Are you struggling with vein issues, but don’t know if they’re serious enough to warrant a visit to a vein specialist? Keep this in mind: vein pain is something that you don’t want to play around with. Your veins play a crucial role in your body. They are what pumps the blood that’s been dispersed throughout your body back up to your heart.
Without the ability to properly function, your veins are unable to perform their duty. And this can lead to some serious problems. And trust us — you want to avoid those serious problems. So how do you know when it’s time to see a vein specialist? We are here to help you answer that.
Signs it is Time to Schedule an Appointment with a Vein Doctor
1. Your legs feel weak at the end of the day, or after standing for a while.
Though it may seem normal for your legs to feel weak after standing for long periods of time, really it is not. This weakness can be a sign of vein issues. Varicose veins can make your legs feel weak and heavy, which worsens by standing on them for hours.
Elevating your legs is a great way to relieve that weak, heavy feeling. But if you are experiencing the pain to begin with, then something is certainly amiss.
This is sign #1 you should see a vein specialist.
2. You have dry, itchy skin or spot a rash near your ankle.
Skin issues such as dryness/itchiness or a rash may be a sign you have vein problems that have been left untreated. The signs you see on your skin are a result of the high blood pressure levels in your damaged veins. Blood is not flowing back up to your heart with these broken veins which means your skin will suffer.
If you leave your vein problems untreated, that flaky skin or unsightly rash could turn into something much worse: a venous leg ulcer. You want to nip this problem in the bud before it reaches the point of an ulcer. Once it becomes an ulcer, you risk suffering a great deal of pain, along with a tough treatment process.
So, if you notice discoloration in your legs and around your ankle, and/or dry, itchy skin, make an appointment with a vein doctor.
3. Your leg pain is making your daily life difficult.
Just because you have leg pain does not mean that you have vein issues. However, varicose veins cause leg pain, particularly aching and throbbing. And the more you go about your daily activities with varicose veins, the more the pain increases.
In order to determine whether your leg pain is a result of damaged veins, you need to schedule an appointment with a specialist. Here the specialist will find the source of your pain, and treat accordingly. If the pain is mild and the veins aren’t something that needs to be fixed right now, you may go home with compression stockings. However, it’s best to err on the safe side and see a specialist to determine the root of your leg pain.
4. You are pregnant a second time, and your veins during your first pregnancy caused problems.
Changes in hormones are one of the leading causes of varicose veins today. And one of the times that hormones go through the biggest shift is during pregnancy. Pregnancy increases the amount of blood in a woman’s body because so much extra blood is required to support the baby.
However, a result of that increase in blood is oftentimes the enlarging of the woman’s veins. This pressure, along with the added pressure of the growing uterus, can lead to varicose veins. Thus, if you found yourself struggling with vein problems during your first pregnancy, chances are good that the problems will worsen with your second pregnancy.
In order to keep your veins from getting too damaged during pregnancy, you’ll want to visit a vein specialist to determine a treatment that works for you.
5. You’ve developed leg ulcers.
Yes, these are a little fun as they sound. If your vein problems are left untreated, you run the risk of developing leg ulcers, particularly around the calf and ankle areas. Leg ulcers can also be a result of diabetes, so you will want to see a vein doctor who can run the necessary tests to determine the source of the ulcers. From there, proper treatment can be established before things have a chance to worsen.
6. Your veins have turned blue or purple, and are bulging.
If you spot your veins changing color and/or bulging, you’ve got to get yourself in with a specialist. Your veins turning blue or purple, and bulging is caused by the swelling and irritation of your varicose veins. When they reached this point, your veins will develop a blood clot, which restricts blood from flowing through the vein at all.
You will want to visit a vein specialist as soon as possible if you see this. Leaving this untreated could lead to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). And that is a problem you do not even want to think about dealing with.
7. Only one of your legs swells, and the swelling in your legs is gone in the morning.
There could be a number of reasons that your legs swell. However, varicose veins almost always cause some sort of swelling. If the swelling you’re experiencing is happening on just one leg, and if it only happens after you’ve been awake and moving for a while, chances are good that the swelling is a result of venous insufficiency. But to know that for sure requires a trip to your vein doctor. Only he will be able to determine whether damaged veins are causing your swelling.
8. You have a tender lump in your leg.
A tender lump does not always signify vein problems, but it is quite common for a blood clot in your veins to cause a tender lump in your leg. If you spot this type of lump, it is a good idea to phone your local vein doctor to set up an appointment. Once you’ve scheduled your consultation with your vein specialist, you will have a much clearer idea of your vein issues. From there, the doctor will determine which vein treatment is best for you.
Rather than playing the guessing game, schedule an appointment today to get your vein issues under control.
So what are you waiting for? Schedule an initial consultation with USA Vein Clinics to get your veins checked, and a treatment determined. As the vein clinic with the most experienced in the entire country, you can rely on us to get your vein issues sorted.
Interested in reading more about varicose veins? Explore our collection of varicose vein topics.
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- How to Choose a Vein Doctor?
- When to be concerned about your varicose veins?
- What to Expect During Your Vein Ablation Procedure
- What to Expect After Varicose Vein Surgery?
- 5 Steps to Ensure Your Vein Procedure Runs Smoothly
- Vein Procedure Prep: 3 Things to Bring With You on Day of Treatment
Medically Reviewed By:
Dr. Yan Katsnelson is a philanthropist, business owner, and highly skilled cardiac surgeon. He is the Founder and CEO of USA Vein Clinics, which is part of USA Clinics Group, the parent company of USA Fibroid Centers, USA Vascular Centers, and USA Oncology Centers, with more than 100 facilities nationwide. Dr. Yan has established himself as a strong advocate for accessibility and affordability of the most advanced medical care close to home. His mission is to create a positive experience for each patient with compassionate, personalized, and expert care.
