When to Seek Treatment for Varicose Veins

Some Spider Veins Need Treatment Due to Health or Cosmetic Reasons

Nov 15, 2009 John Wu

Many seek treatment for varicose veins and spider veins when it's either a cosmetic problem or becomes a health problem, such as varicose vein pain or large bruising.

Enlarged veins on the leg that look blue or purple are varicose veins. Radiation from sun exposure causes blood vessels to become weaker. If the vein becomes too weak, the blood stays in the vein and accumulates. The blue color in varicose vein comes from blood that has not yet been re-oxygenated by the lungs. Normally, varicose veins are a cosmetic problem, but sometimes they cause pain, which sometimes requires medical attention.

Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, except that spider veins are smaller and they're often closer to the skin than varicose veins.

Varicose Vein Pain

Varicose vein pain symptoms includes swelling, itching, rashes, ulcers and sores. If these symptoms show up, it's a good idea to contact a doctor.

Bruises occur when blood vessels burst, including varicose veins. Pain and swelling often come with bruises including varicose vein pain. The swelling comes from blood bursting from the veins. Ice and leg rest help to reduce the swelling. It takes about four to six weeks for the body to completely reabsorb the blood collected. If the bruises are large, contact a doctor.

Varicose Vein and Pulmonary Embolism

If the swelling is very large, it may cause additional problems which can be serious. Big pools of blood slow the flow of blood back to the heart and could cause infection or a blood clot. If a blood clot occurs, it may travel to the lungs, causing a dangerous and sometimes fatal condition called "pulmonary embolism." A pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a main artery to the lung is blocked by something that traveled from another part of the body. If there are any doubts about swelling from a varicose vein, contact a doctor for advice.

Varicose Vein Sclerotherapy

In sclerotherapy for varicose veins and spider veins, the doctor injects a solution in the vein that causes the walls of the vein to swell and close the flow of blood. In a few weeks, the varicose vein or spider vein becomes scar tissue and eventually disappears. Anesthesia is not required.

Varicose Vein Laser Surgery

With laser surgery, strong bursts of light hit the spider vein or smaller varicose veins. The advantage of laser surgery over sclerotherapy is that there is no injection involved. The disadvantage is that laser surgery requires two to five treatments, depending on the size and location of the varicose vein or spider vein. If the vein is larger than three millimeters wide, laser surgery is probably not practical.

Surgical Ligation and Stripping of Varicose Vein

In some cases where none of the above treatments are viable, surgery requiring local or general anesthesia may be required. With surgical ligation, the surgeon ties the veins removes part of the varicose vein.

Depending on the needs of the patient, many varicose veins require no surgery, especially if cosmetics are not important. Nevertheless, those concerned with the appearance of varicose veins or spider veins have lots of options. Also, those suffering from pain or bruising may want to seek treatment beyond rest and ice.

References:

US Department of Health and Human Services. "Varicose Veins and Spider Veins."

Mayo Clinic. "Varicose Veins."

Mayo Clinic. "Pulmonary embolism."

The copyright of the article When to Seek Treatment for Varicose Veins in General Medicine is owned by John Wu. Permission to republish When to Seek Treatment for Varicose Veins in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Varicose Vein Pain