When most people think of vein disease, they imagine big varicose veins popping out of their legs. While this is certainly the case for some, the cosmetic concerns of vein disease are just a small piece of the problem.
Vein disease goes far deeper than just the appearance; there are many other symptoms of vein disease that are hidden. And, if you didn’t know otherwise, you would never assume these things were a sign of vein disease.
Thus, we are sharing with you the hidden symptoms of vein disease, so that you can keep your eyes out. If you are suffering from any of the below issues, don’t hesitate — call a vein specialist before the problems worsen.
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Vein Disease Symptoms To Look Out For
The cosmetic appearance of vein problems steals the spotlight. When the question as to whether one has a vein disease arises, it seems the first thing people look for is the stereotypical bulging blue, green, or purple veins. But that’s not all you should be looking out for. Here are the top symptoms of vein disease.
Restless Legs Syndrome
Vein disease can show itself in the form of restless legs syndrome. You’ve likely heard of RLS, but do you know what it is? Let’s take a look. Restless legs syndrome is a condition that causes you to feel as if you need to constantly move your legs. People find that restless leg syndrome hits its highest and worst point at night when they have been sitting or laying down for long periods of time. So how do you know if you have restless leg syndrome?
Here are some key signs of restless leg syndrome:
- You cannot fight the urge to move your legs, nonstop
- You experience less pain in your legs when you’re moving
- You experience more pain in your legs when you’re inactive
- Your symptoms make sleeping very difficult
And guess what? Vein disease is the leading cause of restless leg syndrome. This is due to the fact that vein disease damages your veins’ valves, which can create the problem of painful and restless legs.
General Leg Pain
Another symptom of vein disease is pain in your legs. This can come in the form of sharp pains or soreness and typically occurs in the lower half of your leg. Even if you do not see any evidence of vein disease, that doesn’t mean your veins are okay. If you suffer from leg pain after walking a short distance, you may be suffering from vein disease.
Leg Swelling
Vein disease runs the risk of pressure building up in the veins to a point where fluid can leak into the tissues surrounding the vein. And this leads to swelling in the legs and ankles. Here are some sign of swelling to keep your eye out for, as it is not always as obvious as you would think:
- Skin feels tight
- Deep impression in your skin after taking off socks and shoes
- Shoes may no longer fit
- Skin may leak fluid
Don’t assume nothing is wrong if your leg or ankles are swelling. Left untreated, this type of swelling can cause your skin to harden and change color.
Learn more about the causes of ankle swelling and how best to treat them
Leg Tingling
You may experience some tingling or numbness in your legs if you suffer from vein disease. And, the level of tingling depends on the severity of your vein disease. It may be something as slight as your leg falling asleep for a few seconds, or it could feel as if pins are being stabbed into your legs.
Leg Throbbing
Though not always a sign of vein disease, leg throbbing can be a symptom of something more.
Leg Cramping
Vein disease can limit the amount of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, thus causing your legs to cramp up. This typically happens at night, and sometimes can be so severe that it feels as if your leg has cramped up to a point of where you cannot use it.
The above symptoms are things many people suffer from on a daily basis, but often don’t think they are connected to vein disease. If you find yourself struggling from restless legs syndrome, general leg pain, leg swelling, leg tingling, leg throbbing, or leg cramping, it’s a good idea to schedule a consultation with a vein specialist right away. It’s always best to heed any warning signs of a potential problem to keep things from getting out of hand with your overall health.
And if a consultation is indeed what you need, you are in luck. The vein doctors at USA Vein Clinics can meet with you to determine what lies under the surface of your pain, and create a treatment plan to get you back on your feet in no time.
Interested in reading more about vein disease symptoms? Explore our collection of symptom topics.
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.
