Vein & Circulation Symptoms in the Legs
From purely cosmetic concerns to potentially serious health risks that compromise your daily activity level, vein and circulation symptoms of the legs can be caused by various factors. If you notice persistent aching, swelling, cramping or visible vein changes of the legs, an underlying vein disorder may be the cause. At Prevosti Vein Center in Canton, GA, Dr. Louis G. Prevosti brings more than 30 years of experience in cardiovascular surgery to diagnose and treat venous disorders affecting the legs.
Where other practices divide their attention between multiple activities or specialties, Dr. Prevosti focuses exclusively on vein care. This means every patient has access to the most effective techniques and equipment. Having treated thousands of cases involving vein disorders affecting the legs and other areas of the body, Dr. Prevosti understands how symptoms can progress from a mild annoyance to significant limitations on your quality of life.
Addressing Vein & Circulation Symptoms at the Source
Symptoms like leg heaviness or swelling, night cramps, itching or skin discoloration, spider veins and other symptoms are often traced back to a circulatory problem called venous insufficiency. When the backflow prevention valves in your veins are damaged or weakened, blood can flow backward and pool in the lower extremities. Then, pressure mounts in blood vessels, causing many of the symptoms listed below.
Dr. Prevosti’s comprehensive diagnostic approach goes deeper than the visible signs, identifying any underlying vein disorders that may be causing your discomfort. Using diagnostic ultrasound and other evaluation techniques performed right in his Canton office, Dr. Prevosti will identify the pattern of venous insufficiency causing your symptoms and develop a precisely targeted treatment plan.
Conditions We Treat
Dr. Prevosti offers advanced, patient-focused solutions for these vein conditions.
Chronic venous insufficiency encompasses the progressive deterioration of vein valve function that underlies most leg vein disorders. The veins in the legs have dozens of one-way valves that keep venous blood flowing up the leg toward the heart. The heart does not pump blood in the veins, only in the arteries. Venous blood flow in the legs is dependent on muscle motion, such as walking, and properly functioning venous valves. When the one-way valves allow blood to leak backward, this is called venous insufficiency, and it is almost always chronic. This condition develops gradually, often beginning with subtle symptoms that worsen over months and years. It cannot get better on its own.
Dr. Prevosti's experience with thousands of venous insufficiency cases allows him to recognize even early-stage patterns and intervene before symptoms become severe. He is also skilled at treating advanced cases that may include chronic swelling and skin breakdown. His treatment protocols focus on eliminating the sources of valve dysfunction and restoring healthy circulation patterns.
Leg pain, either intermittent or persistent, is a common indicator of a circulation problem. Unlike temporary muscle soreness related to exercise, vein-related leg pain tends to worsen throughout the day, especially with prolonged standing or sitting. Many patients describe the discomfort as a deep ache or a throbbing sensation. The discomfort may be severe enough to interfere with your everyday activities and sleep schedule.
This discomfort is usually caused by pressure accumulation in the lower leg veins. As the pressure mounts because of the blood pooling in the area, the veins and the surrounding tissues become irritated. Without treatment, this issue will worsen, possibly resulting in skin disturbances like ulcers. Dr. Prevosti offers minimally invasive approaches like radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser treatment and others to address the root cause of these symptoms.
Another common symptom reported by patients with venous insufficiency is a feeling of leg heaviness. Some patients describe it as walking through mud or having weights attached to their legs. Generally, this feeling intensifies throughout the day and may improve when the legs are elevated.
Legs that feel heavy and quick to fatigue can be a sign that your circulatory system is struggling to return blood to the heart efficiently. As more blood pools in the lower extremities, you feel the weight of that fluid as you walk and move around throughout the day. As with other venous insufficiency symptoms, worsening occurs after prolonged periods of sitting or standing. With the proper treatment, Dr. Prevosti will restore that lighter, comfortable feeling you had before vein issues took hold.
Venous insufficiency is one of the leading causes of night cramps and restless legs. The exact causation mechanism is not known for certain. One theory is that the pooled, deoxygenated blood in the distended veins causes irritation of the surrounding nerves and muscles. This, in turn, leads to cramps and the impulse to move the legs.
What is known clinically is that treating venous insufficiency improves these symptoms significantly. For patients with night cramps and restless leg syndrome, Dr. Prevosti recommends a diagnostic venous duplex ultrasound. If venous insufficiency is present, office-based treatments done under local anesthesia with little downtime can produce significant relief of symptoms in a high percentage of patients.
Leg swelling, particularly when it develops gradually and consistently affects one or both legs, frequently indicates venous insufficiency. Unlike temporary swelling from occasional salt intake or hormonal changes, vein-related swelling typically worsens throughout the day and may leave indentations when pressed.
The swelling occurs because damaged vein valves allow blood to accumulate under increased pressure in the legs rather than returning efficiently to the heart. This increased venous pressure causes more fluid to leak out of the veins into the surrounding tissue. When the lymphatic drainage system, which normally drains this interstitial fluid, can no longer keep up with the increased fluid, swelling (also called edema) occurs. Dr. Prevosti's treatment approach targets the specific veins causing poor drainage, often providing improvement in swelling patterns that have persisted for months or years.
