Varicose veins are a common condition. They affect people all around the world and can be painful and uncomfortable. Because they are visible on the skin and can affect the appearance of your legs, they can also be quite embarrassing for many people. Not only that, but varicose veins may also cause certain symptoms that can affect your daily life. We can help manage chronic pain and inflammation caused by varicose veins.
What Are Varicose Veins?
Veins are blood vessels that transport deoxygenated blood back to the heart. They have one-way valves that prevent backflow and help keep the blood flowing in the right direction. When these valves are weakened or damaged, the blood can pool in your veins. This pooling can cause your veins to swell and twist, leading to varicose veins. Varicose veins typically appear blue or purple in color. They can develop anywhere in your body but are most commonly found on the legs and feet.
Varicose veins aren’t just a cosmetic issue. They can also cause discomfort and pain. Left untreated, the presence of varicose veins may result in more serious health complications, including blood clots or ulcers. Therefore, monitoring and managing varicose veins is essential to prevent further complications.
Associated Symptoms Of Pain In Varicose Veins
Because varicose veins can disrupt blood flow, they can cause a range of symptoms. Although these symptoms can vary from person to person, some common signs include:
- Aching, heaviness, itching, or pain in your legs: These symptoms may worsen after standing or sitting for long periods.
- Muscle cramps: Muscle cramps may occur due to the increased pressure on your leg muscles caused by varicose veins.
- Swollen ankles or feet: This is due to the excess fluid that can pool in your legs because of poor blood flow.
- Visibly swollen veins: You may notice enlarged, twisted, or bulging veins on your legs. This sign is more prominent in people with lighter skin tones.
- Itchy skin: Your skin may become dry and itchy due to the lack of proper blood circulation. Itching is a result of poor oxygen and nutrient supply to the skin.
- Skin discoloration: The skin around the affected vein can become discolored due to the lack of blood flow.
Common Causes Of Varicose Vein Discomfort
Your veins contain valves, which are responsible for keeping the blood flowing in one direction. When these valves become weak or damaged, it causes blood to pool in your veins. Some common causes that can lead to this condition include:
- Pressure in the veins: Prolonged standing or sitting can increase pressure on your leg veins, leading to varicose veins.
- Restrictive clothing: Tight clothing can restrict blood flow and increase pressure on your leg veins.
- Aging process: As you age, the valves in your veins may become weaker and less efficient at pumping blood back to the heart.
- Overweight: Excess weight will put extra pressure on your leg veins, making them more susceptible to damage.
- Leg injury: Injuries to the legs may damage the veins and lead to varicose veins. For example, a blood clot in the leg caused by a sports injury can damage the valves in your veins.
Possible Medical Conditions Connected To Varicose Vein Pain
In some cases, one of the common causes of varicose vein pain is not the primary culprit. Instead, there may be an underlying medical condition that can also lead to varicose vein discomfort. These conditions include:
Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome is an urge to move your legs, often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations. People with this condition have an uncontrollable desire to move their legs due to unpleasant feelings that worsen while resting or in the evening. In most cases, the condition is due to overactive nerves sending unnecessary signals to the brain. People with restless legs syndrome also tend to have poor blood circulation, which can worsen varicose vein pain.
Thrombophlebitis
Thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of the veins that results from a blood clot. Inflammation and swelling can cause pain, warmth, and redness along the affected vein. Although it can occur in any vein, it generally affects the legs and can lead to varicose vein pain.
Lymphedema
Lymphedema occurs when your lymphatic system is no longer able to drain fluid properly, leading to swelling in the arms or legs. Lymphedema can develop as a result of blockage or damage in the lymphatic system, which can occur after surgery, radiation therapy, or an infection. When the excess fluid accumulates in the legs, it can put pressure on the veins and cause varicose vein pain.
Thrombosis
Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot develops inside a vein, commonly in the legs. There are several risk factors that increase the chances of developing thrombosis, including obesity, advanced age, and certain medical conditions such as cancer or heart disease.
Blood clots can obstruct proper blood flow and cause swelling, pain, and discomfort. Left untreated, thrombosis can lead to more serious medical conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a condition that occurs when the veins in your legs no longer allow blood to flow back to the heart effectively. This can happen when the vein valves are damaged or weakened, preventing proper blood circulation. People with CVI may experience leg pain and swelling, which can be aggravated by varicose veins.
Medical Evaluation And Professional Care
If you experience persistent discomfort, pain, or any symptoms associated with varicose veins, it is crucial to seek medical evaluation. Since varicose veins are often visible, a visual examination by a medical professional is usually the first step in diagnosing the condition. However, additional tests may be necessary to determine the severity and underlying causes of varicose veins. These may include:
- Ultrasound: Ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging test that uses sound waves to create images of your veins and blood flow.
- Venography: Venography is an imaging technique that involves injecting contrast dye into your veins. X-rays are then taken to visualize the blood flow through your veins.
- Blood tests: Blood tests may be necessary to help identify any underlying health conditions that could be contributing to your varicose vein pain.
