I have varicose veins

I have had varicose veins in my right leg for the past one year. Initially, it did not bother me but now it has become very painful. Kindly advise me on what to do. I am a 50-year old Civil Servant.

Thomas (by E Mail)

Varicose veins develop most often on the legs, causing swelling and pain. But why do the twisted, swollen veins sometimes appear only on one leg while the other leg remains blemish-free? Several medical theories attempt to explain why this may happen, but doctors and researchers have yet to provide a conclusive reason.

However, for those suffering from the pain of varicose veins, the reason isn’t as important as seeking treatment to relieve the discomfort and appearance of vein disease. Because you have veins in both legs, it seems logical that varicose veins would develop in both, right? Yet many patients report varicose veins on only one leg, usually on the left leg.

One theory points to our anatomy and how our blood circulates. The heart consists of four chambers: two on the right side and two on the left. The left side pushes oxygen-filled blood to our tissues and organs, while the right side sends deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Because of how blood flows throughout our bodies, you have more veins on the left side of your body. According to this theory, more veins mean a greater chance of varicose veins developing on the left leg.

However, not all varicose veins are visible. Most varicose veins form in the superficial veins close to the skin’s surface, but they could also develop deeper in the leg. You may not see visible symptoms, but you may experience swelling, pain, heaviness, and cramping. Keep in mind that just because you can see varicose veins on one leg doesn’t mean the other leg doesn’t have hidden varicose veins deeper in the leg. Whether you have vein disease in one leg or both, varicose veins can be painful and unsightly. You can try conservative methods to ease the symptoms, such as wearing compression stockings and elevating your legs for 15 minutes each day.

However, if you wish to eliminate the bulging veins, you can explore several treatment options with a specialist doctor in the nearest specialist hospital to you. These procedures are minimally invasive and require only local anesthesia. After these brief outpatient procedures, you can return to your normal activities with minor restrictions.

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