Many of the signs of vein problems are mild enough that patients often write them off as general fatigue after a long day. However, they may point to treatable vein conditions that could get worse if they aren’t diagnosed and treated. At the Varicose Vein Center in Port Jefferson, Dr. Jerry Ninia has spent more than 34 years treating the causes of these symptoms, and he teaches other physicians how to do the same. Here are five signs that it is time to see a vein specialist.
Sign #1: Aching, Heaviness and Fatigue in Your Legs
One of the early signs of vein trouble is a dull ache or heavy feeling that increases throughout the day and eases once you have time to put your feet up. Healthy leg veins are able to carry blood upward thanks to a series of one-way valves that keep the blood from descending back toward the feet.
Sometimes these valves become weak and stop working, which is why more blood can pool in the lower leg. The pressure in the vein can cause aching and fatigue. When discomfort comes and goes, people are less likely to mention it to their doctor. However, if you experience persistent leg pain, heaviness and fatigue, it is time to have a vein specialist get a closer look.
Sign #2: Swelling in Your Ankles or Lower Legs
Swelling in the lower legs and ankles is another sign that your valves may not be working properly. Pay attention to how your legs feel at the end of the day. If your calves feel tight when you bend down, or your skin shows a dent when you press on it for five to ten seconds, you may have excess fluid, or edema. Swelling from vein problems happens in the lower legs and gets better overnight.
Sign #3: Restless, Itchy or Burning Legs
At night, your legs will feel like they cannot settle, and the skin may itch or burn for no reason. While it is common to attribute these symptoms to dry skin or other causes of restless sleep, they can also be a sign of poor circulation from failing vein valves. As blood collects in the lower leg, it irritates the surrounding nerves and skin and can produce the crawling or burning warmth that makes it so difficult to get good sleep. Women often notice restless, itchy or burning legs during and after pregnancy, when there is even more pressure on the valves.
Sign #4: Skin Changes Around Your Ankles
Brown or reddish staining near the ankle, as well as dry, flaky patches and hard and tight skin are all signs that vein disease has progressed and has been worsening for some time. Color changes come from red blood cells leaking out of overloaded veins and breaking down in the skin, leaving an iron-based pigment behind. The trapped pressure and inflammation also stiffen the tissue.
These changes are particularly important to note because they often come right before open sores develop. You will need to treat the underlying vein early to help these ulcers. Any skin changes are a signal to have your veins checked sooner rather than later.
Sign #5: Bulging or Worsening Veins
One of the first signs that people often pay attention to is bulging veins that stand out from the skin. These veins are a visible clue that you have faulty valves deeper in the leg, and you should pay attention to them as more than just a cosmetic issue.
The bulging veins often come with the other symptoms we’ve already mentioned, like aching or swelling. Varicose veins and spider veins tend to get worse rather than better. In one long-running study, they found that those with varicose veins or vein insufficiency grew worse over a period of 13 years, and roughly a third of those with varicose veins went on to develop a deeper vein disease.
When to Seek Vein Care Right Away
While many of these signs are not urgent, there are a few situations that should cause you to call your doctor right away or even make a visit to the emergency room or urgent care. You should get evaluated right away if you have a leg vein that suddenly becomes hard, warm, red and tender, since this can be a sign of a clot. If you have an open sore near the ankle that won’t heal, schedule an appointment today to have your veins checked, and give us a call if one of your varicose veins begins to bleed.
Why See a Vein Specialist?
Sometimes leg symptoms can be handled in the early stages by your primary care doctor, but veins are a specialty of their own. Dr. Ninia is dual board-certified in phlebology, the medicine of vein disorders, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is also a Registered Vascular Technologist who can read ultrasound scans himself and save you the step of having to hear back from an outside lab or technician.
Over his three decades in practice, Dr. Ninia has performed thousands of vein procedures and now teaches other physicians internationally. His private practice comes with personal consultations and doesn’t involve any of the cosmetic upsells that are far too common in the field of vein health.
What to Expect at Your First Visit With a Vein Doctor
When you come in for an appointment with any of the symptoms above, you’ll start by going over them with Dr. Ninia, who will also ask for a detailed health history and perform a hands-on exam. In many cases, Dr. Ninia will use a painless ultrasound scan to map blood flow and show which valves are leaking.
If treatment makes sense, he will guide you through a range of minimally invasive procedures that can be done right in the office, with no vein stripping and very little downtime. At our practice, we handle everything from diagnosis to treatment so we can make it less complicated for you.
Book Vein Treatment in Port Jefferson, NY
Relief starts with knowing what is going on in your legs. Call the Varicose Vein Center at 631-474-1414 or request a consultation to have your symptoms evaluated by Dr. Ninia.
