small.

  • Get an injury in the affected area.

Get help right away if:

  • You get an injury and an open wound in the affected area.

  • You have:

    • Severe pain that does not get better with medicine.

    • Sudden numbness or weakness in the foot or ankle below the affected area.

    • Trouble moving your foot or ankle.

    • A fever.

    • Worse or persistent symptoms.

    • Chest pain.

    • Shortness of breath.

Summary

  • Chronic venous insufficiency is a condition where the leg veins cannot effectively pump blood from the legs to the heart.

  • Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the vein walls become stretched, weakened, or damaged, or when valves within the vein are damaged.

  • Treatment depends on how severe your condition is. It often involves wearing compression stockings and may involve having a procedure.

  • Make sure you stay active by exercising, walking, or doing different activities. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you and how much exercise you need.

This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.