A swollen vein can show up as a raised, twisted, or rope-like line beneath your skin. Sometimes these veins do not cause discomfort, but other times they bring symptoms that affect your ability to live life comfortably.
If you notice swollen veins, it might be time to visit our providers at Florida Lakes Vein Center to explore your vascular health. Our team in Fort Myers helps you understand what your veins may be signaling.
Keep reading to learn more about swollen varicose veins and how our team treats them with leading solutions.
Why Do Swollen Veins Develop?
A swollen vein often develops when blood gets backed up and has trouble moving through the vessel. Healthy veins keep blood moving in the right direction with the help of tiny, one-way valves.
Aging, genetics, and lifestyle choices can weaken these valves, leading to increased pressure. This added pressure can cause the vein to stretch, bulge, and rise beneath the skin, resulting in a varicose vein.
Are Swollen Veins Also Varicose Veins?
Many swollen veins, especially in the legs, indicate varicose veins. These bulging blood vessels may seem simply cosmetic, but without medical assessment and treatment, they can lead to uncomfortable symptoms.
They can also point to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition where the veins struggle to send blood back toward the heart. This can affect comfort, mobility, and skin health.
When Should a Swollen Vein Cause Concern?
A swollen, raised vein deserves attention when it causes pain, keeps getting larger, or occurs with other symptoms. While new symptoms might not cause immediate concern, we recommend visiting our specialists early if you have:
- Heaviness in your legs, especially after physical activity
- Itchy skin or a dark spot on a leg
- Additional swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet
- Pain or cramping in the legs
The Importance of Varicose Vein Treatment
When we treat swollen varicose veins, we prevent vein disease from worsening and causing more complications. Without treatment, varicose veins can lead to blood clots, sores, and other more dangerous side effects.
With preventative vein care, we can improve your vein health early on, such as treating a swollen vein. In Fort Myers, our team uses modern vein treatments that do not require surgery, lengthy downtimes, or painful incisions.
Treatments for Varicose Veins
Our team, led by Dr. T.C. Lackey II, brings advanced vein care to our region. Many people suffer from vein disease, but don’t know that cutting-edge, minimally invasive options exist.
Let’s look at our options for treating varicose veins.
Varithena
We use a specialized microfoam, Varithena, to collapse the vein walls through a series of injections. In around 4 appointments, many of our patients see and feel improvements in vein appearance and symptoms.
VenaSeal
We also offer VenaSeal, a medical-grade adhesive that seals damaged veins. VenaSeal only requires one appointment, during which the treated varicose vein collapses and pushes blood flow to healthier vessels.
Downtime and Recovery After Varicose Vein Treatment
No matter which swollen vein treatment we choose, you can return to your daily activities in Fort Myers immediately after treatment. Our providers give you any post-care instructions to follow to support healing at home.
Request a Vein Screening for Your Vein Concerns
Swollen veins might indicate more than a surface-level concern. Request a screening with our team to take a proactive role in your vein health and understand more about your symptoms.