Home > What are the Symptoms of Early Stage Varicose Veins?
Updated on May 23, 2023 by Dr. Jonathan Arad (Vein Doctor) of Vein Care Center
Having varicose veins is a dreaded condition due to the cosmetic concern it leaves on your legs. No topical at-home products offer significant results to reduce the appearance of twisted and enlarged veins in your legs. Aside from this, varicose veins also cause leg pain and other types of discomfort. That’s why patients must be aware of their risk factors for developing this condition and know its early symptoms.
So what are the symptoms of early-stage varicose veins? Varicose veins can start with the appearance of spider veins. But spider veins are sometimes unrelated to the enlarged, rope-like veins in your legs and become a sign of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Some of the early signs of varicose veins are burning pain in the legs, itchiness, swelling, skin discoloration, and inflammation around the bulging veins.
Varicose veins are the twisted and bulging veins in your legs, sometimes coming in blue or purple. Aside from being a cosmetic issue, this condition may also cause some discomfort, like leg pain, restless legs, and others. It may also be a sign of an underlying medical condition, like chronic venous insufficiency or deep vein thrombosis, which can be life-threatening. If left unmanaged or untreated, this can lead to serious reactions.
The progression of varicose veins depends on each patient, so predicting how fast it will develop may not be so easy.
But generally, you may notice some symptoms of varicose veins in its early stages, like:
Following these symptoms, most patients would eventually notice a bulging, rope-like leg vein, which becomes more painful if left untreated. You might want to manage your varicose veins soon enough, even when the enlarged veins aren’t appearing yet. Consult a reliable vein specialist to provide you with the right treatment plan and avoid serious adverse reactions.
A varicose vein is caused by a damaged vein or weakened valve, causing the blood to collect in the veins instead of flowing smoothly back to the heart. Vein valves prevent blood from flowing back as it returns to the heart for proper blood circulation. When veins become faulty, blood refluxes and pools in the veins. Too much blood exerts an increased pressure into the vein wall, stretching, twisting, and making it enlarged.
The development of varicose veins depends on various factors. These are the reasons why some patients have enlarged veins sooner than others. You might want to know about these factors to determine if you have a higher predisposition to developing venous disease. These risks include:
Consult a vein specialist to learn more about your risk factors and the condition of your vein health. Varicose veins don’t always involve the appearance of an enlarged vein and only present as pain.
The appearance of an enlarged vein is rarely life-threatening, but patients should still manage it properly and consider having the right varicose vein treatment. Once your varicose vein becomes severe with serious symptoms, it can greatly affect your quality of life and even become dangerous.
Varicose veins can be a sign of an underlying medical condition, like chronic venous insufficiency or deep vein thrombosis.
To know when your case becomes severe, you might first learn more about its stages and symptoms:
To know if your varicose veins are already severe, you might want to observe if you’ve been experiencing chronic pain, swelling, bleeding, and ulcerations. But you may not want to wait for your affected vein to progress into a severe case. In fact, vein specialists recommend seeking treatment as early as an enlarged vein develops.
You might want to manage and seek treatment for your varicose veins as early as you see an enlarged vein and experience discomfort. Most solutions for this venous disease are minimally invasive, with little risks and minimal downtime.
Vein Care Center is one of the best clinics for removing varicose veins, with cutting-edge equipment to provide effective results. There are also other treatment options available in other clinics aside from those at Vein Care Center.
Vein Care Center is equipped with advanced equipment to provide the utmost precision and effectiveness in removing your varicose veins. You may also expect customized treatment plans prepared by our board-certified specialists.
| Varicose Vein Treatment | How It Works |
| Sclerotherapy | Vein specialists will close the affected vein by injecting it with a solution that causes scarring. The treated vein will be reabsorbed by nearby tissues and the blood will flow to a healthy vein. |
| Micro-Phlebectomy | Patients will receive small incisions on the treatment area to access the damaged vein underneath the skin. Vascular surgeons will remove this vein piece by piece and allow the blood to reroute to a healthy vein. |
| Endoluminal Laser Ablation of the Greater Saphenous Vein | A fiber will be inserted to the damaged vein, where heat will be applied with the ELAS device. The heat will contract collagen and close the affected vein. The blood will take a healthy vein to flow through. |
You may expect highly-trained specialists to conduct these procedures committed to providing you with successful results. From consultation to recovery, our kind and welcoming staff will assist you throughout your journey for a more improved quality of life.
Aside from the services offered by the Vein Care Center, you may also find other treatment options from other healthcare providers. These solutions are suitable for respective varicose vein severity.
| Varicose Vein Treatment | How It Works |
| Laser Treatment | Heat from laser energy will be applied outside the skin to target small varicose veins and spider veins. |
| Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation | A catheter will be inserted into the damaged vein to aid the radiofrequency energy, targeting the vein walls. The heat from the procedure will close the vein and the blood will reroute to a healthy vein. |
| Varicose Vein Stripping and Ligation | A minor surgery where the vascular surgeon will create incisions in your legs to tie and remove the affected vein. This option is suitable for severe cases and involves general anesthesia. |
Varicose veins are a cosmetic concern for many patients, but they can also cause pain, swelling, and other discomforts. Their early-stage symptoms are the appearance of spider veins, dry and itchy skin, swollen veins, vein discoloration, and inflammation. If left unchecked, you may not know if it’s a sign of an underlying medical condition that might progress, leaving you with serious adverse reactions.
Vein Care Center is the most reputable clinic for resolving varicose veins and other venous diseases. We have a variety of solutions conducted by highly-trained vein specialists committed to promoting your overall health. Get started on removing varicose veins today. Book an appointment to learn more about our treatments. You may also visit our clinic, fill out a quote, or leave us a call.
Dr. Jonathan Arad has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.