Do Your Varicose Veins Burn?
Why do varicose veins burn? That burning feeling in your veins gradually extends to your upper thighs and lower legs, nagging you and making you fidget. The pain might be a little better if you could just sit down for a few moments. In some cases, this might be an after-effect of activities such as intense exercise or physical exertion for a long period outdoors in high temperatures.
Imagine you’re halfway through your presentation at work and start feeling your varicose veins burn and tingle in your upper calves. Then, you try to shift your legs back and forth to help the blood circulate, but it doesn’t help. Now, the feeling has become more intense, almost distracting you from the presentation, and you are standing there trying to make it through the presentation, thinking, why are my varicose veins on fire right now?
If you’ve gone through this before, you may be wondering what is causing the varicose veins to flame up and burn deep within your legs. We explain what causes this to happen and what you can do to fix the root of the issue.
Why Do Varicose Veins Burn?
A hot, burning sensation may occur when damaged veins allow blood to pool within the legs. This is caused by a leak of fluid into the surrounding tissues. Some people may experience tingling, numbness, itching, or a crawling sensation that comes in waves, followed by occasional redness in the areas. The burning caused by varicose veins can usually be identified because the pain caused by the condition consistently comes and goes in the same spots.
The burning veins in one’s legs’ sensation may increase with the time you spend walking or standing. That’s why many people who experience this symptom tend to avoid exercising or activities that are strenuous. This common symptom can also be accompanied by other signs indicating underlying venous insufficiency. However, if you do not experience burning in the lower legs, it does not mean you do not have vein disease. Symptoms of vein disease tend to worsen over time; therefore, different symptoms affect people at various stages.
Other reasons for burning veins in legs can be side effects of varicose veins such as varicose eczema, also known as stasis dermatitis, where the area becomes red, crusty, and swollen, and superficial thrombophlebitis in which a blot clot leads to vein inflammation near the skin surface.
How To Find Relief From Varicose Veins Burn
Relief for varicose vein burn can be achieved through:
- Elevating your legs when at rest
- Stretching your legs throughout the day
- Taking cold showers to shrink blood vessels
What Causes Damaged Veins?
Vein disease occurs when the valves or walls in your leg veins malfunction. When these vessels weaken, they have difficulty pushing the blood back to your heart. As a result, to accommodate increased blood to the region, veins may begin to expand, causing blood to pool in your legs and eventually develop into varicose veins.
As blood begins to pool in your legs, it can cause varicose veins, spider veins, blood clots, or venous ulcers.
The valves’ job is to regulate the direction and amount of blood that flows within the veins. Without treatment, damaged vein valves can cause fluid to leak into the tissues in your ankles and feet. This additional fluid should not go into those areas; when it does, it causes burning veins in the legs.
What Other Symptoms Does Vein Disease Cause?
Many people think that the visible signs of vein disease, varicose and spider veins, are solely what can indicate an underlying issue. However, there are many different signs and symptoms one may experience if they have vein disease. Some of these include:
- Leg cramps in the thigh or calf
- Restlessness
- Swollen legs or ankles
- Burning veins in legs
- Skin discoloration
- A feeling of heaviness or fatigue
- Slow-healing or non-healing wounds
- Itching, dry, or hardened skin
- Difficulty walking or standing for long periods
- Pain is relieved when the legs are elevated
- Sore legs or dull, consistently aching legs
If you experience any of the above symptoms, it’s important to contact a vein specialist and record your symptoms. Ensure to include the time of day when you experience the symptoms, the severity of your discomfort, and what activities prompted more pain than others. Learn more about your symptoms by taking our quick, two-minute quiz below.
Symptoms Quiz 5 Quick Questions to Evaluate Your Vein Health
How to Relieve the Varicose Veins Burning Sensation in Legs
Thankfully, symptoms of vein disease like burning or itching can be treated safely and easily. Vein treatments like endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (USGS) both address the root of the issue by sealing off damaged veins and allowing healthy ones to take over. The veins that have damaged valves will then be reabsorbed into the body. The healthy, new veins will take over the blood flow and continue to regulate the direction, helping to prevent pooling. These treatments effectively alleviate vein pain and other symptoms, such as stinging varicose veins, in as little as 15 minutes.
At USA Vein Clinics, we offer other minimally invasive treatment options for vein disease based on individual vein health, which include:
- Endovenous Laser Therapy [EVLT]
- ClariVein® Treatment
- Visual Sclerotherapy Injections
- Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy
- Varithena Vein Treatment
- VenaSeal™ Treatment
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) Treatment
Find Treatment for Burning Veins
You may be wondering, “Will it be difficult to find treatment for burning veins near me?” With vein clinics across the nation, we make vein treatment convenient and accessible. Our vein specialists come highly recommended and are experienced in treating venous disorders.
Their compassionate care helps them empathize with their patients and allows them to create a personalized treatment experience.
Choosing a vein clinic and treatment plan can feel overwhelming; that’s why, we’ve made scheduling an appointment even easier. Don’t live with painful symptoms such as burning veins in your legs, take the next step to a healthier, more active life today.
