Leg care - varicose veins

[Notjustamum10]

Can anyone help advise on any lifestyle changes or exercise that might reduce or slow down the worsening of varicose veins please?

I’m not overweight, don’t smoke, hardly drink. I’m mid 40s but early menopause so a bit of general early aging.

Varicose veins run in the family and siblings not much older than me have had ulcerated legs and some serious issues with theirs.

i can’t get advice from GP as still only accepting emergency appointments. NHS consider v. v. an aesthetic issue. I don’t need mine treated just want to slow down the worsening symptoms if possible.

I was doing weekly sauna/cold plunges but some one suggested saunas can make legs worse. I’ve been doing lots of cycling, spin and cross trainer at the gym but now have muscly legs and the veins and swellings are more prominent.

Any advice gratefully received!

I wear compression stockings if I know I’m going to be standing and I lie on the floor with my feet up on the wall after I come come from work for 30 min or so.

Compression stockings for sure

Thanks both, I tried support tights and my legs are definitely less swollen after a day at work. But for proper compressions do I need to be measured for them?
And once you start wearing them, do I have to keep wearing them all year round?
Any other advice re exercise or preventative action please?

Watching with interest. I'm the same age and profile/lifestyle as you although not menopausal yet. Family history on both sides too. My circulation's not great either and my hands and feet are always cold/sometimes grey and I suspect that's connected.

Mine are just getting worse. I kicked our toolbox by accident the other day while wearing socks and bust a vein on my toe. It's sore and looks horrendous - like I've whacked it with a hammer and I didn't kick it that hard.

I think it's time to look into compression socks. Hopefully I can stop them progressing that way. NHS website suggests GP won't be interested. Any other tips gratefully received. 😀

A third for compression socks, the ones you can buy are sufficient. And yes, ideally wear every day.

Don't sit with your legs crossed.

Try to avoid long periods of standing or sitting, so dependant on your job you may need to see if you can move a bit more.

You have minimised the other risk factors (smoking, weight)

Honestly my husband just had his done. He is 47.
I dropped him at 7 and picked him up at 12z it's such a tiny operation now days . They spray a little foam into them which kills off vein and just pull them out! Barely a stitch!

Ok, sexy compression socks it is! At least it is winter so they can be my secret. Not sure what I’ll do in the summer.

But yes @tulippa i have terrible circulation in my hands and feet too, the sauna / cold plunge does seem to help with that. But might not be advisable with varicose veins.