When valves in the veins malfunction, they may be unable to draw blood back to an individual’s heart in an efficient manner because they are working against gravity. Varicose veins appear as enlarged veins with the appearance of a rope. You will notice that you have blue or purple lines running beneath your skin. These veins typically appear on your legs and feet, but they could also occur in other areas like near the armpits and on your hands. Varicose veins, in some instances, may cause pain and discomfort. You may have large, twisting veins with no discomfort, but other times, less visible varicose veins can be pretty painful. If your varicose veins are bothering you, David Naar, MD and his team can help provide treatment. To help manage pain associated with the varicose veins, you may want to do the following:
Elevate your legs
Raising your legs can help provide immediate relief from discomfort and pain that comes with varicose veins. Keep your legs raised above your heart. Stretch them up against a wall, place the feet up on your table, or lie down on your bed and place the legs on three pillows. These techniques will help the venous valves to function more effectively and allow blood to flow from your lower body to the heart.
Stretch and exercise the legs
You may consider short exercises including stretching the calf muscles several times a day. Ensure you keep your feet flexible particularly during long trips if you have limited legroom. If you are in the workplace and have to stand or sit, ensure you change positions every 30 minutes. Also, see that you bend your knees regularly.
Use cold water
Shower your legs with cold water if they are in pain after ending your day’s activities. Cold temperatures allow blood vessels to constrict. This helps alleviate cramps, the feeling of heaviness and swelling, and the associated discomfort. If your varicose veins are painful, avoid hot baths. The pain can worsen when you expose the veins to heat.
Wear special compression hosiery
As with most chronic conditions, you should consider prevention when it comes to managing varicose vein discomfort. You can wear special compression hosiery to help prevent symptoms such as heavy legs and swelling. These products allow you to avoid the painful cramps you tend to experience at the end of the day or night.
Before you walk in the morning, whether going to your workplace or at home, you can put on a compression stocking. The idea is to prevent blood from pooling around the ankles. Do not wear tight clothing and high heels. These tend to exert too much pressure on various parts of the body. They also constrict blood flow and may make varicose veins and the associated discomfort worsen.
As you manage the pain and discomfort of varicose veins, you want to seek treatment from a specialist doctor. Premier Vein Clinic has a specialist team that performs minimally invasive interventional procedures and cosmetic procedures to help treat varicose veins and give your legs the beautiful look you desire to have.