The veins in your body are in a constant state of keeping blood continually flowing to your heart. Your veins contain valves that open and close and only go in one direction. When these valves in your veins become weak due to age or damage, it can cause your veins to stretch and bulge as blood pools in them. Blood begins to flow the opposite direction as a result of this situation called reflux. When the blood pressure gets higher in your veins as a result of reflex, they will start to become darker, distorted, and end up in a condition called varicose veins.
These swollen veins usually occur in legs and feet and are a fairly common condition in the United States. While it is common, it can be a bothersome condition and can even cause you leg pain when your veins become enlarged. Varicose veins are not able to be completely cured but qualified vascular surgeons at Snake River Vascular Surgery can assist in relieving the discomfort that they may cause you, as well as helping the overall appearance of your veins look better.
A Common Cause of Leg Pain
About 20% of adults in the United States suffer from varicose veins, and it tends to affect women more than men. Of those people, around 85% of them report having leg pain as a symptom of this condition. Varicose veins are a very common cause of leg pain and many people describe this pain as a deep ache or a painful heaviness surrounding their legs. This pain comes from the varicose veins being inflamed, and in some cases, they can form blood clots. Varicose veins can be a hereditary result, a side effect of pregnancy, advanced age, being overweight, or it can happen as a result of a tumor, among other causes.
Symptoms of Varicose Veins
There are a range of symptoms that can occur when dealing with varicose veins. There are some instances in which your varicose veins don’t have any symptoms. There are also times when your varicose veins lay beneath the surface, where you can’t see them, but they still cause you to have some unfavorable symptoms. With or without the dark vein lines that varicose veins can produce, some of the common symptoms of this condition can include:
- Bulging veins
- Aching or swelling in your legs
- Throbbing pain or heaviness in your legs
- Muscle cramps at night
- Itchy skin around your veins
- Changes in skin color around your veins
If you have been standing for a long period of time it can make these symptoms worse and warmer weather can flare up these symptoms as well.
When To Consult a Doctor
When varicose veins are not causing you pain, this condition can still be causing a problem you will see in the future. If your varicose veins are causing you pain or irritation, it is time to seek treatment from a doctor or vascular surgeon. You may not always see the varicose veins clearly, but if your legs are causing you discomfort, the Dr. Albrecht at Snake River Vascular Surgery can help address your pain and will work with you to devise a treatment plan to relieve the pain. If you are experiencing leg pain and suspect that it might be due to varicose veins, make sure to contact us to start your journey of feeling better today.