What if I do nothing about my varicose veins?

What if I do nothing about my varicose veins? In most cases, varicose veins are not considered to be a serious medical problem such as heart disease or cancer.   For some people, varicose veins are just an eye-sore and do not cause any problems with their lifestyle or mobility.

Over time, however, varicose veins will get larger and more prominent.  Any associated symptoms, like heaviness and throbbing, may also get worse with time.  The slow flowing blood in the varicose vein may even form a clot under the skin.  This condition, known as thrombophlebitis, causes swelling and redness in the area around the vein.  New varicose veins will often continue to form in patients with untreated venous insufficiency.

With prolonged venous insufficiency, some patients experience leg swelling that can impact their mobility and alter their shoe size.  Patients with significant swelling will usually feel that they have tired and heavy legs.  As the insufficiency gets worse, some patients even notice skin color and texture changes.

Rarely, venous insufficiency can result in more serious problems, such as a venous ulcer. Venous ulcers usually begin as small wounds, typically by the ankle, but can get larger over time and can cause spontaneous bleeding.  Though patients do not lose a significant amount of blood from these ulcers, they tend to be painful.  Many patients restrict their daily activities because of the fear of spontaneous bleeding from their ulcer.

For the vast majority of patients, varicose veins and venous insufficiency will not progress to a serious medical issue. Nonetheless, if untreated, the appearance and symptoms they are already experiencing will likely worsen over time. If you have any concerns about your legs and would like to learn more about how to prevent your varicose veins from progressing, please call us for a consultation.