By Patrick Nero, MD, FACS – Vein Specialists
There are many reasons people have trouble sleeping at night, but there is one cause that is often overlooked. If you have restless legs, leg cramps or night time urination keeping you up, then chronic venous insufficiency may be the cause.
Venous insufficiency is a very common and underdiagnosed condition affecting millions of Americans. It is estimated to be present in as much as 40% of the population and becomes more prevalent after age 50. Heredity is the major cause, and other risk factors are a history of blood clots or DVT, obesity, standing or sedentary occupation, female gender and prior pregnancies though the condition afflicts many men as well.
Venous insufficiency is a condition that develops over time as the valves in the leg veins that keep blood flowing back to the heart fail. This leads to the pooling of blood in the legs and causes high pressure in the venous system which is normally a low pressure system. This high pressure in the leg veins throughout the day leads to the various signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency.
Most people are aware of the most common sign of venous insufficiency which is varicose veins, but many people without varicose veins also have the condition. Leg swelling as well as achy, heavy or tired legs at the end of the day are common signs and symptoms. Over time, in severe cases, the skin around the ankles can become discolored, thickened or even ulcerated.
As the pressure in the venous system builds throughout the day when patients are on their feet, signs and symptoms progress and are worse in the evening and at bedtime. This is when the lesser known symptoms of venous insufficiency such as restless legs, leg cramps and excessive urination become problematic and can rob a patient of a good night’s sleep. At night, when you elevate your legs or lay down, there is a decrease in venous pressure and a fluid shift from the interstitial space (edema) through the dermal lymphatics which causes tingling, pain, cramping, heaviness and a feeling of unrest and an urge to move your legs. Fluid that has leaked out of the veins during the day works back into the vascular system at night and the kidneys process this fluid overnight resulting in excessive urination.
All of these signs and symptoms can exist in the absence of venous insufficiency but many patients’ signs and symptoms are related to venous disease. These signs and symptoms often improve dramatically with the treatment of venous insufficiency.
Modern vein evaluation and intervention is much different than it was years ago. Prior to 2000, procedures such as vein stripping were very invasive, required general anesthesia and had unacceptably high complication rates. For this reason, most patients with venous insufficiency were forced to suffer as there were no effective treatment options available other than compression hose and leg elevation.
At Vein Specialists in Fort Myers and Bonita Springs/ Naples, we offer comprehensive, modern vein evaluation and care. Dr. Joseph Magnant and I are board certified surgeons focused 100% on the management of venous disease. We start by taking a detailed history and physical exam and then offer detailed ultrasound evaluations in our office which is the gold standard in evaluating venous disease. We are then able to formulate a specific treatment plan tailored to each patient.
Often the best treatment option for patients with venous insufficiency is something called endovenous ablation or vein closure. This can be accomplished with either laser or radiofrequency catheters that allow us to heat and permanently seal the poorly functioning veins decreasing the venous pressure in the leg and significantly improving if not resolving signs and symptoms, including those that keep many patients awake at night. This procedure is minimally invasive and offered under local anesthesia in both of our office locations with minimal discomfort.
If you or a loved one is having trouble sleeping at night due to restless legs, leg cramps or excessive nighttime urination, or is experiencing any of the other signs and symptoms associated with venous insufficiency, please consider visiting our website at Weknowveins.com for more information. Dr. Magnant and I see patients along with our two highly trained nurse practitioners in both our Fort Myers and Bonita Springs/ Naples locations daily so call for an appointment today.
Leaders in Vein Treatment
The modern evaluation and treatment of venous insufficiency is the singular focus of Dr. Magnant and Dr. Nero and the professional and compassionate staff at Vein Specialists in Fort Myers and Bonita Springs, FL. They can be contacted either by calling 239-694-8346 or through the website, www.weknowveins.com, where patients can submit their request for an appointment. They encourage readers to review the website which is specifically written for patients and also take the time to view the photo gallery. Venous disease is not a laughing matter, but sometimes it is only through humor that some of us are motivated to act.
1510 Royal Palm Square Blvd., Suite 101, Fort Myers, Florida | 3359 Woods Edge Circle, Suite 102, Bonita Springs, Florida