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What is venous insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency is when the valves in your leg veins stop working and blood pools. It is behind varicose and spider veins. Here is what it is and how to treat it.
- Venous insufficiency is when leg vein valves fail and blood pools.
- Early on it is often silent, or shows as spider veins.
- Varicose veins are the visible sign of the same disease.
- Untreated, it can progress to swelling, skin changes and ulcers.
- Varicose veins can be treated without surgery.
Venous insufficiency is a common chronic condition of the legs, when the valves inside the veins no longer work as they should. These valves normally keep blood moving up towards the heart, against gravity. When they fail, blood is allowed to flow backwards and pool in the leg, which can damage the veins further and cause symptoms.
The typical symptoms of venous insufficiency
Early on, venous insufficiency is often symptom-free. As it progresses, it can show as spider veins or varicose veins, along with pain, swelling, oedema, skin changes and, at the worst stage, leg ulcers.
| Stage | Typical signs |
|---|---|
| Early | Often no symptoms, or spider veins and mild heaviness. |
| Moderate | Visible varicose veins, pain, swelling and skin changes. |
| Advanced | Persistent swelling and, at worst, leg ulcers. |
Whatever the stage, a varicose vein can be treated without surgery: focused ultrasound (echotherapy) closes it with no incision.
Varicose veins: insufficiency made visible
Varicose veins are veins with faulty valves: blood pools, and over time the walls stretch and bulge under the skin. The visible vein is usually only part of the affected segment, the full extent often runs deeper. Twisted and swollen, they are frequently a cosmetic concern, and if they cause no discomfort there is no urgent need to treat them. But as the disease worsens, pain, sore skin and disturbed sleep can appear, so it is worth discussing options with a doctor.
Spider veins: a sign of venous insufficiency?
Spider veins, or thread veins, are tiny vessels in the top layer of the skin, showing as thin red lines like a spider web. They are not the same as varicose veins, but can be a first sign of venous insufficiency. Studies link the extent of spider veins to the severity of varicose veins, though spider veins are far more common and do not always lead to disease that needs treatment.
Not sure how they differ? See spider veins vs varicose veins, and whether varicose veins are dangerous.
Treating varicose veins and spider veins
Spider veins are usually treated for cosmetic reasons only and are rarely reimbursed. Varicose veins may need medical treatment when they cause pain, and are often covered by insurance. Options include laser or radiofrequency ablation, sclerotherapy and surgical stripping. Echotherapy, a newer thermal method, uses therapeutic ultrasound with no catheter, so it is completely incision-free.
Wondering whether echotherapy is available near you? A growing network of centres is already equipped with the SONOVEIN.
Questions fréquentes
What is chronic venous insufficiency?
A common condition where the valves in the leg veins no longer close properly, so blood flows backwards and pools, damaging the veins over time.
What are the symptoms of venous insufficiency?
It can be silent early on, then cause spider or varicose veins, pain, swelling, skin changes and, at worst, leg ulcers.
Are spider veins a sign of venous insufficiency?
They can be an early sign, though many people with spider veins never develop insufficiency that needs treatment.
Is venous insufficiency the same as varicose veins?
Varicose veins are one visible sign of venous insufficiency, but the disease usually affects deeper veins too.
How is venous insufficiency treated?
When it causes symptoms, the faulty vein can be closed by laser, radiofrequency, sclerotherapy, surgery, or non-invasively with echotherapy.