772–774 ECCLESALL ROAD · SHEFFIELD · S11 8TB info@sheffieldveinclinic.co.uk
Condition Guide · Sheffield Vein Clinic
Persistent leg swelling and a feeling of heaviness in the legs is often a sign of an underlying venous condition — and it is more treatable than many patients realise. Prof Steve Goode, NHS Consultant Interventional Radiologist at Sheffield Vein Clinic, assesses and treats venous causes of leg swelling on Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.
Prof Goode performs every initial evaluation personally
Venous anatomy mapped at your first appointment
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Identifying what is causing your symptoms
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Leg swelling and heaviness are among the most common symptoms that bring patients to Sheffield Vein Clinic — and among the most frequently attributed to “just being on your feet all day” when there is, in fact, a treatable venous cause.
The following symptoms, particularly when they follow a characteristic pattern (worse through the day, better overnight, affecting one leg more than the other), suggest a venous origin that warrants proper assessment.
Leg swelling (oedema) occurs when fluid accumulates in the tissue of the lower leg. In venous disease, this happens because raised pressure within the veins — caused by venous reflux disease — forces fluid out of the blood vessels and into the surrounding tissue. This venous oedema typically follows a characteristic diurnal pattern: building through the day when you are upright, and reducing overnight when the legs are elevated.
At Sheffield Vein Clinic, Prof Goode specialises in identifying and treating venous causes of leg swelling. Non-venous causes — including cardiac, renal, hepatic and lymphatic conditions — may require assessment by other specialists, and Prof Goode will advise appropriately if a venous cause is not identified.
Common venous causes of leg swelling include:
Other causes of leg swelling — including heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease and lymphoedema — may present similarly but require different investigations. Prof Goode will assess whether a venous cause is present and advise on further investigation if appropriate.
A Common but Overlooked Pattern
Swelling that is worse by evening and better by morning — and that affects the ankles more than anywhere else — is characteristic of venous oedema. This pattern is frequently seen in patients who have been living with undiagnosed venous reflux disease for years. A duplex assessment takes the guesswork out of the diagnosis.
At your initial consultation, Prof Steve Goode will take a detailed history, examine the legs and perform a duplex ultrasound examination. This maps the anatomy of both the superficial and deep venous systems, identifies any areas of reflux or obstruction, and guides the treatment plan.
Duplex ultrasound is performed personally by Prof Goode — not by a technician at a separate appointment. This means you receive an expert opinion based on direct real-time imaging at the same visit.
In some cases, the history and duplex findings suggest a cause that falls outside venous disease — such as a lymphatic, cardiac or renal cause. Prof Goode will advise on the appropriate next steps and refer you accordingly, ensuring you are not left without a clear pathway forward.
For patients in Sheffield and across South Yorkshire, the combination of a same-day consultant assessment and duplex ultrasound in a single appointment at our Ecclesall Road clinic is a genuine advantage over pathways that require multiple referrals before a diagnosis is reached.
Persistent leg swelling caused by venous disease is a signal that venous pressure is elevated — and without treatment, both the swelling and the underlying disease tend to progress over time.
Treating the underlying venous cause — not just managing the swelling with compression — produces better long-term outcomes and improves quality of life.
IMPACT ON DAILY LIFE
Persistent leg heaviness, shoe tightness by evening and visible swelling affect comfort, mobility and self-confidence. Many patients adapt their lives around their symptoms without realising an effective treatment exists.
PROGRESSIVE SKIN CHANGES
Sustained elevated venous pressure causes progressive skin damage — discolouration, lipodermatosclerosis and venous eczema. These changes indicate worsening disease and increase the risk of ulceration without treatment.
ADVANCED COMPLICATION
In advanced venous disease, the skin breaks down and venous leg ulcers develop. These are painful, slow to heal and significantly affect quality of life. Early treatment of venous reflux dramatically reduces this risk.
Treating the underlying venous cause — rather than simply managing symptoms with compression — typically results in a meaningful reduction in leg swelling and heaviness and prevents progression of the underlying disease.
The appropriate treatment depends on the cause identified at duplex ultrasound. Prof Goode will recommend the most effective approach based on your anatomy — and will advise on compression therapy as an adjunct where appropriate.
Where venous reflux in the great or small saphenous vein is identified, EVLA is often the primary recommended treatment. Closing the incompetent vein reduces venous pressure — and in most patients leads to a significant reduction in leg swelling.
Used for varicose tributaries contributing to venous hypertension and swelling. Often used alongside EVLA as part of a combination approach to achieve comprehensive treatment of the venous system.
Medical-grade graduated compression hosiery is an important part of managing venous leg swelling — both as a treatment in its own right and as an adjunct following venous procedures. Prof Goode will advise on appropriate compression as part of your management plan.
Prof Steve Goode is a Consultant Interventional Radiologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and newly appointed Professor — bringing NHS subspecialty expertise in image-guided vascular procedures to his private practice at Sheffield Vein Clinic on Ecclesall Road.
Interventional Radiology is the specialty that pioneered the minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided techniques now used as the gold standard across vascular medicine. Prof Goode is research-active and his clinical practice is informed by current evidence — not historical protocols.
Sheffield Vein Clinic serves patients across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Chesterfield, Doncaster and the wider South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire region. No GP referral is required.
Answers to the questions patients in Sheffield most commonly ask before getting in touch.
A consultant-led assessment — including duplex ultrasound performed by Prof Steve Goode — will determine whether a venous cause is responsible and what treatment is right for you.
Sheffield Vein Clinic is at 772–774 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield — accessible from across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. No GP referral required. Appointments typically available within days.