What happens if varicose veins worsen?

Written by Zhang Xue Min
Vascular Surgery
Updated on August 31, 2024
00:00
00:00

Varicose veins, when they worsen, can lead to changes in the skin, including thickening of the skin which feels woody to the touch. Additionally, the skin may exhibit pigmentation that can be severe enough to resemble the black color of a belt. More seriously, ulcers can develop, typically near the inner ankle, though they occasionally appear in other locations. These ulcers are referred to medically as “boot ulcers” and are commonly known among the general population as “continuous sore legs.” In extreme cases, these ulcers may persist for many years without healing and could potentially become malignant.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
44sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of varicocele?

If the patient has mild varicocele, they often have no symptoms and it is not easily detected; in such cases, no special treatment is needed. However, with moderate or severe varicocele, the patient may experience a dragging pain in the testicles, especially after intense physical activity, prolonged sitting, or standing, which makes the pain more pronounced. During a physical examination, twisted, worm-like clusters of veins can be felt within the scrotum. Patients with varicocele should undergo further routine semen analysis to assess if the semen quality is affected. If sperm quality is impacted, it could lead to a decline in male fertility, and surgical treatment should be considered when necessary.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
54sec home-news-image

Can bilateral varicocele be cured?

After the occurrence of varicocele, some patients may experience a feeling of heaviness and pain in the scrotum, which is often more apparent after prolonged standing, sitting, or intense exercise, and gradually alleviates after lying down and resting. During physical examination, tortuous veins similar to earthworms can be felt inside the scrotum. A color Doppler ultrasound examination is needed for further clarification. For bilateral varicoceles, it is currently curable. The main treatment method is surgical intervention, such as laparoscopic high ligation of the spermatic veins on both sides. This surgical approach is a minimally invasive procedure and the surgical outcomes are quite definite. Generally, a recovery period of 3-6 months after surgery is expected before complete recovery.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Xue Min
Vascular Surgery
33sec home-news-image

What are the effects of secondary surgery for varicose veins?

If varicose veins recur, we need to carefully investigate the cause of the recurrence and rule out problems in the deep venous system. If there is an obstruction in the deep veins, recurrence can occur quickly even after secondary surgery on the superficial veins. If the deep veins are only involved in venous reflux, surgery can still be performed, but it is hoped that medical compression stockings will be worn for a period of time after surgery. Otherwise, there is still a possibility of recurrence after the secondary surgery.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
52sec home-news-image

What are the harms of varicose veins?

The harms of varicocele are mainly manifested in the following aspects. The first aspect is that varicocele causes a sensation of dragging pain in the testicles, affecting the patient's normal work and life. The second aspect is that due to the presence of varicocele, there is a decline in the quality of male semen, which affects male fertility. The third aspect is that if the varicocele is severe and persists for a long time, it may lead to testicular atrophy, resulting in a decrease in the level of testosterone secretion by the testicles, which reduces male sexual function. Therefore, patients with varicocele, especially those with decreased semen quality, should actively seek surgical treatment, which currently mainly involves high ligation of the spermatic vein.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Feng
Urology
43sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of varicocele?

The symptoms of varicocele vary depending on the severity of the patient's condition. Clinically, most varicocele patients have no obvious symptoms or no symptoms at all, and varicocele is often discovered during physical examinations. A small percentage of varicocele patients exhibit noticeable symptoms. The primary symptom is a feeling of heaviness or discomfort in the testicles, especially after prolonged walking or standing. The pain becomes more pronounced, but it will decrease or even disappear after lying down and resting. Some varicocele patients may not show symptoms but present with infertility. Varicocele is then discovered through physical examinations or related medical tests.