Common leg issues

Self Examination

Correct diagnosis is the first stage of understanding and then managing leg health problems. Specialists in this area also suggest that you regularly examine your legs and pay attention to leg well-being after a working day, to make sure that you can see any notable changes quickly. In most cases, vein symptoms get more pronounced in the afternoon, when usually you can feel your legs are getting tired, heavy and swollen, so ideally your self-examination should be made in the evening. Just as ideally you need to visit your dentist or gynecologist once a year as a minimum, try to regularly diagnose your veins with a vein doctor, otherwise known as a phlebologist, if you believe you have problems with the veins in your legs.

Doctor’s Examination

Visual examination (anamnesis) and conversation with your doctor are essential. You will be asked about possible risk factors: hereditary predisposition, occupation, excessive weight, height, pregnancies and children, smoking, contraceptive administration, etc. Visual examination is conducted in the standing position at a special tabouret, which is a vein pedestal.

This clinical examination by the doctor is supported by different diagnosis methods, namely Dopplersonography or a Duplex Ultrasound Scan. This is an objective noninvasive examination which enables the doctor to see an image of the vessels and surrounding tissues, the anatomical status of the legs and even the blood flow in the legs. Being noninvasive, it is absolutely painless, not radiation induced and does not need any advance preparation. There are no contraindications or side effects from the scan. Therefore, this is a way to see your vein from the inside and check its status so that the specialist can locate any specific vein disorder segment, reflux, ailment cause, surgery and therefore define the correct therapeutic treatment option.

Photoplethysmography

This complementary method can verify whether the blood flow in the veins towards the heart is guaranteed. It helps to check the refilling time of the veins and evaluate the muscle pump function. This method is also painless and safe for the examinee.

Duplex Ultrasound is currently the leading diagnostic tool in contemporary phlebology.

For advice on how to reduce or even avoid leg issues, please click here for steps to healthier legs and treatment options.