Vericose vein?!?!

fricksgirl

What does a vericose vein feel like?

I have a pain in my left calf, like on the outer back side along the muscle, and I can't see anything popping out or red or blue or anything, but when I run my hand along my leg it feels like the whole leg is bruised.  But there's no bruising.  

Think it could be a vericose vein under there?  Anyone have anything similar to this?  

I may have just been on my feet too long yesterday, or hworked it a little too hard a Jazzercise.  Hmmm.  Thoughts?

greekwife05

I don't think you can feel a varicose vein.  They are veins that just come up to the surface.  You might have a pulled muscle or some muscle strain if you are experiencing pain. 

I have a couple of varicose veins and they have never hurt even when they first showed up.

lukaface

hmm...I have a small one on my upper thigh but it never hurt.  Maybe your calf muscle is just sore?  If the pain gets worse I would maybe give your doc a call.

fricksgirl

Oh.  I always thought they were painful.  You know, like that's why older ladies wear like support stockings and stuff, right?

It's been bothering me for about 24 hours- I'll take it easy for the next little bit and see.  If it persists I'll for sure call my dr.

ashleyhuney

greekwife05:

I don't think you can feel a varicose vein. 

Actually, yes you can

Towards the end of my PG I had a pain behind my knee.  It felt a little swollen, but I thought it was just summer, an active job and late PG.  As time went on it hurt quite a bit and there def was a bulge behind my knee even first thing in the morning.  I was pretty sure it was a VV, but I called Kaiser advice line anyway.  They got me all scared about a blood clot and sent me to the ER in the evening and we were there until the wee hours getting sonograms of my knee.  The verdict?  Varicose vein  The pain and puffiness went away after delivery, but I do have several lasting impressions lucky me! 

ETA: Sounds like a VV to me, mine wasn't visible until PP.  Before it was just like you described. 

SweetieP

I think most people confuse varicose veins with spider veins.  Spider veins are not painful varicose veins are.  Sometimes you can see them and sometimes you can't.  When you're pregnant, you're very susceptible to them not only in your legs but in your groin as well.   My OB and I suspect that it was the primary cause of the extreme groin pain I was having on only one side for several months.   Good luck and try to take it easy on it.

amyfelice

I would call the dr. It could also be a deep vein thrombosis or DVT, which is more concerning and would be an urgent issue. probably not, but I would check in with the OB. Pregnancy is makes you more prone to them.