5 Hidden Symptoms of Varicose Veins
When you think of vein disease, you most likely think of large, bulging blue or purple veins popping out of your leg. While the cosmetic appearance of vein problems tend to steal the spotlight, vein disease goes deeper than cosmetic concerns.
There are many hidden symptoms of vein disease that, if you didn’t know otherwise, would often not be associated with varicose veins, spider veins, and other types of vein problems.
Here are five of the top hidden symptoms of vein disease.
1. General Leg Pain
A common symptom of vein disease is pain in your legs. This can come in the form of sharp pains or a general dull soreness, and typically occurs in the lower half of your leg.
Leg fatigue is also a common symptom of vein disease. If you suffer from leg pain after walking a short distance or find that your legs are unusually tired after a long day of standing, you may be suffering from vein disease.
2. Restless Legs Syndrome
Vein disease can also present itself in the form of restless legs syndrome.
Restless legs syndrome is a condition that causes you to feel as if you need to constantly move your legs. Because it usually interferes with sleep, it is also considered a sleep disorder.
The condition causes an uncomfortable, "itchy," "pins and needles," or "creepy crawly" feeling in the legs. The sensations are usually worse at rest, especially when lying or sitting.
So how do you know if you have restless leg syndrome? Here are some signs:
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
Vein disease is the leading cause of restless leg syndrome. This is because vein disease damages your veins’ valves, which can create the problem of painful and restless legs.
3. Leg Tingling
If you suffer from vein disease, you may experience some tingling in your legs. The level of tingling also depends on the severity of your vein disease. It may be as slight as your leg falling asleep for a few seconds, or it could be a feeling of pins being stabbed into your legs.
4. Leg Cramping
By limiting the amount of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, vein disease can cause your legs to cramp up. This typically happens at night, and can be so severe that it feels as if your leg has cramped up to a point that you can’t use it.
5. Leg Swelling
Severe vein disease can cause pressure build up in the veins to a point where fluid can leak into the tissues surrounding the vein, leading to swelling.
Here are some signs of swelling to keep an eye out for:
Skin feels tight
Deep impression in your skin after taking off socks and shoes
Shoes may no longer fit
Skin may leak fluid
Left untreated, this type of swelling can cause your skin to harden and change color.
Many people suffer from these symptoms every day, without knowing they could be connected to a larger vein disease issue.
If you are suffering from any of the above issues, don’t hesitate — contact Elmore Medical before the problems worsen.
Elmore Medical Vein & Laser Treatment Center is the premier vein specialty medical practice in the Central Valley. Dr. Mario H. Gonzalez and his staff offer years of experience and medical expertise that you won’t find anywhere else. Contact us to set up a consultation appointment.