Symptoms Of Varicose Veins
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What are the signs and symptoms of varicose veins?
Varicose veins may not cause any pain. Signs you may have varicose veins include:
- • Veins that are dark purple or blue in color
- • Veins that appear twisted and bulging; they are often like cords on your legs
When painful signs and symptoms occur, they may include:
- • An achy or heavy feeling in your legs
- • Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in your lower legs
- • Worsened pain after sitting or standing for a long time
- • Itching around one or more of your veins
- • Skin discoloration around a varicose vein
- • In severe cases, a varicose vein may rupture, or develop into varicose ulcers on the skin which is very difficult to be treated with conventional methods.
- • Many people find they need to sit or lie down and elevate their legs to relieve these symptoms.
- • People who have chronic venous insufficiency can have symptoms even without visible dilated and tortuous veins on the skin surface. The symptoms may be caused by pressure of the veins on nerves.
- • Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, but they're smaller. Spider veins are found closer to the skin's surface and are often red or blue. They may also be associated with itching, burning, or throbbing pain in the legs.
Complications
What are the complications associated with varicose veins?
Complications of varicose veins include:
- • Ulcers: Painful ulcers may form on the skin near varicose veins, particularly near the ankles. A discolored spot on the skin usually begins before an ulcer forms. See your doctor immediately if you suspect you've developed an ulcer.
- • Blood clots: Occasionally, veins deep within the legs become enlarged. In such cases, the affected leg may become painful and swell. Any persistent leg pain or swelling warrants medical attention because it may indicate a blood clot — a condition known medically as thrombophlebitis.
- • Bleeding: Occasionally, veins very close to the skin may burst. This usually causes only minor bleeding. But any bleeding requires medical attention