Varicose Veins ...

[Millie1]

Just a quick question re varicose veins ... I've got some running down backs of legs. Anyway, quite suddenly today I felt a sore lump on back of leg, above knee. One vein was purple and bruised and swollen. The bruising has spread a little and it's sore to the touch and with movement but surface pain rather than 'deep' pain. Anyone know if this sounds like a leaky vein or is it something more sinister (blood clot?) which would require medical attention? TIA.

BTW, didn't take a knock to that part of leg ... only stubbed my little toe really badly last night but wouldn't think that's caused it??

Bumping ... anyone?

Hi Millie I saw this but I don't know the answer I think that's [probably why you haven't had any replies

I have varicose veins and sometimes they are like bruises but i wouldn't like to say it's that when it might not be

Millie,I have had varicose veins in my left leg since I was about 12.
Had some removed 5 years ago and having them done again in about a month as two pregnancies have made them pretty bad.

They were very sore (hot and red) when I was pg.
At one stage a dvt was suspected and I had to have a course of daily injection of warfarin or heparin in my 8 month pregnant stomach.

Go to the doctor if you're not sure.

I was told that this surface pain was not generally indicative of dvt (which apparently is often not painful) but hey,I'm not a doctor so again,get them checked out for peace of mind.

Hi Millie1

I had the exact same thing in the same area as you. It turned out to be Phlebitis (inflammation of the wall of the vein). Best see your GP about it. I was told that the infection could spread and to watch out for cold/flu systoms and fever. I was prescriped antibiotics which sorted out the problem.

HTH

Yes,mine was phlebitis.

Moondog - phlebitis developed during my second pregnancy. Luckily, I just had to have antibiotics, no nasty injections like you. At least now I have more chance of getting them removed sooner rather than later.

Thanks ladies ... have put in a call to out of hrs service (feel like a bit of a hypochondriac but better to check it out) and waiting for GP to call back.

BTW ... if it is phlebitis, does this mean that you have more chance of getting treatment for the veins?

I was sent to hosiptal, by my GP, to make sure that it wasn't a DVT, because I was pregnant at the time (actually still am, 6 days overdue).

I was seen by their surgical team who adviced me to get my GP to refer me to have the veins removed because of the fact I got phlebitis. They seemed to think it was a good enough reason to have them removed and to set the ball rolling.

I will have to see what happens when I go back after having the baby.

Quick update .. spoke to a nurse who reckons it's a haemotoma but to keep an eye on it and call back immidiately if there is any swelling or if it gets hot.

Oooh Cads ... 6 days overdue ... will be looking out for your birth announcement in the next week or so - hope it all goes well, and that you get the veins sorted out in due course. Good luck for the birth of your little one.