Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

This condition is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep inside the body. This type of clot most commonly develops in the legs. This condition is dangerous, because the clot can break free and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs.

Deep vein thrombosis can be treated with compression stockings and with medications that help thin the blood and break up the clot. For some patients, a filter may be inserted into the vena cava vein in the abdomen to prevent a clot from traveling up through the bloodstream to the lungs.

Venous Disease Q & A

What is venous disease?

Venous disease affects your veins — the blood vessels that carry blood back to your heart. Your veins have to work against gravity to move blood from your legs and arms back to your heart and lungs. There are tiny valves in your veins that help push your blood along its journey.

Venous disease weakens or damages those valves. As a result, your blood doesn’t flow as efficiently and can even leak backward and pool in a section of a weakened vein. There are several types of venous disease, including:

• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Blood closets
• Varicose and spider veins
• Ulcers 

Venous disease usually affects your legs and causes a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including aching pain, cramping, leg heaviness, fatigue, and swelling. Your skin might become dark or discolored, or you could develop an itchy rash. 

Eventually, the swelling and reduced blood flow can cause nerve damage, which produces sharp, stabbing pain, numbness, and weakness. 

Why does venous disease cause pain?

Venous disease interferes with your circulation, which can cause aching cramps and muscle fatigue. You might also experience painful sensations in your legs at night that prevent you from sleeping. The condition also often causes swelling, which is uncomfortable and can lead to nerve compression and damage. 

How is venous disease diagnosed?

The team at University Pain and Spine Center diagnoses venous disease and related pain with a comprehensive exam and diagnostic testing. They examine your legs for skin changes, varicose veins, and swelling. In many cases, the team uses ultrasound and MRIs to analyze your veins and other blood vessels to confirm your diagnosis. 

They also use nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) to check for signs of nerve damage. 

How is venous disease-related pain treated?

The best way to relieve venous disease-related pain is to address the underlying condition. The team at the University Pain and Spine Center might collaborate with a vascular health specialist to provide treatments like sclerotherapy or endovenous laser treatment to close weak and damaged veins. 

Depending on your condition, they might also recommend physical therapy or nerve pain treatments like nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, or spinal cord stimulation to reduce your pain. 

You don’t have to live with venous disease-related pain. Call University Pain and Spine Center or make an appointment online today.