What are symptoms of varicose veins?
Aside from being unattractive, varicose veins may be responsible for pain, heaviness, and aching. The majority of individuals will complain of leg aching at the end of the day. Symptoms are often worse after prolonged standing and may include feelings of fatigue, heaviness, aching, burning, throbbing, itching, cramping, and restlessness of the legs. With time, swelling and darkening or hyperpigmentation around the ankles typically occurs.
Aside from being unattractive, varicose veins may be responsible for leg aches, a feeling of heaviness or fatigue of the legs. The majority of individuals will complain of leg ache at the end of the day. Symptoms are often worse after prolonged standing and may include feelings of fatigue, heaviness, aching, burning, throbbing, itching, cramping, and restlessness of the legs. With time, darkening or hyperpigmentation around the ankles is a classic feature of prolonged varicose veins. Hemorrhoids are analogous to varicose veins and involve engorgement of veins in the rectum. Varicose veins do not cause joint pains or a decrease in blood supply to the legs.
Early symptoms of varicose veins include: • Aching, heavy legs (often worse at night and after exercise) • Ankle swelling • A brownish-blue shiny skin discoloration around the veins • Skin over the vein may become dry, itchy and thin, leading to eczema (venous eczema) • The skin may darken (stasis dermatitis), because of the waste products building up in the legs. Two or more of the above symptoms at or near the same time may be a sign of varicose veins. A rash or skin ulceration on the ankle or lower leg may also be an indication of varicose veins. Be sure to consult your physician, especially if you see large, rope-like, twisted-looking veins that appear deep-bluish in color. Varicose veins are common and aren’t generally associated with more severe health problems. But they can be painful, unattractive and worsen over time. Varicose veins can cause legs and feet to swell, a sense of fatigue or restlessness in leg muscles, and throbbing and cramping at night. The skin surrounding the
