Leaving varicose veins untreated can lead to skin ulcers from small cuts or minor wounds that refuse to heal. The area will swell, and the tension from the veins prevents the swelling from receding. In order to treat the veins, you'll have to first treat the swelling.
Varicose veins can cause ulcers (open sores), bleeding and skin discoloration if left untreated. Severe varicose veins may be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency. This condition affects your veins' ability to pump blood to your heart. People who have varicose veins may be more likely to develop blood clots.
"Varicose veins typically aren't life-threatening or limb-threatening, and they generally don't increase your chance of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or developing blood clots, which is what a lot of people worry about," says Dr. Lu. "However, the progressive symptoms they cause are troublesome.
Having surgery or a procedure is a better choice if you care a lot about how your legs look. Home treatment won't change the look of varicose veins. Surgery and other procedures also can reduce pain and other symptoms. Surgery can leave tiny scars on your legs.
Untreated varicose veins can often result in an excess of blood leaking into the surrounding tissue. This can cause parts of the skin to become dark and discoloured. This is often seen around the ankle.
Left Untreated
Increased pain and swelling – When varicose veins go untreated, the veins continue to get more damaged, which ends up making the pain worse and the legs swollen.
Blood Clots
Clots in deep veins can travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing potentially life-threatening issues like a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal. This is one of the most serious health risks associated with untreated varicose veins.
Endovenous Laser Ablation vs Vein Stripping Costs
According to our own research and CHOICE Magazine, the average out of pocket cost for Endovenous Laser Ablation in Australia is between $2,500 and $4,000 per treatment, whilst vein stripping is around $2,000 (plus hospital and anaesthetic costs).
What to Watch For. If you are experiencing pain or you notice swelling or discoloration of your lower legs, these can be signs of a more serious problem and you should consult a doctor. Other symptoms might include burning, cramping, itching or throbbing in the legs, and some might experience restless leg syndrome.
When the veins are removed, the body's natural healing process kicks in and causes them to regrow. This process is called post operative neovascularization. However, the new veins don't have valves, causing the varicose veins to come back with a vengeance.
While exercise won't cure varicose veins, it can help improve your symptoms and reduce your risk of developing more. Walking, biking and swimming are all great low-impact exercises that are easy on the joints and help circulation in varicose veins.
This is a chronic condition and it gets worse over time. The long term effects of gravity and age also play a role in varicose veins and spider veins. Gravity is constantly trying to pull blood back down the legs, putting stress on the valves. As we age, the valve tissue and vein wall tissue weaken.
Ulcers (Stage 4)
This is the final stage of varicose veins. Your leg will be swollen with discoloured skin and an ulcer may develop. If left untreated it can be extremely painful and the veins may burst. Treatment at this stage is pretty much limited to minimally invasive treatments like EVLT or Surgery.
At worst, they can be indicative of a progressive disease process called chronic venous insufficiency, which causes poor wound healing, ulcers and, in severe cases, can lead to amputation.
“In certain data sets, we have seen that varicose veins have been associated with heart disease but generally, one does not lead to the other since they're really separate systems,” explains Syed T. Ahsan, M.D., a vascular medicine specialist at Henry Ford Health.
While varicose and spider veins are more likely to develop after the age of 50, especially in women, plenty of young people find themselves developing varicose veins as early as their 20s.
However, with severe varicose veins, there is a small chance of developing blood clots in the deep veins. Blood clots need medical care right away. Symptoms of blood clots include pain, swelling, and redness of the leg. Blood clots may also happen in the arms or other parts of the body.
To be eligible for a Medicare rebate, varicose vein treatment must be deemed medically necessary and cannot simply be a cosmetic issue. Furthermore, the size of the veins must be 2.5mm or more. Generally, Medicare will cover between 75% and 85% of the costs, so the fee you pay will depend on the severity of your case.
Many Australians suffer from varicose veins, which are especially common in women as they age. The good news is that many varicose vein treatments are eligible for a Medicare rebate, which typically covers around 75-85% of the varicose vein removal costs.
Each of these treatments is virtually painless. This is because veins have no nerve endings. The only sensation a patient typically feels is the poke of the tiny needle used to administer local anesthetic.
It is a serious condition that can cause severe pain, injury, and potentially fatal consequences. This can include pulmonary embolism, stroke, or heart attack. Those who are already experiencing varicose veins or venous insufficiency are more prone to onset of deep vein thrombosis.
Wearing tight clothing—girdles, body shapers, elastic knee socks, and even snug belts—can restrict blood flow from the legs to the heart, causing it to pool. Wearing high-heeled shoes for long periods of time can also restrict blood flow in the legs and may worsen varicose veins.