Pain, joints & skin
Varicose veins
We assess varicose veins and the leg symptoms that come with them — aching, heaviness, swelling and skin changes. Most are managed well with compression and practical measures. We refer for a procedure when symptoms justify it or the skin is starting to suffer.
Come in if you have
- Aching, heavy or tired legs, worse by the end of the day
- Ankle swelling that improves overnight
- Visible bulging veins that are uncomfortable
- Skin around the ankle darkening, hardening or becoming itchy
- An ulcer or sore near the ankle that is slow to heal
What happens at your visit
- We examine your legs standing, because veins do not show properly lying down.
- We check circulation and pulses, which matters before any compression is recommended.
- We look for skin changes, since those change the urgency considerably.
- We arrange an ultrasound and refer to a vein specialist where it is warranted.
More than cosmetic, often
Varicose veins get dismissed as an appearance issue, and sometimes that is all they are. But when they cause aching legs, evening swelling, or changes to the skin at the ankle, they represent a circulation problem that can progress.
The trajectory worth interrupting is: veins → swelling → skin discolouration → skin hardening → ulcer. Venous leg ulcers are painful, slow to heal, and much easier to prevent than to treat.
What helps day to day
- Compression stockings, correctly fitted, put on first thing in the morning before swelling starts
- Elevating your legs above hip level for periods during the day
- Walking — the calf muscle is what pumps blood back up
- Avoiding long periods standing still; if your job requires it, move your ankles regularly
- Weight management, which meaningfully reduces the load on leg veins
Compression is the one people abandon. It is usually because the stockings were the wrong size or class, uncomfortable, or hard to get on. All of those are solvable — tell us rather than giving up on them.
Circulation is checked first
We check the arterial circulation in your legs before recommending compression. That is not a formality: if the arterial supply is reduced, compression can cause harm rather than help. It is a step that sometimes gets skipped.
When we refer
We refer to a vein specialist when symptoms are significant despite conservative measures, when there are skin changes, or where an ulcer has developed or healed. Modern treatments are much less invasive than the vein-stripping surgery people remember.
Insurance generally requires documented symptoms and a trial of compression first, so starting here and building that record makes the referral considerably easier.
Get seen promptly for
Sudden painful swelling of one leg — that needs a clot excluded urgently. Also a vein that becomes hot, red and hard, or any non-healing sore near the ankle.
Common questions
- Are varicose veins just cosmetic?
- Sometimes, but not always. When they cause aching, swelling, or skin changes around the ankle, they are a medical problem — and untreated skin changes can progress to ulcers, which are difficult and slow to heal.
- Do compression stockings actually help?
- Yes, genuinely, when they fit and you wear them. Most people who say they did not work were wearing the wrong size or class, or only wearing them occasionally. Put them on first thing before swelling develops.
- Will insurance cover treatment?
- Usually only when symptoms are documented and conservative measures like compression have been tried first. Purely cosmetic treatment is generally not covered. Starting with proper documentation here makes a later referral much smoother.
- Which symptoms mean I should not wait?
- Skin around the ankle darkening or hardening, an ulcer or non-healing sore, sudden painful swelling of one leg, or a vein that becomes hot, red and firm. Those need prompt assessment.
This page explains how we care for this condition at our office. It is general information, not medical advice for your specific situation — please talk to us about your own care.
Ready to get this looked at?
Call us or send a request and we will get you in — often the same or next day.