Symptoms

Symptoms

Varicose veins frequently cause symptoms. Patients describe aching, heaviness, throbbing, burning or bursting over a ff ected areas and sometimes the whole limb. Such symptoms typically increase throughout the day or with prolonged standing, and are relieved by elevation or compression hosiery . Itching is also commonly described, though this is more frequent in the presence of complications, as is swelling of the ankle. V enous symptoms in the absence of complications can be vague and it may be di ffi cult to ascertain from history alone whether they are truly venous in origin and, therefore, whether treatment will help. A trial of compression hosiery can help as venous symptoms should show some beneficial improvement. Symptoms can be very severe and interfere with a patient’s daily activities such as work, recreation and caring for children and adults. Such symptoms are independent of the degree of v enous incompetence or the presence of complications, including skin changes short of ulceration. Studies have also shown that symptoms are associated with a significant deficit in health-related quality of life, and significant improvements are seen with treatment to remove or ablate the refluxing veins. The maximal benefit is seen in those with uncomplicated symptomatic varicose veins, as skin changes and a proportion of the associated morbidity are frequently irreversible. reticular veins occur very commonly in the absence of sig nificant reflux or obstruction and in the vast majority do not cause any physical symptoms, though cosmetic treatment is commonly sought.