For people dealing with varicose veins, symptoms can vary on a large scale. They may cause insistent pain in some and hardly any pain in others. Properly recognizing signs and symptoms can be important for receiving specialized treatment. Understanding the symptoms you’re dealing with will help you determine whether or not to call the doctor.
Signs and Symptoms
Painless signs and symptoms of varicose veins may include:
- Veins appear dark purple or blue in color.
- Veins appear twisted and bulging, almost as if they’re cords whipping around the legs.
Painful signs and symptoms of varicose veins may include:
- Feelings of achiness or heaviness in the legs.
- Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling found in the lower legs.
- Pain that becomes worse or more noticeable after sitting or standing for long periods of time.
- Itching around one or more of the veins.
- Bleeding from varicose veins.
- A painful cord in the vein marked by red discoloration of the skin.
- Color changes, hardening of the vein, inflammation of the vein or ulcers near the ankle. These can mean that you have a serious type of vascular disease that will require medical attention.
- Spider veins: Smaller veins that are similar to varicose veins, but smaller. These are found closer to the surface of the vein, generally red or blue in coloration. They occur on the legs, but can also be found on the face. They’ll often appear similar to a spider’s web.
When to Call a Doctor
In most cases of varicose veins, home remedies and lifestyle changes will be enough to treat varicose veins and spider veins without specific medical attention. However, in certain cases, medical treatment will be necessary.
If any of the following situations have occurred, you should call your doctor:
- If symptoms become incapacitating, or if the skin over varicose veins becomes flaky, ulcerated, discolored or prone to bleeding. These could be signs that you’re developing a condition called stasis dermatitis, which can lead to issues like skin infections and chronic leg ulcers if left untreated.
- You have red, warm and tender varicose veins. These could be signs of phlebitis, which is caused by a blood clot in the affected vein.
- You have injured a varicose vein. In these cases, control the blood bursting with direct compression and leg elevation, and then have your veins evaluated by a vein specialist. In some cases, injured varicose veins can be serious complications.
If you believe you have the signs or symptoms of varicose or spider veins, speak to your doctor or vein specialist about diagnosis and possible treatment options.
Sources:
“Understanding Varicose Veins – Symptoms.” WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-varicose-veins-symptoms
“Varicose (Symptoms and causes).” The Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/varicose-veins/symptoms-causes/dxc-20178128
