Venous Insufficiency
What it is
Venous insufficiency is when blood has trouble flowing back up from the legs to the heart. The legs may feel heavy, swollen, or even painful.
What you can do at home
What to do
- Raise your legs to heart level, ideally while lying down, with 2 to 3 cushions under the calves.
- Stay in this position for 30 minutes.
- Repeat 3 to 4 times a day, if possible.
- Get 20 to 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week.
Walk whenever possible.
Compression socks
- Wear compression socks if recommended by a healthcare professional.
- Follow the pharmacist’s advice to choose suitable compression socks.
- In the morning, put on compression socks before getting up. Otherwise, lie down and raise your legs for 20 minutes before putting them on.
Avoid
- Avoid clothing that is tight around the waist or legs.
- Avoid crossing the legs.
- Avoid massaging or rubbing the legs.
- Avoid standing or sitting for long periods.
When to seek medical attention
The skin on your legs changes colour or texture
Spots appearing on your legs
Leg pain that continues, even after following this advice
Legs that swell and stay swollen (edema)
A wound on a leg or foot that does not heal
A wound that smells bad, or skin around the wound that is red, swollen, warm, or has pus (yellow-green fluid)
Need help?
Call Info-Santé at 811, Option 1, to speak with a nurse at any time.
Go to the pharmacy for advice on medications or treatment.
Make an appointment at your medical clinic or CLSC.
If you do not have a family doctor, go to gap.soinsvirtuels or call 811, Option 3.
When to go to the hospital right away
Severe pain in your leg (calf or thigh), especially with pain when touching the affected area, unusual swelling, redness, warmth, fever, or a hard, painful vein that feels like a cord under the skin
Very severe pain with a pale, cold leg
Tingling, numbness, or paralysis in a leg
Severe chest pain that begins suddenly
Shortness of breath that begins suddenly, with or without coughing up blood
Bleeding from a small swollen vein (varicose vein) that does not stop