Venous Conditions | Orbis Vascular

Venous Conditions & Leg Vein Health

Venous conditions such as varicose veins, venous insufficiency, blood clots, and venous ulcers can cause leg pain, swelling, skin changes, and non-healing wounds. At Orbis Vascular, we focus on accurate diagnosis and minimally invasive treatments to improve circulation, relieve symptoms, and protect long-term leg health.

Varicose Veins

Enlarged, twisted veins caused by faulty valves and poor circulation, leading to leg swelling and heaviness.

Read more about varicose veins

Varicose veins occur when the valves inside the leg veins become weak or damaged. Instead of flowing smoothly back toward the heart, blood pools in the veins, causing them to stretch, bulge, and become visible under the skin.

Common symptoms

  • Visible, bulging or rope-like veins in the legs
  • Heaviness, aching, or throbbing in the calves
  • Swelling around the ankles, especially at the end of the day
  • Itching or burning over the veins
  • Night cramps or restlessness in the legs

Why treatment matters

While varicose veins are often seen as a cosmetic concern, they can also be a sign of underlying venous insufficiency. Without treatment, symptoms may worsen and increase the risk of skin discoloration, inflammation, and venous ulcers.

Treatment options

Depending on severity, treatment may include compression stockings, lifestyle changes, or minimally invasive procedures such as endovenous laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation, or sclerotherapy to close diseased veins and reroute blood flow to healthier ones.

Venous Insufficiency

Impaired blood flow from the legs back to the heart causing leg swelling, skin changes, and venous ulcers.

Read more about venous insufficiency

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) occurs when the valves in the leg veins do not close properly. This allows blood to flow backward and pool in the lower legs, increasing pressure in the veins and surrounding tissues.

Typical features

  • Chronic leg swelling, especially around the ankles
  • Skin darkening or discoloration (brown or reddish areas)
  • Itchy, dry, or thickened skin on the lower legs
  • A feeling of heaviness, fatigue, or tightness in the legs
  • Development of varicose veins and, over time, venous ulcers

Potential complications

If left untreated, CVI can lead to painful, non-healing venous ulcers and recurrent skin infections. Early treatment reduces symptoms and protects the skin and soft tissues.

Treatment options

Treatment may include compression therapy, elevation, weight management, and targeted vein procedures to close or remove diseased veins, improve blood return to the heart, and reduce long-term complications.

Thrombosis (Blood Clots)

Blood clot obstructing blood flow, leading to pain, swelling, or serious complications if not treated.

Read more about thrombosis

Venous thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms inside a vein, partially or completely blocking blood flow. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) most commonly affects the deep veins of the legs and requires urgent attention.

Warning signs

  • Sudden leg swelling, usually in one leg
  • Pain or tenderness in the calf or thigh
  • Warmth, redness, or firmness along a vein
  • Shortness of breath or chest pain (possible sign of pulmonary embolism—call 911)

Why thrombosis is serious

If a part of the clot breaks loose, it can travel to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are critical to prevent serious complications.

Treatment options

Management may include blood thinners (anticoagulants), compression therapy, and in selected cases, minimally invasive clot-removal or catheter-directed thrombolysis to restore blood flow and reduce long-term damage to the veins.

Venous Ulcers

Non-healing sores on the legs caused by untreated venous insufficiency and chronic pressure/pooling from poor circulation.

Read more about venous ulcers

Venous ulcers are open sores that usually occur around the ankles or lower legs. They develop when long-standing venous insufficiency and high pressure in the veins damage the skin and underlying tissue, making it difficult for wounds to heal.

Common features

  • Shallow, irregular wounds near the ankles
  • Surrounding skin that is dark, hardened, or inflamed
  • Drainage or recurring infection
  • Associated leg swelling and aching

Why prompt care is important

Venous ulcers can persist for months or years without proper treatment and significantly affect quality of life. They increase the risk of infection, hospitalization, and scarring.

Treatment approach

Treatment typically combines wound care, compression therapy, and venous procedures to correct the underlying circulation problem. Improving venous flow is essential to allow ulcers to close and to prevent new wounds from forming.

Concerned About Leg Swelling or Varicose Veins?

If you have leg swelling, visible veins, or non-healing sores, a venous evaluation at Orbis Vascular can help identify the cause and guide effective treatment.

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