Posted by John Berges on Wed, Mar 17, 2010 @ 07:03 PM
"Taking drugs for RLS and seeing no improvement?"
"I'm so frustrated with my restless leg condition. I get so little sleep. I can hardly keep my eyes open while at work. My meds are simply not calming my restless legs."
For years physicians thought restless leg syndrome (RLS) was solely a neurologic disorder. The irresistible urge to move one's legs during periods of rest or inactivity was considered solely a neurologic movement disorder. In view of poor results and intolerable side-effects with drugs, physicians began researching for more reliable non-pharmacologic options.
Researchers began to recognize that individuals experiencing episodic restless leg sensations actually demonstrated the same pathology involved with chronic venous insufficiency.
In 2007, a small pilot study involving nine subjects with moderate to severe restless leg sensations were subjected to daily one-hour treatments in the evening using compression device technology. All nine reported immediate improvement and none reported experiencing any adverse side-effects.
With the success of the pilot study, a larger study was performed in 2009 at Walter Reed Hospital. The study involving thirty-five patients with moderate to severe restless legs sensations confirmed that chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) symptoms did indeed overlay the same symptoms found with patients suffering RLS. The study confirmed evening inactivity along with venous reflux led to venous pooling of deoxygenated blood, tissue hypoxia, and the triggering of neuromuscular irritability which manifests in the form of calf-muscle spasms and restlessness of lower legs.
Taking a close look at the circulatory system ...
In order to understand the science, let's first review that it's the heart that pumps oxygenated blood to all parts of the body including the extremities via the arteries.
In turn, walking or exercise causes the calf-muscle to compress the leg veins, which propels the deoxygenated blood via the veins upward and back to the heart for re-circulation.
Taking a closer look at the venous valves ...
Inside the walls of veins are delicate one-way valves that open when the calf-muscle is compressed and conversely, close during periods of standing, sitting, or lying down. The closing of the valves during periods of inactivity prevents the deoxygenated blood from flowing backwards and pooling in the lower legs due to gravity.
What are the factors that cause chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)?
Pregnancy, occupations requiring long hours of standing, obesity, and/or blood clots can weaken or cause the one-way valves to weaken and become incompetent. As the valves become incompetent, the forces of gravity pull the deoxygenated blood backward through the valves causing venous blood to pool. The pooling of deoxygenated blood leads to the development of spider veins, varicosities, varicose veins, and swelling (edema), all of which are early signs of CVI.
The second component to CVI is calf-muscle dysfunction. During the evening hours when individuals want to relax and watch TV, the calf-muscle is inactive. The combination of calf-muscle inactivity along with incompetent, faulty valves leads to CVI.
The clinical study performed at the Walter Reed Hospital confirmed the components of CVI overlay the pathology for RLS. As a result, the study confirmed that pneumatic compression therapy helped calm the symptoms associated with RLS without using intolerable drugs and medications.
At the same time period, a prospective study was being untaken by Dr. Brian McDonagh and his team of physicians with patients complaining of restless leg syndrome who demonstrated symptoms of CVI. This study concluded CVI does indeed overlap the clinical symptoms found with patients suffering with RLS.
"The VENOWAVE is so comfortable that last night I fell asleep while wearing it. I love how my VENOWAVE gently massages away the heaviness and helps calms the restlessness that I sometimes feel."
Every twelve seconds the VENOWAVE delivers a wave of therapeutic compression directly to the calf-muscle. Each wave enhances venous and lymphatic drainage which reduces pooling of deoxygenated blood, helps reduce neuromuscular dysfunction, and consequently minimizes restlessness. Recommended time for treating CVI is one to two hours prior to bedtime.
The VENOWAVE with continuous wave-motion mimics the function of the calf-muscle and volumetrically displaces and improves venous and lymphatic drainage. Improving blood flow helps reduce the symptoms associated with CVI and restless legs.
The VENOWAVE can be worn while walking, sitting, or sleeping. The VENOGARD prevents bedding from getting caught in the device and impeding function.
The VENOWAVE is a Class II medical device and requires a written prescription by the patient's doctor. The VENOWAVE is applied and worn directly to the calf-muscle and worn throughout the day. The rechargeable battery system allows the wearer complete freedom. The VENOWAVE can be worn anywhere and at anytime of the day. Since the operation is totally silent, the device does not disturb the patient at sleep time or during work.
So if you are unresponsive or intolerable to drugs for restless legs, you may be a candidate for the VENOWAVE, a non-pharmacologic therapy device for treating chronic venous insufficiency and restless legs.
Take the 1st Step, go to www.vasocare.net, and click-on the Restless Legs link. Learn how the VENOWAVE treats CVI and helps calm restless legs.
The 2nd Step is about downloading the Prescription/Rx form and asking your physician to complete, sign, and fax back the Prescription/Rx form to VasoCARE for the treatment of CVI with restless legs.
Posted by John Berges on Wed, Mar 17, 2010 @ 06:56 PM
"I had a DVT during knee surgery ... Today I suffer with Post Thrombotic Syndrome"
Those words are repeated by individuals everyday throughout the U.S. It's true! Individuals undergoing any type of surgery are at risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) during or immediately after undergoing surgery.
Why are individuals undergoing surgery at risk for developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT)? Venous thrombosis or blood clots occur in veins of the lower limbs. During the course of surgery, patients are immobilized and as such calf-muscle contractions are not occurring. It's during this time that venous blood begins to pool and become stagnant.
The risk of developing a DVT increases as the surgical time increases and the blood begins to pool. It's this pooling of blood that leads to clot formation inside the lining of a vein wall. Clots gradually grow in size and either partially or completely occludes the vein. As the clot moves, the microscopic hair-like valves are damaged and become incompetent.
