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Varicose veins are a common vascular condition affecting millions of Americans each year.
From swelling and heaviness to bleeding and achiness, varicose vein symptoms can feel overwhelming as they affect your daily lives.
As with most conditions, especially if you’re the one living with daily pain, we all have one goal in mind: relief.
Often, many with varicose veins think it may be a good idea to relieve their symptoms through a relaxing leg massage. While this sounds satisfying on the surface, leg massages may not be recommended to those with varicose veins.
The good news is that you don’t have to nix a full body massage or avoid leg touch altogether, but you should be mindful of asking your massage therapist to avoid areas where your varicose veins are present.
If you’re living with varicose veins that are causing discomfort, the best way to treat their associated symptoms is through comprehensive vein treatment.
Let’s discuss varicose veins and massage in more detail, including precisely what causes varicose veins and whether or not massage can help alleviate symptoms.
What Are Varicose Veins and How Do I Get Them?
Varicose veins are blueish purple, twisted, and enlarged veins appearing just below the skin’s surface. They are most commonly found on the thighs and calves
Varicose veins are caused by increased pressure in the vein that damages or weakens the valve within it over time
With certain types of varicose veins, blood begins to flow backward and pool within the damaged vessel. This inefficiency in the vein causes it to become overfilled with blood, leading to swelling and bulging.
For many, varicose veins develop due to a family history of the condition. They are most common in women over 50 but can affect anyone, anytime.
Common causes of varicose veins include
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
- Sitting and standing for long periods
- Inactivity
Varicose Vein Symptoms
Many people do not experience any symptoms of varicose veins outside of their protruding and twisted appearance, but others may experience
- Constant leg aching or discomfort
- Heaviness in the legs
- Swollen calves, feet, and ankles
- Muscle cramping
- Dry skin
- Color changes in their legs
Does Massage Help Varicose Vein Symptoms?
The short answer is no. In fact, massage could worsen symptoms.
Direct massages over areas that are affected by varicose veins are not recommended.
Because your veins are already considered weak, direct pressure on the area could cause them to worsen and fill with more blood.
Varicose veins that are close to the surface or very thin-walled are also more susceptible to breakage and bleeding, leading to discomfort and injury when pressure or massage is applied to the area.
Before you decide to get a massage, we recommend meeting with a vascular specialist to perform a thorough review of your varicose veins to ensure you are clear to get a massage performed without issue,
Treatment Options
Although a leg massage may feel like the ideal option to help alleviate symptoms of varicose veins, it could be dangerous, especially if you have an underlying circulatory condition or unknown blood clot.
If you have symptoms of varicose veins, you should consider comprehensive and specialized vein treatment.
Standard treatment options for varicose veins include
- Sclerotherapy
- Laser treatment
- Catheter-assisted procedures
- Ambulatory phlebectomy
Most varicose vein treatments can be performed in an outpatient setting with little downtime following your procedure.
Outpatient Varicose Vein Treatment in Virginia
Don’t opt for a massage to treat your vascular condition. Instead, visit us. Our experienced team at Virginia Vein Care can effectively treat varicose veins.
We offer minimally invasive outpatient procedures that do not require extensive surgeries or downtime and provide lasting results for symptom elimination.
If you’re hoping to eliminate varicose veins, we can help. Please visit a Virginia Vein Care location near you.