Varicose & Spider Veins During Pregnancy: All Your Questions Answered

Varicose Veins & Spider Veins

Varicose veins are enlarged veins. They occur when blood has pooled in the vein because a valve or valves in the vein has failed to keep blood flowing back to the heart correctly. The heart pumps nutrient and oxygen filled blood from itself through arteries to the rest of the body. Blood returns to the heart through veins, less the oxygen and nutrients, with the help of valves that open and shut to encourage the blood flow. When one or more of the valves weaken, which happens frequently with pregnancy due to the increase in blood volume, blood pools in the area. This causes the vein to bulge and appear on the surface as ropey, blue, or red, or even skin tone varicose veins. Most often varicose veins are found on the calf or inner leg. Hemorrhoids are varicose veins located at the anus or vaginal area.

Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, only smaller. They also appear red or bluish in color. Spider veins look like spider webs (hence, their name) or maybe tiny roadways on a map. Like varicose veins, spider veins can be caused by pooled blood, but also can be from too much sun, hormonal changes, or genetic factors. For the most part, spider veins appear on the face and legs. Both varicose and spider veins are very common. 55% of women and 45% of men have some vein problem, half the people over 50 have them.

Risk Factors for Varicose & Spider Veins

Born with weak veins
Genetic predisposition
Increasing age
Hormonal changes, especially during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
Taking birth control pills
Taking various medications
Taking estrogen or progesterone
Obesity
Leg injury
Standing on your feet for long periods of time
Sun exposure

Health Problems Associated with Varicose & Spider Veins

Spider veins usually do not need medical attention, although a dermatologist can remove them. However, varicose veins often get larger and worsen over time. Some of the health problems caused by varicose veins are:

Irritation, swelling and painful rashes
Skin tissue around varicose veins can develop sores or skin ulcers
Severe pooling of the blood which slows the return of blood to the heart
Blood clots
Severe infection

Warning Signs of Spider & Varicose Veins

Numbness in the legs
Swelling in the legs
Easily tired legs
Leg heaviness
Itching or irritated rash
Darkening of the skin in sever cases

Varicose Vein Treatment & Spider Vein Treatment

Consider this question: Have my varicose veins become swollen, tender, warm to the touch, or very tender?
If the answer is yes to any of these, see your doctor. He will use x-ray or ultra sound to determine the severity of the problem. There are doctors who specialize in phlebology. Some treatments your doctor will consider are:

Sclerotherapy

In this, the most common treatment for varicose veins, the doctor injects a solution into the vein, causing it to swell, stick together, and then seal shut. This stops the flow of blood and the vein turns into scar tissue. The vein should fade within a few weeks. You can expect to return to normal activity immediately after the treatment. Special solutions and particular injection techniques makes the treatment of spider veins very affective also. There are some possible side effects:

Small groups of tiny red blood vessels around the site that usually disappear
Brownish lines around the site that also disappear
Temporary stinging or painful cramping at the injection site
Small sores at the injection site, they disappear
Some bruising
Red patches on the skin
Lumps of clotted blood that disappear
Inflammation

Applying heat to the treated area, as well as taking an over-the-counter pain reliever should take care of most of the discomfort.

Laser Surgery

Laser treatments are very successful against spider veins. Laser ‘surgery’ sends very strong bursts of light onto the vein. The vein will slowing fade and disappear. There is no need to use needles or make incisions with laser treatment. However, the laser does get hot and can be quite painful, lasting up to 20 minutes. Generally, spider veins require 2 to 5 treatments. Just as with sclerotherapy, normal activity can be resumed directly after the laser treatment. There are some possible side effects:

Skin discolorization that disappears with 2 months
Some swelling and redness that disappears within a few days
Burns and scars can result, but it is rare, and usually means the
treatment was poorly executed.

Endovenous Techniques (radio frequency and laser) – These methods for treating deeper varicose veins of the legs have been a huge breakthrough. They have replaced surgery for the vast number of patients with severe varicose veins. The technique is not very invasive and can normally be done in the doctor’s office.

A very small catheter is put into the vein. Radio frequency or laser is pushed through the catheter (a small tube), which shrinks and seals the vein. The normal flow of blood passes through the healthy veins around the treated area. Varicose veins on the surface of the skin that are connected to the treated veins will also shrink after treatment. The possible side effect is bruising.

Varicose Vein Surgery

Types of surgery reserved for very large varicose veins are:

Surgical Ligation and Stripping

This surgery requires either a local or general anesthesia and must be done in an operating room, but can be done as an outpatient. With this treatment the veins are tied shut and removed from the leg (the most common area where varicose veins are found). Blood circulation is not affected as the deeper veins in the leg take the blood flow.

Possible side effects of varicose vein surgery are:

If a general anesthesia is used, there is always a risk of heart or breathing problems.
Permanent scarring
One to four weeks painful recovery time
Bleeding
Nerve tissue damage around the treated area. This can cause numbness, and burning.
Infection
Inflammation
Swelling and redness
Deep vein clots
Painful recovery

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

General or local anesthesia is used. Usually only one treatment is required and only a small scar may be left. Tiny incisions are made in the skin and surgical hooks are used to pull the vein out of the leg. Normal activity can resume the day after the treatment. The only side effects are slight bruising and temporary numbness.

Endoscopic vein surgery

This treatment requires general anesthesia, epidural, or a spinal anesthesia. A very small camera is used to inspect inside the veins. A tiny incision is made and the veins are removed. After a few weeks, the patient can resume normal activity.

After treatment, can varicose or spider veins return?

Though these treatments have been highly successful, after a few years it is possible for the varicose or spider veins to return. Weak vein valves are to blame.

What can I do to protect myself from getting varicose and spider veins?

The most important thing you can do to ward off varicose veins from getting so bad that treatment is required is to wear graduated compression support stockings as much as possible during the day.