Early intervention is crucial in managing varicose vein pain and preventing further complications. Ignoring varicose vein pain can lead to more severe symptoms and complications, such as ulcers or blood clots. Therefore, seeking early treatment is essential for better outcomes and improved quality of life.
Conventional Management Strategies
Most doctors will recommend one of the following conventional management strategies based on the diagnosis and severity of your varicose veins pain and associated symptoms:
Compression Stockings
One of the most common treatments for varicose veins is wearing compression stockings. Compression stockings are specially designed to apply pressure to the legs, helping to improve blood flow and alleviate pain and discomfort. They can be quite effective for mild to moderate cases of varicose veins and are often the first-line treatment option. However, compression stockings won’t address any underlying medical conditions causing your varicose vein pain.
Ablation
Ablation therapy is a minimally invasive procedure involving heat or laser energy to close off the problematic vein. This treatment method is recommended for larger varicose veins and can significantly reduce pain and discomfort.
However, it may require multiple sessions to achieve results. Additionally, there will still be a risk of recurrence. However, despite being “minimally” invasive, it’s still invasive, which means there are a few potential complication risks, such as bleeding, infection, and heat damage to adjacent nerves.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is another minimally invasive procedure. It involves injecting a solution into the affected vein, causing it to scar and close off. It is commonly used for small varicose veins and spider veins and can improve their appearance while also reducing pain and discomfort.
However, like ablation therapy, sclerotherapy may require multiple sessions to achieve optimal results. It also comes with its share of risks, including allergic reactions and potential damage to surrounding tissue. Additionally, sclerotherapy is only suitable for those with a single vein affected by varicose veins; it may not be effective for those with multiple problematic veins.
Vein Surgery
In severe cases of varicose veins, surgery may be necessary to remove the problematic vein. This procedure involves making incisions along the affected vein, removing it entirely or in segments. While it can effectively alleviate varicose vein pain, surgery carries more significant risks than other treatment options and requires a more extended recovery time.
Neuragenex Neurofunctional Pain Management For Vascular Discomfort
Neuragenex Neurofunctional Pain Management manages varicose vein pain. This means that we target the underlying cause of your varicose vein pain. Because our approach specifically targets the neurological factors contributing to your condition, we can effectively alleviate chronic pain and inflammation without the need for invasive treatments or medications.
Our whole-person treatment protocol includes a combination of non-invasive, non-surgical, drug-free, and non-chiropractic techniques, such as electroanalgesia and IV therapy. We use treatment modalities that are FDA-cleared and that have been shown to be safe and effective for managing vascular discomfort. These treatments include the following:
Electroanalgesia
Electroanalgesia is a pain management technique that uses high-pulse electrical current to ease pain, boost blood circulation, improve mobility, and induce...
IV Therapy
IV nutritional therapy, or intravenous therapy, involves administering vital nutrients directly to the bloodstream through an IV. This type of treatment bypasses the digestive system, allowing for maximum absorption and utilization of nutrients by the...
Lifestyle Counseling
Lifestyle counseling is an approach to managing chronic pain that involves identifying, assessing, and modifying lifestyle factors contributing to an individual's pain. For example, lifestyle factors such as nutrition, physical activity, stress, sleep quality...
Conditions Involving Vein Pain That Addressed With Neuragenex NFPM
Our treatment modalities can help improve blood circulation, thereby reducing inflammation. As a result, Neuragenex Neurofunctional Pain Management protocol is particularly effective at helping to manage the pain associated with the following conditions:
Restless Leg Syndrome Pain Treatment
RLS is a condition that causes an urge to move the legs, and can lead to discomfort, pain, exhaustion, and difficulty sleeping. Neuragenex NFPM is a non-pharmaceutical, non-chiropractic, and non-surgical (therefore, non-invasive) solution for restless leg...
Pain From Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Treatment
Living with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can be challenging. We offer a treatment that can help you alleviate pain from...
Preventing Discomfort In The Varicose Veins
We take a whole-person approach to pain management, which means addressing all aspects of your condition. In addition to our treatment protocol, we also offer lifestyle counseling to help you make necessary lifestyle changes to prevent or reduce discomfort in your varicose veins. The following are examples of ways that you can prevent discomfort in the varicose veins with simple lifestyle changes:
- Avoid prolonged standing.
- Do not cross your legs. Instead, elevate your legs when sitting.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Try wearing compression stockings.
- Exercise regularly.
Embrace Freedom From Varicose Vein Pain
Varicose veins can be a source of significant discomfort and pain, but with proper management strategies, you can find relief. We offer an alternative approach to managing varicose vein pain without the use of medications or invasive procedures.
Neuragenex NFPM protocol targets the underlying neurological factors contributing to your condition to address chronic pain and inflammation. With our whole-person treatment approach and lifestyle counseling, you can embrace freedom from varicose vein pain and improve your overall quality of life.
Say goodbye to varicose vein pain! Contact us now to schedule a consultation and find the relief you deserve.