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Are Those Varicose Veins or Spider Veins?
Though caused by the same venous disorder, varicose veins and spider veins have some distinct differences.
Medically reviewed by David Shevitz, MD, ABEM, DABVLM, on May 12, 2025
Do you have unexplained aching, throbbing, heaviness, or swelling in your legs? You may be suffering from an easily managed condition known as venous insufficiency. Clues that you may have this condition include bulging or twisted veins visible on the surface of your leg. Another clue is unexplained discoloration in your lower legs and ankles, typically reddish or brownish in color.
According to the National Library of Medicine, up to forty percent of adults live with some stage of chronic venous insufficiency. This progressive vein disorder happens when faulty valves let blood slip backward and pool in the legs. Many people chalk the early warnings up to age or long work hours because the condition progresses slowly. In reality, vein disease has many risk factors.
Don’t ignore the signs your legs are sending! The board-certified vein specialists at Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) have helped thousands of patients find relief from venous insufficiency with expert, minimally invasive care. Schedule your consultation today and trust your legs to the nation’s leader in vein health.
Call 📞 240-965-3915 or 💻 schedule your consultation online at one of 110+ CVR vein clinics near you.
CVR can help you find the answers you need.
If you’re eager for an immediate answer, the quick and easy VEIN SYMPTOM QUIZ at Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) allows you to rate the severity of any signs you’re experiencing.
If you prefer a personalized approach, our board-certified vein physicians are here to provide diagnosis, customized treatment, and follow-up care. Call 240-965-3915 or visit our ONLINE SCHEDULING PORTAL to book a consultation at a CVR vein clinic near you.
Healthy leg veins are constantly pushing blood uphill to the heart. When the tiny valves inside them weaken, the blood falls back down instead, which stretches the walls of the vein, triggering a chain reaction of symptoms that vascular specialists group under the term “vein disorder.” According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, swelling, aching that eases by rest, itching, brown discoloration around the ankles, and slow-healing open wounds on your lower legs are common signs of chronic venous insufficiency. Left untreated, the pressure on the veins gradually damages more vessels and the surrounding skin.
In its early stages, chronic venous insufficiency feels like tired muscles or ordinary swelling. Heaviness, cramps, or throbbing often flare up after long hours of sitting or standing, exactly what many do all day. People may reach for drugstore compression socks or pain relievers rather than contacting a vein specialist. However, ignoring these symptoms allows vascular conditions to progress from spider veins, simple bulging veins, to permanent skin discoloration, swelling, or venous ulcers.
Here are eight signs of vein problems you shouldn’t ignore:
If you regularly experience more than one of these symptoms, a quick ultrasound with a vein expert can give you clear answers.
Your legs deserve expert care. At Center for Vein Restoration, we combine trusted experience with state-of-the-art treatments to restore comfort, mobility, and confidence. Schedule your consultation with a qualified vein specialist near you today.
According to National Library of Medicine research, vein disease risk increases with age, hormones, and lifestyle choices. Risk factors include:
Understanding how your lifestyle choices factor into your vein disease risk helps you pursue preventive care before vascular problems worsen.
Untreated varicose veins can bleed, inflame tissue, and develop into venous ulcers, which are difficult to treat. Severe vein disease cases may cause stagnant blood to form clots that migrate to deep veins, break free, and travel upward to the lungs—a potentially fatal condition called a pulmonary embolism (PE). Timely treatment by a vein expert prevents this serious risk and helps preserve your active lifestyle.
Visiting a vein care specialist is quick, simple, and painless. After discussing your symptoms, your vein doctor performs a duplex ultrasound, a combination of Doppler flow and standard imaging showing both structure and real-time blood movement. Considered the gold standard for spotting reversed flow, valve failure, and hidden clots, the ultrasound takes about half an hour and serves as a guide to the patient’s individual treatment plan.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of vein disease, worry not—today’s procedures are minimally invasive while allowing most faulty veins to be sealed from the inside with local anesthesia in under an hour:
Once a diseased pathway is closed, healthy veins seamlessly reroute blood, relieving pressure and restoring comfort.
Medical treatment fixes the underlying vein disorder, but lifestyle choices keep your legs feeling light and prevent future circulation problems. Remember these tips to boost blood flow and ease the pressure from your leg veins:
While vein disease is a common and progressive disorder, it’s also highly treatable—but only if you know you have it. Listen to your body’s signs, understand your risk, and consider consulting with a qualified vein expert for a custom vein treatment plan.
We’re here to help you take a gentle first step toward healthier veins and renewed peace of mind whenever you’re ready. Simply call 240-965-3915 or book online with our SCHEDULING PORTAL. Together, we’ll start your journey to feeling better, inside and out.
CVR accepts most major insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Medicare.
1. What are the early warning signs of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)?
Common early signs include aching, heaviness, or swelling in the legs, especially at the end of the day. You might also notice spider veins, varicose veins, or reddish-brown discoloration around your ankles.
2. Why do so many people ignore or miss the signs of vein disease?
Because symptoms like tired legs or swelling can feel like normal aging or a long day on your feet, many people delay seeing a vein specialist. Unfortunately, ignoring these signs allows the condition to get worse, up to and including venous ulcers and DVT.
3. How is vein disease diagnosed?
A vein specialist can perform a simple, painless duplex ultrasound to evaluate blood flow and check for valve damage or clots. This test helps guide your personalized treatment plan.
4. What happens if vein disease is left untreated?
Without treatment, vein disease can progress to chronic skin changes, venous ulcers, or even dangerous blood clots. Seeing a board-certified vein doctor early can help you avoid these serious complications and feel better fast.
Though caused by the same venous disorder, varicose veins and spider veins have some distinct differences.
