Home > What are the Symptoms of Varicose Veins?
Updated on May 23, 2023 by Dr. Jonathan Arad (Vein Doctor) of Vein Care Center
Having varicose veins is a common venous disease involving the appearance of twisted, bulging veins that leave a cosmetic concern and discomfort among many patients. But varicose veins sometimes don’t leave visible signs and only cause pain. Patients with these cases only find out about their varicose veins when it’s too late. That’s why you might want to know more about the symptoms of varicose veins.
So what are the varicose veins symptoms? The most common signs of varicose veins are twisted and enlarged veins in blue or purple. Other symptoms are throbbing pain, similar to muscle cramps, the feeling of having heavy and aching legs, dry and itchy skin, and skin discoloration. Swelling of the ankles and feet may also be a sign of varicose veins. Some patients also experience pain that worsens after sitting or standing for a long time.
Varicose veins are cosmetic concerns to most patients because of the appearance of unsightly veins. But it also involves other feelings of discomfort that greatly affect your quality of life. If left unmanaged, it may cause serious adverse reactions, like leg ulcers, bleeding, or blood clots.
Some symptoms of varicose veins are:
These are the symptoms of varicose veins. If you’ve been experiencing any of these signs, you may want to consult a vein specialist immediately. Visible veins at the legs may be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency or deep vein thrombosis, a life-threatening condition.
Varicose veins develop when blood is unable to flow back to the heart and is collected in the veins. Proper blood circulation involves the heart pumping blood to the arteries and distributing nutrients and oxygen to the rest of the body. Deoxygenated blood then flows through the veins to return to the heart.
The vein valves prevent blood from flowing back as it works against gravity to return to the heart. When it weakens, the blood flows back and collects at the veins, applying increasing pressure to the vein walls and causing them to stretch and twist.
Some people are more at risk of having varicose veins than others. You might want to know some of the risk factors of varicose veins to prevent them from developing.
The risk factors of this vein disease are:
If you think you fall into one or more of these risk factors with high risks of developing varicose veins, you may want to follow the necessary steps to prevent it. You may want to improve your diet and physical activity for better blood circulation and vein health.
Vein specialists recommend patients seek treatment for the removal of visible varicose veins as early as possible. But if you experience any of these symptoms, you may want to see a vein specialist right away. Vein Care Center offers the best solutions for resolving varicose vein symptoms with our cutting-edge technology and highly-trained specialists. Other than the treatments we offer, you may also find other procedures to treat your vein disease.
Vein Care Center offers the best solutions for removing varicose veins. With our sophisticated tools and techniques, we always aim to execute every procedure with utmost perfection. Patients may also rest assured of our treatments because they will be under the care of board-certified specialists.
| Varicose Vein Treatment | What It Does |
| Sclerotherapy | The affected vein will be closed with a sclerosant or solution injected into it. The solution will cause a reaction in the vein lining, causing it to scar and fade eventually. The blood will then flow to a healthier vein. |
| Micro-Phlebectomy | The vein specialist will create incisions onto your skin to access the damaged vein. This vein will be removed piece by piece and allow the blood to flow to a different vein. |
| Endovenous Laser Treatment | The ELAS device will close the damaged vein and allow the blood to reroute to a healthy vein. It will apply heat onto the vein wall lining to contract collagen, causing it to close up. |
These procedures are suitable for a broad range of varicose vein cases. With our board-certified vein specialists and warm and friendly staff, patients can rest assured of having a safe and smooth treatment.
Aside from the procedures we offer at Vein Care Center, there are also other solutions available to remove your varicose veins. The right treatment for you will vary according to the severity of your condition.
| Varicose Vein Treatment | How It Works |
| Laser Treatment | This procedure is suitable for broken capillaries, spider veins, and small varicose veins. The laser energy will apply heat from outside the skin to target damaged veins, contract collagen, and close the veins. |
| Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation | Heat will be applied onto the vein wall lining with radiofrequency energy to close the vein. This will be done via a catheter inserted into it. The blood will be redirected to other healthier veins. |
| Varicose Vein Stripping and Ligation | This is an outpatient minor surgery with general anesthesia. The vascular surgeon will create incisions in your legs to tie and remove the affected vein. This option is suitable for severe varicose veins. |
Visible veins at the legs with bulging and twisted appearance are signs of having varicose veins. Other varicose vein symptoms include leg pain, burning sensation, heaviness or restless legs, muscle cramps, swelling, dry and itchy skin, skin discoloration, and worsened pain after standing or sitting for a long time. Even if you don’t see visible varicose veins, you might still want to consult a vein specialist if you experience any of these symptoms.
Vein Care Center is one of the most reputable clinics for removing varicose veins and promoting overall vein health. We’re equipped with the most advanced tools for providing patients with the best treatment possible. You’ll be under the care of highly-trained vein specialists with customized treatment plans just for you. Get started by booking an appointment with us.
Dr. Jonathan Arad has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.