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Conditions

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins (Photo from Wellcome Trust)

Your legs might look an aerial view of a flesh-coloured mountain range, but varicose veins are a very common condition. Rare in people under 20, but more common with age and pregnancy, women tend to be more affected than men, with approximately 30% of women developing varicose veins in their life time, compared to only 15% of men. Varicose veins are swollen and enlarged veins, which are usually blue or dark purple in colour and lumpy, bulging, or twisted in appearance. They occur when blood collects in veins with damaged or weakened valves, which usually work to prevent blood destined for the heart from travelling backwards. It’s a bit like the directional arrows that usher IKEA customers through the store. If everyone just buys their £7 uplighter and moves on, all runs smoothly. But if the system breaks down and a few bargain-hunting renegades push their trolley against the flow, then we’ll see multiple clogs forming! Always an unpleasant sight.

What the Men in White Coats Say

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i am female,3 grown up kids nd in my early 40's, i av ad my veins injected twice, only av em in my left leg, also av 1 big1 on my bum cheek, jst b4 my monthlys my varicose veins realy ache,but the emotional side is terrible, i cant go swimming nd summer time always av my legs covered, they av taken over my life, please help x





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Think very carefully about having anything done to your varicose veins - I was in pain with mine, went forward with the operation and the hospital have left me with severe nerve damage and I am now unable to walk without a stick





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I have very bad varicose vains. They now burns it rain sets and when I walk they burns and I scrach them until they bleed leaving scars on my body. Now I have an embarrasing body wont go to beach.





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hi im 25 and ive noticed a lump in my vein its not there if you feel the vein flat but if i push the vein i get a hard long lump about an inch long (kinda feels like a contraceptive implant) is this a varicose vein please help as i am a bit worry of what it could be





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I am 53 and have had varicoise veins and spider veins on my legs since my 20's. In the last year they have gotten very bad on my right thigh area. I also have cut into a vein around my right leg and it had sprayed blood all over like a fountain for like 10 minutes. I put compression on it and it stopped. My legs feel very tight and I have gone for saline injections in the past that never seem to work. I want the swelling to go down in my right leg, its become very lump and really hurts on certain lumps. What can i have done besides traditional stripping? Thanks





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Hi I'm 24 years old and have had varicose veins and spider veins on the back of my legs since age 16. They are very unsightly and have worsened over the years. They are itchy and throb when I stand or sit for too long. My feet also turn purple very quickly because of them. I always cover my legs and the thought of swim suits is unbearable. I have tried using leg foundation to cover them but the bulging is very obvious. What is the best form of treatment for these? Is surgery the only effective option? Also, is it worth my while getting them removed before I have children? Please help!!! My doctors have dismissed it as a cosmetic problem and ignore the discomfort and pain caused by them.





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l have had varicose vein for years but l have also had blood clots to my lungs and legs the bottom part of my legs look dreadful l always wear trousers and feel terrible when l wear swim wear they look like surface vains black and red colour lots of them, can they be removed and would it cost a lot of money l sometimes think l will always have to live with it.





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Hello,im 40 and had verciose veins removed after my 3rd child now that i did hve another 3 more children im not very happy with my legs as i thought getting them removed that it would of help me but it has made thing worse my left leg is blacky grey and my ankleis like reddy purple like a bruise it has left me with no confidence to show my legs im always in trousers m docter has said its a cometic problem im just wondering what to do now now that summer is coming its going to be harder?





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hi I am 19 and have got to children. I had a caesarean with with last child since ive had him ive had so many problems including bulging varicose veins on the back of my legs. I am so self concious about myself so not on are the varicose veins a physical pain they are also an emotional pain. is there anything that can be done to reduce or get rid of them, please help. thanks.





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I had an operation when I was 16 and was not made aware I should have come off the pill at least 6 weeks before my op, so I was given support stockings which I wore for about 4 days. After my op I discovered behind both knees and lower calf these unsighlty blue veins. I have never been able to wear skirts above the knee, I am now 33 and still feel very embarrassed with my legs, I dread holidays and swimming etc. I have been to the doctors on numerous occasions due to the pain and cramps etc but htey just send me away. Private treatment is a min of £2693 which I just find crazy, is there any other help out there ??? :-(





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

Varicose veins are dark purple or blue in colour, and are usually twisted and bulging in appearance. Some people with varicose veins will not experience any pain or discomfort, while others are more severely affected. Read More »

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