Can varicose veins occasionally be invisible?

Written by Zhang Xue Min
Vascular Surgery
Updated on September 09, 2024
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When varicose veins are mild in their early stages, if you wear compression stockings during winter, it's possible that the varicosities are not very noticeable occasionally when you take off the stockings. However, in more advanced stages, when there are clearly widespread and clustered varicose veins, they are difficult to conceal.

However, if deep vein thrombosis occurs, causing tissue edema, the swollen surrounding tissues may obscure the varicose veins, making them less visible. Therefore, we need to judge based on the specific circumstances. Generally, just because varicose veins are occasionally not visible does not mean that the condition has healed.

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Urology
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How is varicocele treated?

The treatment of varicocele depends on the severity of the condition. Clinically, some varicocele patients do not exhibit obvious symptoms, or show no symptoms at all and are only diagnosed during physical examinations. These patients can generally be treated conservatively by avoiding standing for long periods, avoiding prolonged walking, and by wearing tight underwear to alleviate symptoms of varicocele. However, some patients with varicocele do exhibit clear symptoms, including discomfort and pain in the scrotum on the affected side, especially after long periods of walking. These symptoms can become more severe and may also be accompanied by abnormalities in semen quality. These patients generally require surgical intervention, such as high ligation of the veins.

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How to treat varicose veins stage II?

If you're referring to the second stage of varicose veins, I'm not sure if you mean the clinical manifestation stage two, or if it's a recurrence after one surgery. Let's first talk about stage two varicose veins, which means there are visible and tortuous vein clumps. There are several main treatment methods for this condition: First, conservative treatment, which involves wearing medical compression stockings. If symptoms include soreness, heaviness, or cramping, some medications can be taken orally. Then, if there is a desire for surgical treatment, options like vein stripping, radiofrequency, or laser treatments are available. Some may involve sclerotherapy or another method called venous angle keratin treatment, specifically for stage two varicose veins. If it's a recurrence of varicose veins, we need to assess the specific situation. Some people might have had previous endovenous closure surgeries, and their veins are still present. In such cases, we can choose to redo the closure or opt for surgery to remove them. Another scenario is if the varicose veins have recurred after surgery. We need to investigate the cause. Some people might have iliac vein stenosis, and in such cases, treatment targeted at the iliac vein is necessary.

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Written by Zhang Xue Min
Vascular Surgery
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Why does varicose veins sometimes feel like needle pricks?

In cases of varicose veins, the blood flow in the varicose veins is relatively slow. This blood, having undergone gas exchange, contains less oxygen and more carbon dioxide. If such blood remains in a local area for an extended period, it can potentially stimulate the nerves to some extent. Sometimes, including in varicose veins, if the blood flow pressure within these veins increases, it can also stimulate the nerves in the outer membrane of the blood vessels, leading to abnormal nerve discharges. Such incidents can manifest as brief, pin-like pain, not particularly intense, resembling the sensation of a needle prick. This condition is quite common and generally holds no special significance.

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Is leg cramp related to varicose veins?

Leg cramps are not directly related to varicose veins. The most common cause of leg cramps in clinical practice is calcium deficiency, which can lead to cramps in the calves at night. For such cases, the first step is to supplement calcium by consuming foods high in calcium, such as drinking more milk and eating more legumes. Varicose veins are caused by the tortuosity of the veins in the lower leg, and patients with varicose veins often have some degree of deformation in the venous valves, which leads to varicose veins. This condition has no relation to calf cramps, as the causes and conditions of the diseases are completely different.

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Causes of varicocele

There are several causes of varicocele, including congenital factors and secondary causes. Congenital causes are mainly seen in cases of incomplete development of venous valves, while secondary causes may result from prolonged sitting, standing, or intense exercise over time. Some patients develop varicocele due to kidney tumors or blood clots in renal veins, which obstruct the blood flow returning through the spermatic vein. Patients with severe varicocele may experience a sensation of heaviness and pain in the testicles. In treating varicocele, it is also important to understand the reasons behind it. If it is caused by a tumor, active treatment of the tumor is necessary.