I’m Losing Weight and Exercising, But My Vein Pain Won’t Stop. What Are My Options?

Your circulatory system does critical work: It sends nutrients and oxygen all over your body, and your veins direct the blood back to your heart and lungs for reoxygenation.

Vein conditions cause uncomfortable symptoms and mobility problems, but they can also put you at risk for a serious health crisis: a blood clot. There are many types of venous disease, and all should be medically treated and monitored. You can take steps to ease your symptoms.

The highly skilled provider team at Pearl Cardio-Vascular of Inland Empire works with you to treat your painful veins, and they’re eager to relieve your vein discomfort and enhance your well-being.

How venous disease develops

Veins are efficient, pliant, and equipped with valves that open and close to keep the blood moving forward.

When veins get damaged, or if the valves malfunction and don’t close properly, blood can slip backward instead and pool up with oncoming blood. Aside from hindering your vital blood circulation, a pattern of blood pooling also compromises the health of your veins, so they’re stretched out and weakened.

Different vein conditions, same problems

Venous disease encompasses many conditions, including:

1. Spider veins

Spider veins are damaged blood vessels just under the skin that can be blue, red, or purple. They usually don’t cause discomfort and are mainly a cosmetic concern. However, they can be a risk factor for chronic venous insufficiency, a condition where the veins have difficulty moving blood back to the heart.

2. Varicose veins 

These twisted and bulging veins are typically in the legs and cause a deep ache, itching, and swelling. Muscle cramps, a heavy feeling in the legs and feet, and changes in skin color near the veins are also symptoms. 

3. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) 

DVT develops when a blood clot forms deep within the body, usually in the thigh or lower leg, though it can affect other parts of the body, such as the arms and pelvis.

Symptoms include recurring leg swelling, skin discoloration, and ulcers that develop on the legs. DVT can also cause the leg to feel warm.

4. Thrombophlebitis

This condition comes from an inflammatory response, usually in the leg, that causes a clot to form and block one or more veins. Unlike DVT, thrombophlebitis clots are closer to the skin’s surface.

5. Venous insufficiency

Venous insufficiency develops when problems interfere with blood easily and efficiently returning to the heart. Signs that point to venous insufficiency are visible varicose veins, a heavy feeling in the legs, dull pain, cramping, swelling, and tingling. 

Skin symptoms can also emerge, from redness, irritation, and hardening to developing a crusty surface with open sores that weep in certain places. 

Easing venous disease symptoms takes multi-pronged approach

As with many health conditions, it’s important to take a more expansive approach to your self-care if you have vein pain and other symptoms. Exercising is great,  one of the best things you can do for relief, but you can take other steps as well:

• Wear compression socks, which apply regulated pressure to help with blood flow
• Elevating your legs during the day also relieves vein pressure and improves blood flow
• Gently massaging your legs can encourage blood flow
• Avoid tight jeans or other restrictive pants
• Shed excess weight if you need to (if you’re exercising, keep it up!)
• Don’t sit for long periods of time
• When you sit, avoid crossing your legs, as this hampers blood flow

In addition to supporting your vein health at home, your Pearl Cardio-Vascular provider is here to provide evidence-based, innovative, and minimally invasive treatments.

1. Endovenous vein laser treatment (EVLT)

Aided by laser energy, EVLT seals off offending veins with not only impressively high success rates, but recovery from treatment is brief, so you can get back to doing the things you enjoy quickly. 

Also encouraging is that The Journal of Vascular Surgery has published studies reporting a remarkable 90-plus% success rate with this treatment.

2. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

RFA uses radiofrequency (RF) energy, a form of electromagnetic energy, to close off troublesome veins, and you experience a comfortable post-procedure recovery. This treatment has a vein closure success rate approaching 90%, according to The National Library of Medicine.

We can’t overstate the importance of our vascular health. Seeking treatment at Pearl Cardio-Vascular of Inland Empire is sure to improve your quality of life.

To learn more about getting real long-term relief from vein pain, schedule an appointment at our Chino or Pomona, California, office by calling 909-318-3498, or you can book online.