Hi, Dr. Adam Goldman here with the Metropolitan Vein and Aesthetic Center. I’m here to talk to you a little bit about varicose veins today. Some people ask, what does it feel like? What are the symptoms of varicose veins?
Symptoms
Well, first off, varicose veins can feel asymptomatic, meaning you have no symptoms and it’s just an unsightly bulge. It can affect the color of the skin over time. It could cause swelling. But it doesn’t necessarily have to cause symptoms. Sometimes people have phlebitis as a secondary cause of the varicose veins, and that can be an incident of painful, swollen, red varicose veins that are on the skin that you can feel. And they’re often not permanent, but they can be uncomfortable. There are times that varicose veins can bleed. And if they do rupture, it could be quite a lot of bleeding.
Side-Effects
In general, not life-threatening. But if it ever does occur to you, remember to put some manual pressure, press as hard as you can against the vein, as well as elevate the leg. That will help stop the bleeding. And then definitely see an expert in varicose veins as soon as you can. And finally, you can have some non-specific symptoms, like achiness, tiredness, heaviness, throbbing, especially at the end of the day. And these can be a symptom of the varicose veins.
Recommendations
Often we recommend compression stockings, and usually, in most cases, that is the first line therapy for any of these symptoms. However, if that is not adequate and does not give you relief, there are other treatments that can be done to help improve your symptoms and rid you of those varicose veins or swelling and damage to the skin.
NYMetro Vein and Aesthetic Center
If you have any questions, please come see us at the Metropolitan Vein and Aesthetic Center, and we’d love to help you with any of your problems. Thank you.