Chronic Venous Insufficiency​ | Treatment & Diagnosis

Venous Insufficiency Symptoms

• Varicose veins
• Restless leg syndrome 
• Itchy skin on legs and feet
• Swelling and pain in the legs
• Discolored skin, usually near the ankles
• Burning or tingling sensation in your legs
• Painful cramps in the legs, especially at night
• Open sores near your ankles that are hard to treat
• An urge to move your legs or an uncomfortable feeling in your legs

Stages of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

• C0

There are no visible signs of CVI in stage C0. At this stage, you won’t have any swelling or noticeable veins. Your doctor will probably advise you to adopt a healthier diet and engage in more exercise because losing weight can reduce the progression of CVI.

• C1

You will begin to notice symptoms of CVI in stage C1. You will also notice reticular veins, which are visible veins that range in diameter from 1 to 3 millimeters (mm). Additionally, you can have visible blood vessels that are less than 1 mm in diameter, known as telangiectasias or spider veins.

While telangiectasias show up as tiny red lines beneath your skin, reticular veins are usually blue or purple. Your blood arteries and veins will be visible at stage C1, but they won’t be protruding.

• C2

You will begin to notice varicose veins at this stage. Because varicose veins are swollen, you can feel them sticking out from under your skin. Stage C2r is the substage of stage C2. This stage pertains to varicose veins that keep returning despite therapy.

At this stage, doctors may advise you to wear compression clothing and exercise frequently. Varicose veins can also be corrected with treatments. The doctor may administer a sclerotherapy injection to cause your veins to scar down. Another method for treating varicose veins is endovenous ablation, which employs a laser to seal them off.

• C3

At this stage, you will begin to experience edema. Edema is primarily caused by swelling in your legs. You will not experience any changes to the skin at this stage. For relief, you might be advised to wear compression garments and seek treatment for varicose veins, if needed. 

• C4

You will begin experiencing changes to your skin along with edema at this stage. This stage is subdivided into three:-

• C4a. The skin might change, and you might have red and itchy skin with small brown or grey markings on your skin. 
• C4b. The skin may change its texture and can harden or thicken. You may also notice some scar marks along your legs. 
• C4c. The veins and blood vessels around your ankles will be visible. It’s called corona phlebectatica 

Along with the treatment for swelling and varicose veins, the doctor may suggest some skin care to treat the skin changes.

• C5

At this stage, you will experience open wounds, known as ulcers, on your legs. The doctor would suggest some medicated creams and dressings to help the ulcers heal. 

The substage of C5 says that it is not the first time the ulcers have formed, but they have come back despite treatment.