The Cost of Untreated Varicose Veins

If you are one of the roughly 40 million people in America who have varicose veins, then you might be wondering if seeking treatment is necessary. If your veins aren’t imposing on your daily activities, or aren’t causing you great discomfort right now, seeing a doctor to go over your treatment options might seem like something that can wait until later or maybe might not be needed at all. But varicose veins are an indication that your veins aren’t functioning properly and this could lead to pain and more serious issues in the future.

Your veins might not be painful now, but if left untreated, the pressure buildup in your varicose veins will continue to damage and weaken your veins leading to swelling, discomfort, and pain. And the longer you wait to seek treatment, the more your veins can become damaged leading to other issues such as:

Hyperpigmentation – As blood leaks from your veins into the surrounding tissue, swelling and pain can be accompanied by hyperpigmentation, a medical condition that causes discoloration of your skin. This condition can be unsightly, embarrassing, and painful.

Skin Issues – As the skin around your varicose veins stretches due to swelling, your skin can become thin and easily damaged. This damage can cause open wounds that bleed and can be difficult to heal. These open wounds might lead to a skin infection such as Cellulitis.

Venous ulcers – Over time, your varicose veins can lead to chronic venous insufficiency and venous ulcers. These ulcers develop around the ankle when the skin breaks open. They are long lasting, take weeks to heal, and can excrete a pus-like discharge.

Lipodermatosclerosis – If your varicose veins are left untreated, you could develop lipodermatosclerosis which causes pain, aching, itchiness, and hardening of the skin on your legs.

Bleeding veins – The thinning of your skin around your veins means that the veins can be easily exposed and injured. If an exposed vein is injured, significant blood loss could follow.

As you can see, varicose veins should not be ignored. If you have varicose veins, even if they aren’t causing you major issues right now, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. The best course of action is to see a vein specialist who can diagnose and treat your varicose veins now so you won’t have more serious issues in the future.

Dr. Eston Wenger is a Vascular Specialist who diagnoses and treats vein problems. To book an appointment with Dr. Eston Wenger to set up an appointment. Give Dr. Wenger, a call at Premier Surgical Associates of Cleveland, TN, at (423) 472-5423 or click here to request an appointment online.