Hi, Dr. Adam Goldman from the Metropolitan Vein Aesthetic Center. I’m here to talk about how to know if you have a vein problem. I am going to split up into two different topics or two different talks.
Acute Vein or Acute Pain Problems
Today, we’re talking about the acute vein or acute pain problem, and there may be sudden onset of pain in their leg and there may be some other physical factors that they may find.
Artery Problems and Signs to Watch For
One thing it could be is a problem with your artery. So you can have the sudden closure and artery, and that will cause a lot of pain. It is a very urgent or emergent problem because if you don’t take care of it, you can have damage to your leg or to your feet.
One way to know if you have an artery problem is that when you feel the area that’s hurting, it all presents with pain. You’re just going to feel cold because the artery is blocked, and there’s not enough blood supply. That’s the biggest way to tell between a vein and an arterial problem that happens acutely or suddenly.
Infections That Can Cause Leg Pain
The other thing that could be is an infection of the skin. So, the same thing, you may feel a lot of pain. You may feel, though this time warmth, you may also see swelling. It’ll be tender. Often, you’ll see a cut near the area that may have caused it. Sometimes, it’s not as apparent, but that is certainly something to think about and to be evaluated.
Superficial vs. Deep Vein Thrombosis
The next two possible problems could be acute, superficial, or sudden superficial vein thrombosis or a sudden deep vein thrombosis. Those are two very different issues because one is not so serious, and one is more serious.
When to Seek Medical Help
When you have a superficial vein thrombosis, you may have a sudden onset of pain or swelling, and you may see some redness, but the pain may be localized. You’re touching a spot and say wow, that hurts. Also, you can feel sometimes what’s called a cord, which is a hardening underneath the skin, which is actually the vein that has closed off. Sometimes, it could be caused by trauma, it could be caused by people who have underlying vein disease, and it even sometimes just happens spontaneously.
Another very important thing to distinguish is if you have a deep vein thrombosis. Once again, this can be tough to tell from the physical exam. You may have swelling, tenderness, and some discoloration of the skin. This is a much more serious problem because the clots that form in the leg can break off and go to the lung and cause what we call a pulmonary embolism. This needs to be treated very quickly and with blood thinners.
So, how can one tell? Well, the first thing is if you have a sudden onset of severe pain, you probably should go see the doctor or go to the emergency room. The next step is to do an ultrasound, and based on that ultrasound, we can see if the problem is the vein. We can also check the arteries at the same time. It’s a similar ultrasound, so both can be evaluated and that way, we can tell what your problem is.
Visit Metropolitan Vein Aesthetic Center
So if you’re feeling a lot of pain and you have time to come to the clinic for treatment, certainly you can do that. If not, go to the emergency room, and if you have any questions, please visit us at the Metropolitan Vein Aesthetic Center. We’re at www.nymetrovein.com. Please call us or consult with us whenever you have a question. We’d be happy to help you and take care of you.
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