What is meant by incompetent valves?
Below is an illustration of the one-way valves found inside veins: The far left illustrates the valves when open as the calf-muscle contracts and forces the venous blood flow through the valves. The center illustration shows competent valves in the closed position during times when the individual is either standing or sitting. The closing of the valves prevents venous blood from flowing backward due to gravity. The far right illustration shows damaged valves when the thrombus (clot) destroyed the valves and causes the valves to become permanently incompetent, no longer opening and closing. This condition is known as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI).
What are the early signs of CVI?
The first signs of CVI are ankle and leg swelling. Swelling occurs because the blood that has pooled in the veins causes abnormally high pressure in the veins. As the pressure and swelling increases, the skin of the legs may actually leak tiny drops of plasma, which is the pale yellow fluid part of blood. Eventually, the capillaries burst under the high pressure, releasing red blood cells and giving that area of the skin a reddish-brown discoloration. The discolored skin is easily broken by a scratch or bump. When this happens, the patient frequently develops leg ulcers, called venous stasis ulcers, which can become infected. An infected skin ulcer will ooze pus and have a foul-smelling discharge. If the infection spreads to the surrounding tissue, the patient develops a condition called cellulitis. Other symptoms of CVI include legs that ache, feel heavy, or feel tired, especially after long periods of standing; new varicose veins; leg skin that looks and feels leathery; and flaking and itching in the affected area of the legs.
Physicians usually refer to damaged venous valves as being incompetent or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). This condition is also known as post thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Post thrombotic syndrome is a chronic lifetime problem that greatly affects a person's quality of life.
The VENOWAVE can successfully treat and manage PTS by delivering ten peristaltic compression cycles per minute. Each compression cycle helps enhances venous blood flow towards the heart and reduces venous hypertension. Reducing swelling helps control venous hypertension which helps improve arterial blood flow (oxygenated blood and nutrients) to the tissue of the lower limb. Improved circulation in the legs helps manage and prevent PTS from progressing to venous stasis ulcers. The VENOWAVE is a Class II medical device and requires a written prescription by the patient's surgeon. The VENOWAVE is applied and worn directly to the calf-muscle and worn throughout the day. The rechargeable battery system allows the wearer complete freedom. The VENOWAVE can be worn anywhere and at anytime of the day. Since the operation is totally silent, co-workers have no idea that the wearer is receiving constant dynamic compression therapy.
The VENOWAVE is your personal medical device for treating and managing your PTS condition, be it at home or at work.
Take the 1st Step, go to www.vasocare.net, and click-on Post Thrombotic Syndrome link. Learn how the VENOWAVE treats and manages PTS.
The 2nd Step is about downloading the Prescription/Rx form and asking your physician to prescribe the VENOWAVE for treating and managing your PTS condition. Only the VENOWAVE allows for complete disease state management by YOU!
Posted by John Berges on Wed, Mar 17, 2010 @ 06:50 PM
Patients undergoing surgery are at the highest risk for developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Six percent of individuals undergoing surgery develop deep vein thrombosis. DVT is the number one preventable killer in the United States. The Surgeon General recently released a white paper entitled "Call to Action," which solicits physicians, nurses, hospitals, manufacturers, and the American people to take an active role in preventing DVT. The Surgeon General's primary role is to provide appropriate information to reduce the risk of death, injury, and illness associated with deep vein thrombosis. The "Call to Action" places a spotlight on the need to prevent DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE). The Surgeon General report provides vital information regarding this critical health problem that causes enormous health consequences and an alarming number of deaths. Estimates suggest that up to 2,000,000 Americans each year contract DVT, and at least 100,000 deaths are directly related to DVT each year. Those who survive suffer chronic complications that have a serious and negative impact on the quality of their lives. Without the joint efforts of all, the problem will only worsen as the population grows in the United States.
Venous thrombosis or blood clots occur in veins of the lower limbs. During the course of surgery, the patient is immobilized and their calf-muscles are no longer contracting which pushes the venous blood back to the heart. The type of surgery usually determines the time the patient is immobilized. The length of surgical time increases the risk for blood pooling and becoming stagnant. It's this pooling of blood that leads to clots forming along the inside lining of the walls of veins. Clots gradually grow in size to either partially or completely occluding a vein. As the clot develops and moves, the microscopic hair-like valves are damaged and become incompetent.
As the clot passes through the one-way valves within the walls of the vein, the tiny valves may become permanently damaged or incompetent. Physicians usually refer to damaged valves as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) or post thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Post thrombotic syndrome is a lifetime problem and greatly affects a person's quality of life. Worse, the clot may travel to the lungs, heart, or brain, where the patient may die from an embolus.
The VENOWAVE represents a clear solution in preventing DVT for individuals undergoing surgery. The VENOWAVE is a Class II medical device and requires a written prescription by the patient's surgeon. The VENOWAVE is applied and worn directly to the calf-muscle throughout the surgical procedure and as long as 90 days after the surgery. The VENOWAVE effectively enhances the venous blood flow and reduces the chance of developing a DVT (blood clots) by 80%.
Take the 1st Step, go to
www.vasocare.net, and click-on the
Deep Vein Thrombosis link. Learn how the VENOWAVE prevents DVT and saves lives. In addition, the VENOWAVE can help individuals suffering with Post Thrombotic Syndrome.
The 2nd Step is about asking your surgeon to prescribe the VENOWAVE prior to your surgery. The VENOWAVE represents real insurance in preventing DVT and PTS.