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Venous Insufficiency and Peripheral Vascular Disease
(PVD) Public Education Series
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Night-time
Leg Cramps |
| Summary: |
Vein valve failure is often the underlying cause
of night-time leg cramps. |
| Problem: |
Usually this is a missed diagnosis: Vein failure
is not considered as a diagnosis, and the patient is simply medicated without
adequate testing.
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When patients are seen for night-time leg cramps, physicians often consider
more obvious possibilities such as low potassium or low calcium levels, and, too
often, they do not consider and investigate the possibility of vein valve
failure as the underlying cause. These patients, unfortunately, are seldom
referred to a vein office for a simple ultrasound diagnostic test - the
standing venous insufficiency exam. Venous insufficiency is often not even
considered as a the cause. Even patients with other obvious clues suggesting
venous disease (symptoms of leg pain, night cramps, or restlessness, and
physical signs including spider veins, varicose veins, blue veins at the ankle,
skin discoloration, or swelling) are often offered only chronic medication and
other palliative care.
"A large percentage of people have vein problems - approximately 50% of
people over 55 years old! Most are not getting the simple evaluation and modern
treatments they need," says Dr. Mountcastle. "They suffer needlessly.
Their legs continue to deteriorate. Simple in-office procedures to treat venous
insufficiency will alleviate these nocturnal cramps."
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