If your varicose veins are bulging more than before, your condition may be worsening. While you can take some steps to manage your symptoms at home, it’s a good idea to seek evaluation and possible treatment at this point. With worsening of your varicose veins, always be on the look out for dangerous complications, including blood clots (DVT) and phlebitis.
First, let’s find out if you have any emergency symptoms associated with your bulging varicose veins. Then we can go over what to expect when you see a varicose vein specialist.
Unfortunately, varicose veins increase your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolism. Deep vein thrombosis refers to blood clots that form within the deep veins of our legs, and symptoms include swelling, pain, and tenderness. You may also notice some redness if you have a blood clot. Deep vein thrombosis is potentially life threatening and should not be taken lightly. If you suspect you have deep venous thrombosis, you will need medical attention, either at an emergency room, urgent care facility or vein center.
With deep venous thrombosis comes the added risk of a pulmonary embolism. This occurs when a blood clot breaks off from the legs or pelvic veins and travels to the lungs. Monitor yourself for symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and a cough that might produce blood. You also might experience a rapid heartbeat, lightheadedness, sweating, fever, and leg swelling or pain. Again, call 911 if you have any of these acute symptoms.
If the concern for deep venous thrombosis is low and the symptoms are more chronic in nature and have been slowly worsening, then you are likely dealing with venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency is caused by continued damage to small valves within our leg veins. These valves can become damaged due to many factors including genetics, obesity, pregnancy, age and extended periods of sitting or standing.
With worsening damage of your leg veins, you will start to notice some bulging veins on your legs. These may start as spider veins or varicose veins. At this point, it is adviseable to start managing your varicose veins. This could include use of graduated compression stockings, leg elevation, exercise and weight loss. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is your only hope to avoid worsening of your varicose veins.
Eventually you may start to notice some symptoms in your legs. These may start as cramping or some restlessness. It could progress to heaviness and fatigue in the legs all the way to actual daily pain. If you’re having daily or weekly pains in your legs, it’s time to visit the vein specialist.
When you visit a vein expert, you should expect a detailed history and physical with special focus on your venous system. The doctor will review your symptoms, past medical history and prior vein treatments and determine the next course of treatment. If symptoms or complications of varicose veins are having an effect on your daily activities of life, your vein expert will order a diagnostic ultrasound of your legs. This ultrasound has the ability to find the source of your varicose veins and associated symptoms. A map of your venous system will give your vein specialist the information to formulate a personalized treatment plan. The treatment plan may include a combination of treatment options like radiofrequency ablation and foam sclerotherapy.
If you’ve come to the point you can’t take the complaints in your legs and conservative management is just not doing the job, it might be time to rid yourself of your varicose veins. Varicose vein treatments are easier than ever and usually take between 30-90 minutes depending on the treatment being performed. Most patients can return to work the same day or the next day. There are minimal to no restrictions during treatment with patients asked to exercise daily. Treatment options include radiofrequency ablation (RFA), endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), sclerotherapy or venaseal.
Your bulging varicose veins might continue to get worse without medical intervention. Thus, schedule a consultation with Dr. Vinay Madan at the Center for Varicose Veins. Dr. Madan specializes in the latest minimally invasive treatments, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA). He’ll evaluate you and recommend a treatment based on your symptoms and goals.
