I have a medical condition called venus insufficiency where the valves in the veins do not work?
this causes edema (swelling) also the lower legs become stained reddish brown caused by blood leaking into the skin
Is there anything that can remove these stains or at least reduce them other than make up, some non surgical way. I do use comprssion stockings but that only helps to redudce the swelling and does nothing to clear up the staining
Thanks
sundown- what you have, by another name, is varicose veins - an extremely common condition as people get older, especially if they are overweight, sit a lot, or have given birth to children. When the blood (red cells) leaks from the vein into the skin, they stay there, break up, and release their hemoglobin reddish-brown pigment which can perhaps lighten with time or remain for months, years, or life. You can find much more information if you search on Google for "Varicose Vein Fact Sheet." Your best bet would be to ask your physician or look in the phone book under vascular for a nearby vascular (venous) treatment center or call your local hospital or county medical society for the names of any physicians who specialize in treatment of varicose veins. Good luck.Surgery is the only answer ... as long as the veins with no valves are there, the pressure will cause blood to leak out of the capillaries.
Th edema and the possibility of clots that move to your heart and lungs is more of a problem than the discoloration. The poor circulation is damaging your tendons and bones.
The surgery is minor: outpatient procedure and should be covered by insurance because it's not cosmetic, it's medically necessary.
Valves in veins: An historical survey
valves in veins - click on the image below for more information.
valves in veins
Valves in veins: An historical survey
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Annotated Sagittal ATECO MR Venogram
Image by Reigh LeBlanc
Mechanism of Vein
Vein contains one-way valves that work in conjunction with skeleto-muscles. When the sceleto-mucles contract, the valve open and blood is forced toward the heart. When the sceleto-muscle relaxed, the valve closed to prevent the backflow of blood away from the heart.
Article by Benjamin Marble
Copyright (c) 2010 Benjamin Marble
We've all seen those disaster movies. You know, the ones where failing valves seem to be a major plot point (at least those involving overly complex machines that blow up when they encounter some unsolvable problem, like "What is love?"). Pressure builds, steam screams from fissures in the machinery, and valves fail to hold back the flood of destruction.
Did you know that there are valves in your veins, too? They're there to prevent backflow and keep your blood moving in the proper direction: to the heart and lungs. Basically, they're these flaps that are only supposed to open up in the direction the blood is supposed to flow. What's tricky is when your blood is trying to move against the pull of gravity. Think of a waterfall that's trying to flow up rather than down (except, maybe, a little less dramatic). Fortunately, the muscles in your legs help squeeze the blood back up the veins, but even still, the veins that carry your blood from your feet and legs back up to your heart have to fight against gravity all the way, which means they're more likely to have valve problems than other veins in your body. And some people may have valves that are weaker than normal.
When your venous valves start to fail, blood leaks back through them and pools in the veins. This backed-up blood can eventually make the veins bigger and misshapen: varicose veins. (Spider veins, by the way, are like varicose veins, but on a smaller scale.) This valve failure happens quite often in the great saphenous vein that runs through the thigh, leading to varicose vein formation in the leg down below.
Over half of those 50 and older have varicose veins, so if you find yourself in this group, you're certainly not alone. There are a few risk factors for developing varicose veins, though, including a family history of the condition, obesity, pregnancy, age, lack of movement, hormonal changes (such as during puberty and menopause), exposure to sunlight, and being female. Varicose veins aren't usually dangerous, although you may find them painful or embarrassing. Occasionally, there are serious complications from the condition, such as ulcers or blood clots. (When clots form in veins deep in the leg, the condition is known as deep vein thrombosis. If the clot moves to the lungs, it can be life-threatening.)
If you get varicose veins, you probably won't start spitting steam or flashing red lights, shouting, "Danger! Danger!" Instead, (if the affected veins are near the skin) you're likely to notice that the veins in your leg look prominent, bulging, twisted, or cord-like. Or, you may find what looks like bunches of grapes beneath the skin. Your legs may feel achy, tired, or heavy. Varicose veins that are closer to your bones may not be as obvious visually, but you may have chronic swelling in your legs, ankles and feet, as well as aching, tiredness and heaviness in the legs. Sometimes people with varicose veins develop an itchy rash on the leg. More serious cases may involve discoloration of the skin and the development of ulcers.
Your foot doctor may opt to treat your varicose veins conservatively at first. He or she may suggest compression stockings as a way to give a bit of assistance to your veins. Compression stockings put pressure on the veins and help the blood to continue to flow upward to the heart. Support pantyhose provide a little assistance, and over-the-counter and prescription compression stockings are also available.
Exercise, keeping your legs elevated when sitting down, and losing weight can all help relieve problems from varicose veins. You'll also want to avoid crossing your legs, wearing tight clothing, and standing for long periods of time.
If conservative treatments don't adequately improve your symptoms, there are procedures available to treat the condition. Minimally invasive procedures may involve threading a catheter into the vein, then closing the vein using heat or chemicals. (Your blood will still flow through other veins, so don't stress about getting the problematic vein closed up.) Ultrasound may be used to guide such procedures on veins deep below the skin. Varicose veins can also be dealt with by getting lasers treatments on the skin surface. Or, your doctor may feel it's best to remove the varicose vein surgically.
So, as you can see, failing valves in the veins don't have to be the disaster that movies sometimes portray. With treatment (and with treating your veins kindly) you should be able to feel much better.
About the Author
Dr. Marble has more information about other foot and ankle conditions available free of charge. Visit http://www.puebloankleandfoot.com for more enlightening and interesting free information about other lower extremity conditions. Dr. Marble is a podiatrist who lives and practices in Pueblo, Colorado.
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