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Can Varicose Veins Cause Joint Pain?
Joint pain and varicose veins both cause pain in the leg. Does that mean they’re related?
Love the style and comfort of skinny jeans? Skinny jeans and similarly tight clothing may not be the best wardrobe choice for people who suffer from varicose veins.
Skinny jeans have been fashionable for years. Unfortunately, skinny jeans may not be the best clothing option for those with varicose veins.
While many factors can lead to the development of varicose veins, wearing skinny jeans is not one of them. However, if you already have varicose veins, skinny jeans and similarly tight clothing can worsen your symptoms of swelling and pain. Let’s look at why skinny jeans shouldn’t be your first choice when you go to your closet if you have varicose veins.
Tight clothing, such as skinny jeans, restrict your circulation, which affects the veins in your legs in two ways. When tight clothing squeezes your abdomen area, your blood cannot flow properly to your legs. It could even cause a condition called meralgia paresthetica, which leads to numbness, pain, and tingling in your outer thigh.
Your leg veins contain tiny valves that push deoxygenated blood back to your heart. When these valves weaken, blood flows backward and pools in the vein. As the vein becomes swollen, it develops into a varicose vein. Tight clothing will only further restrict blood flow, causing the swelling and pain of varicose veins to worsen.
If you have varicose veins, your doctor may have already recommended you wear compression stockings. Perhaps you’re wondering: “compression stockings are tight-fitting. Why are they safe to wear whereas skinny jeans are not?” Compression stockings put pressure on the part of the leg where the blood flow is most restricted. By gently squeezing the leg vein, the stockings promote blood flow against the force of gravity and reduce the swelling and pain of varicose veins.
If you have varicose veins, you don’t need to throw out your skinny jeans! Instead, you can follow these tips to lessen symptoms:
Don’t wear skinny jeans all day, every day. Save your skinny jeans for the occasional wear. Conversely, you can find a pair that fits comfortably but is not too tight.
Walk around when you’re wearing skinny jeans. Get up and move around regularly to encourage blood flow in the legs. If you sit for long hours, you’re further restricting blood flow.
Take the skinny jeans off when you feel pain. Pain in the legs indicates blocked blood flow. Switch to looser clothing to let your blood flow more freely.
You can also consider seeking treatment for your varicose veins. Varicose veins are more than just a cosmetic nuisance. If left untreated, they can lead to serious medical conditions, such as excessive bleeding, skin ulcers, and even life-threatening blood clots.
Today’s surgical options to eliminate varicose veins are minimally invasive and can be done as brief outpatient visits. Get your vein disease treated today and start living a pain-free life!
Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) operates two full-service vein facilities in Alaska, led by an experienced physician.
Don Ives, MD, DABVLM, RPVI, RVT, is a member of the American Venous and Lymphatic Society as well as the Alaska Academy of Family Practice and American Academy of Family Practice. He is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. Dr. Ives will diagnose and treat your varicose veins with the latest proven methods. Contact your local CVR office today for a consultation.
2550 Denali Street, Suite 1307
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
1626 30th Avenue, Suite 203
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Joint pain and varicose veins both cause pain in the leg. Does that mean they’re related?