In more advanced cases of venous insufficiency, the constant pressure and inflammation damage the surrounding skin and subcutaneous tissue. This can lead to chronic itching, redness and skin discoloration. Once the skin is fully broken down, ulcers form. These issues typically surface around the ankles and lower calves, where pressure accumulation is the greatest.
Intervention is critical for preventing further damage when skin changes occur. In the event of a venous leg ulcer, Dr. Prevosti will address the circulation problem and provide wound care as appropriate. Because these ulcers are slow to heal, it’s essential that you follow your provider’s instructions and seek treatment to prevent further worsening.
As malfunctioning veins struggle against the continual pressure increase, they take on a twisted, bulging appearance. In many cases, varicose veins are accompanied by discomfort, throbbing, itching and skin discoloration. Occasionally, blood clots can develop in varicose veins. This is called superficial thrombophlebitis and can be quite painful and alarming, but luckily, it is rarely dangerous. On rare occasions, bleeding can occur when a varicose vein erodes through the skin. These abnormal veins will continue to get larger if not treated.
Dr. Prevosti employs a range of minimally invasive approaches to treat varicose veins, including ambulatory microphlebectomy for larger surface veins and various ablation techniques when treatment of deeper veins is needed. For smaller varicose veins, various injection techniques are utilized. Treatment is tailored to your presentation and individual anatomy to optimize outcomes.
Spider veins are smaller than varicose veins and are less frequently associated with discomfort. By definition, they have a diameter of one millimeter or less. They can surface throughout several locations of the body but are commonly found on the upper and lower legs as red, blue and purple lines arranged in a web-like or branched pattern. Though they do not pose a serious health risk, spider veins may indicate a venous disorder. They are also unwanted from a cosmetic point of view. On rare occasions, spider veins can erode through the skin and cause alarming but not life-threatening bleeding. Prompt attention by a vein doctor is needed in this situation.
Spider veins are often treated with sclerotherapy, wherein a special solution (a “sclerosing agent”) is injected into the targeted veins, causing them to collapse. The treated veins are then naturally absorbed by the body, fading over time.
Lymphedema is a condition where lymph fluid builds up in the lower extremities. While many medical conditions can cause edema (i.e., fluid buildup), the term lymphedema is reserved for fluid buildup due to the lymphatic drainage system not working properly. The lymphatic drainage system is a network of small vessels and channels that collect fluid in tissue (interstitial fluid) and drain it out of the tissue and back into the bloodstream. When it is not working properly or is overwhelmed, lymph fluid collects in the tissue.
When lymphedema is caused by venous insufficiency, it is called phlebolymphedema. Phlebolymphedema is diagnosed by using a venous duplex ultrasound to identify if venous insufficiency is present, as well as by history and physical examination by an experienced vein doctor. Treating the underlying venous insufficiency, as well as wearing compression stockings and elevating the legs when possible, can result in significant improvement in the leg swelling. In advanced situations, specialized lymphedema physical therapy is also necessary.
Prevosti Vein Center offers comprehensive lymphedema evaluation and management, providing patients with a personalized treatment plan that improves their symptoms and quality of life while living with lymphedema.
Tingling and numbness in the legs can indicate a nerve-related problem. Nerve dysfunction is called neuropathy. The most common causes of peripheral neuropathy are diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, and idiopathic (meaning the cause is unknown). Sometimes nerves can become dysfunctional due to vein disorders. In this situation, patients frequently report intermittent symptoms, as position changes and activity level can affect the frequency and intensity of this problem. When tingling, numbness and pain in the legs, feet and toes are due to chronic venous insufficiency, treating the abnormal veins can help improve the symptoms.
Take Back Your Comfort and Confidence With Prevosti Vein Center
Every patient at Prevosti Vein Center receives personal attention from Dr. Prevosti, a vein specialist with decades of experience in cardiovascular surgery. At Prevosti Vein Center, you will have access to the caliber of diagnostic and treatment approaches only available from a dedicated specialist.
Dr. Prevosti employs a compassionate and patient-centered approach that can reduce your symptoms and improve your comfort and daily activity level. His commitment to excellence in vein care has helped thousands of patients regain the confidence and freedom they need to pursue active lifestyles without the limitations of vein disorders.
Contact Prevosti Vein Center today to schedule an evaluation and discover how an experienced vein specialist can improve your quality of life.
Experience Specialized Vein Care
At Prevosti Vein Center, our exclusive focus on venous disorders means you receive the highest level of specialized care available. Dr. Louis G. Prevosti brings over 30 years of specialized cardiovascular surgery experience to vein treatment, and his dedication to pure vein care allows every patient to receive focused, expert attention.
Our 100% focus on only venous disorders translates into superior patient experiences and consistently excellent results. From your initial evaluation through treatment and follow-up care, you'll work with a team devoted entirely to helping you achieve freedom from the effects of venous disease.