ComplaintsSymptoms
Symptoms include Blood congestion leads to a lack of oxygen supply to the tissue. In the worst case, this can result in an “open” leg (ulcus cruris). This is what it is all about: pain due to varicose veins.
- Feeling of heaviness in the legs (improvement by walking)
- Tense feeling in the legs
- Pain in the area of the varices (especially when standing)
- Ankle swelling
- Increase in heat complaints
- Improvement of the complaints with high positioning of the legs
Varicose veins do not cause typical pain, although they may be in an advanced stage and may cause other complications. This is why affected persons ignore the varices for a long time. However, a feeling of tension and heaviness is typical.
After standing or sitting for a long time, however, sufferers can also feel pain in their legs. A calf cramp, on the other hand, is not a typical symptom of varicose veins, but it can occur in conjunction with them, for example, when the legs are incorrectly loaded. In most cases, varicose veins do not cause pain.
However, if pain is caused by varicose veins, it can be due to various causes. The pressure in the vessels can cause slight pain when standing. Another reason may be an inflammation of the vessel wall (varicoplebitits), which is noticeable by pain and a hardened varicose vein.
If a blood clot forms in the vessel, the blood transport is disrupted, which is also manifested by pain. In the case of a so-called thrombosis, the pain is reduced by elevating the legs. Pain after varicose vein surgery is a common problem.
Since the patient lies in bed for a long time after an operation, the blood in the legs is transported less well. Normally the blood is moved by the so-called “muscle pump”, which drives the blood flow by tensing our leg muscles. If this fails due to lack of movement, the blood flow is slower.
This “blood congestion” can cause pain in the legs. After an operation and when lying down for a longer period of time, the formation of blood clots should be prevented. This is done in the form of compression stockings and thrombosis injections.
Vessels expand in heat and decrease in diameter in cold. This causes more discomfort in hot weather, as the dilation of the veins causes the blood in the legs to become engorged and pain to occur. Pain in the varicose veins rarely occurs when it is cold. Cold is even used to treat varicose veins, as the narrowing of the vessels increases the blood flow in the legs and transports the blood back to the heart.
