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.
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.
It's time to see a doctor about your varicose veins when:
Ulcers on your legs or ankles do not heal. Legs or ankles are extremely swollen. Skin color changes around legs or ankles, or becomes tight or fibrous. Legs experience frequent painful cramps or uncontrollable spasms.
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.
Dangers of varicose veins
If you experience an increase in swelling or pain in your legs, this may be a sign of a serious problem, especially if these symptoms come on suddenly. Another sign of worsening symptoms is if your skin becomes discolored, turns brown or red, and becomes hot or painful.
Varicose veins happen when there is damage to the valves within your veins. These appear as swollen dark-colored veins that are visible just beneath the skin's surface and are most commonly found in the legs. Swollen veins cause blood to flow less efficiently, which leads to poor circulation.
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.
Duplex ultrasonography is an imaging test that uses sound waves to look at the flow of blood in the veins. It can detect blockages or blood clots in the deep veins. It is the standard imaging test to diagnose DVT. A D-dimer blood test measures a substance in the blood that is released when a clot breaks up.
Feeling of heaviness, itching, or tingling in the affected limb. Pain that gets worse when you lower your legs or stand. Swelling, darkening, or irritation of the skin. Appearance of varicose veins.
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.
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. It's important to tell your healthcare provider about varicose veins.
The resulting twisted blue bulges, known as varicose veins, may cause your legs to feel heavy, tired or achy and make you feel self-conscious about their unsightly appearance, but they don't pose a major health threat. In general, ropy veins are not directly related to heart trouble.
"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.
It is important to start treatment right away for DVT. It takes about 3 to 6 months for a blood clot to go away. During this time, there are things you can do to relieve symptoms. Elevate your leg to reduce swelling.
Swelling, usually in one leg (or arm) Leg pain or tenderness often described as a cramp or Charley horse. Reddish or bluish skin discoloration. Leg (or arm) warm to touch.
Small blood clots in the calf can sometimes go undetected for several days or weeks, especially if they don't show any symptoms. If left untreated, however, DVT can travel up the veins in the leg to the lungs or other major organs in the body, leading to a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism or similar complication.
You can't self-diagnose blood clots, but if you're aware of the common symptoms and health risks, you will be more likely to know if and when to talk to your doctor.
Varicose veins get worse over time for several reasons. The underlying cause of varicose veins is venous insufficiency. This is a condition where the one way valves in the veins in the legs fail, causing blood to flow backward and pool in the leg veins. This is a chronic condition and it gets worse over time.
Medicare will cover varicose vein treatment if is determined that it's a medical necessity. This usually goes for Medicare Part C Advantage Plans as well—but individual plans will vary.
Lifestyle choices like prolonged sitting or standing can cause varicose veins because of the added pressure on the veins. If your job requires you to sit for extended periods of time or to stand for extended periods of time, you are at a higher risk of developing varicose veins.