Treating Your Leg Swelling Can’t Get Any Easier!
Abnormal buildup of fluid in the ankles, feet, and legs can cause swelling. This fluid buildup and swelling is called edema.
Some tips that may help reduce swelling:
- Put your legs on pillows to raise them above your heart while lying down.
- Exercise your legs. This helps pump fluid from your legs back to your heart.
- Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling.
- Wear support stockings (Only if your doctor prescribed it).
- When traveling, take breaks often to stand up and move around.
- Lose weight if you need to.
Never stop taking any medicines you think may be causing swelling without first talking to your health care provider.
Leg swelling (edema), causes and treatments:
Although, there are potentially many reasons for leg swelling , it is important to note that most are not normal part of aging and, hence, need to be investigated.
Leg swelling can be caused by different reasons that may range from very serious to more benign and chronic causes. The more serious causes of leg swelling include heart failure and blood clot in the leg (Deep Venous Thrombosis).
The less serious causes also include many reasons like medications and arthritis or inflammation. However, the most interesting cause that is also very common but least understood by medical providers is Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI).
Leg edema caused by (CVI) is typically worse towards the end of the day, after prolonged standing or sitting. In advanced cases, the swelling may be constant and even interfering with moving around or walking.
Venous insufficiency:
is a progressive medical condition in which the valves that allow the blood to travel from the legs to the heart no longer function. This can cause blood to pool in the legs causing veins to swell. The incorrect blood flow (or reflux) causes the blood to seep into the tissues and cause swelling, pain and cramps in the legs.
Patients with chronic venous insufficiency(CVI) of lower extremities can often start to present with complaints of leg pain, fatigue or ache, cramps (Charley Horses), restless legs, and varicose or spider veins, in addition to the leg swelling . In more advanced cases, skin discoloration (Stasis Dermatitis) and skin hardening (fibrosis and panniculitis) as well as dreadful ulcerations(Venous Ulcers) may develop.
How is CVI diagnosed?
We will first get a thorough history and examine your legs. The confirmation of the diagnosis requires a specialized ultrasound of your legs that we will do in our Las Vegas Alpha Vein Clinic.
How is leg edema treated?
Your leg swelling is comfortably treatable through a simple in-office and minimally invasive procedure. It is performed under local anesthesia and is well covered by most insurance companies. Early treatment is crucial to prevent further complications. Since the valves in the legs cannot be repaired, the only alternative is to reroute the blood flow from the diseased veins to healthy veins. Traditionally, this has been done by surgically removing (stripping) the troublesome vein from your leg. The Venefit procedure or Clarivein Occlusion , however, provides a less invasive alternative to vein stripping by simply closing the non-functioning vein. Once the diseased vein is closed, it remains harmless in the body and other healthier veins take over.
We understand how life can be with swollen legs and we are confident that our treatments can help. Come to Alpha Vein Clinic in Las Vegas for the latest in minimally invasive vein procedures and we will do all we can to make your experience comfortable and easy. Sit back and let your veins be our pain!
Alpha Vein Clinic
Vein Clinic Las Vegas
3150 N. Tenaya Way Ste. 400
Las Vegas, NV, 89128
(702) 430 7661
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