What does it mean when varicose veins occasionally have blocked blood flow?

Written by Zhang Xue Min
Vascular Surgery
Updated on September 17, 2024
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The so-called varicose veins are caused by blood circulation blockages, which likely refers to local thrombus formation, leading to feelings of congestion in lower limbs, or caused by compression from above, such as tight clothing, exacerbating the obstruction of blood flow. This might result in increased surface tension of varicose veins in the lower extremities. Additionally, there might be some pain upon pressing, or even spontaneous pain.

In such cases, differentiated treatment is required. For instance, if the issue is due to compressive clothing, like tight-knee socks or pants legs that are too tight, simply relieving the pressure should suffice.

However, if a thrombus has formed causing increased local tension, pressing or massaging must be strictly avoided, as there is a risk the thrombus might dislodge and potentially lead to pulmonary embolism.

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Written by Zhang Xue Min
Vascular Surgery
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Can varicose veins occasionally be invisible?

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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Written by Zhang Xue Min
Vascular Surgery
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Can people with varicose veins in the lower extremities drink alcohol?

The majority of patients with varicose veins in the lower limbs can drink alcohol in moderation, but should not drink excessively. However, there is one circumstance where it is advisable to check carefully before deciding whether to drink alcohol. This is the case if there are severe varicose veins in both lower limbs and even some clearly visible dilated veins on the abdomen. In such cases, it's recommended to check the liver first. This is because the veins from the lower limbs join to form a vein called the inferior vena cava, which passes through the liver to return to the heart. If there is a problem with the liver, it may compress the inferior vena cava, causing varicose veins on both sides. In this situation, drinking alcohol could further damage the liver, potentially worsening the varicose veins.

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Written by Zhang Xue Min
Vascular Surgery
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Will varicose veins recur and have sequelae after surgery?

After varicose vein surgery, there may be a recurrence, and there may also be sequelae. The main reason for recurrence is that we only close off the varicose veins, but the causes that lead to varicose veins are not removed, such as some people having a family history, some being involved in long-term physical labor, and some being excessively obese. If these factors are not eliminated, the patient is very likely to relapse. The recurring veins may be some other nearby superficial veins that some surgical methods did not remove but merely closed locally. These veins might also reopen, and sequelae are possible. The most common sequelae include nerve damage, such as saphenous nerve damage, which is quite common with an incidence rate of about 14%. The main symptom is numbness near the inner ankle, which might improve over time. Some people feel discomfort at the surgical site on rainy or cloudy days shortly after surgery, and if the deep veins are damaged during surgery, more severe consequences may occur, including poor reflux in the deep veins and deep vein thrombosis, etc.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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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.

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Written by Chen Feng
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.