Lately I’ve had a dull, dragging sensation in the back of my legs. I think I’ve got varicose veins.
Varicose veins are enlarged veins that are swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. In normal veins, valves in the vein keep blood moving forward toward the heart. With varicose veins, the valves do not function properly, allowing blood to pool in the veins, causing them to enlarge.
Most commonly found in the veins on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the leg, varicose veins can develop elsewhere in the body. They can be dark purple or blue, and may bulge or look twisted.
It is estimated that varicose veins affect one in every two people over the age of 50. They are more common in women than men. Haemorrhoids are a type of varicose vein. Spider veins are like varicose veins, but are much smaller.
I’ve been standing a lot more since starting a new job. Could that be causing them?
Standing for a long time and having increased pressure in the abdomen may make you more likely to develop varicose veins. Primary varicose veins occur because of congenitally defective valves or without a known cause. Secondary varicose veins occur because of another condition, such as pregnancy.
Symptoms of varicose veins can include a feeling of fullness, aching, heaviness or pain in the legs. The veins may be visibly enlarged and there may be mild swelling of the ankles.
In severe cases, discoloration of the skin – usually brown – may occur of the skin at the ankles and in a minority of cases ulcers around the ankles may occur.
The diagnosis is mainly based on the appearance of the leg veins. Additional tests such as an ultrasound or angiogram may be performed to rule out another condition such as a blood clot or a blockage.
What can I do about them?
You can ease discomfort and slow varicose vein progression with some self-care measures. Exercising, losing weight, elevating your legs when resting and not crossing them when sitting can help keep varicose veins from getting worse. While support tights help, some sufferers find that wearing loose clothing is useful.
Avoiding long periods of standing can also ease the problem. If varicose veins are painful or you don’t like the way they look, your doctor may recommend procedures such as vein stripping, sclerotherapy, laser or radiofrequency ablation, to remove them.
