When you have varicose veins, pain is not definite. Some people experience constant discomfort, while others don’t experience any pain at all.
Even though there have been a few studies on the link between pain and varicose veins, it is still difficult to assess whether the severity of vein disease is related to pain levels.
What Causes Varicose Veins to Become Painful?
To better understand why varicose veins cause pain, it’s important to understand what causes them in the first place.
Varicose veins are the result of chronic venous insufficiency, a disease that causes the valves within a vein to malfunction. When the blood stops flowing up towards the lungs and heart, it ends up leaking back into the veins, which is what causes swelling as well as poor circulation overall. Poor circulation then leads to inflammation, which is when blood leaks into areas that it isn’t meant to and pain receptors are then activated.
A Closer Look at Varicose Vein Pain
People with varicose veins will usually experience a dull ache in their legs, which can sometimes be accompanied by itching and throbbing.
Fatigue, a lack of energy and a feeling of heaviness in the legs are also the result of the pain associated with varicose veins.
Those who experience varicose vein pain will feel more pain when they’re inactive for prolonged periods of time but will find that getting up and walking around will help. Larger varicose veins are also known to produce more pain than smaller ones but this isn’t an exact science.
For women with varicose veins, symptoms can become worse during pregnancy or their menstrual cycles.
Since varicose vein pain can also be worse at night, those with this condition do experience disturbed sleep, which can end up impacting their quality of life in the long run.
Fortunately, there are various, minimally-invasive treatments available for varicose veins, with ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy being the most popular. You will find varicose veins treatment cost details here.
What Else Can Be Done about Painful Varicose Veins?
Exercise more often. Believe it or not, low-impact exercises can actually relieve the pain associated with varicose veins. Try taking a brisk walk and stretch your legs to improve circulation.
Adopt a healthier lifestyle overall. Making subtle changes such as staying hydrated and quitting smoking can all have a significant impact on the pain you’re experiencing.
Wear compression socks or stockings. Speak to your doctor about compression stockings or socks, which will place pressure on your legs, improve your circulation and decrease the rate at which new varicose veins develop. These socks and stockings can also alleviate pain if you have smaller varicose veins.
Elevate your legs. Taking a few minutes to lie down with your legs raised above the level of your heart can reduce pain and improve blood flow.
If the above tips don’t do the trick, rather speak to a professional about the treatment options available to you.
