Symptoms of varicose veins The lesions are only in the superficial veins of the lower limbs, because of the incompetence of the valves and weakness of the vein walls, which affect the blood return flow and cause the veins to lengthen, bend and dilate. Most of them occur in saphenous vein, but a few of them are combined with small saphenous vein or occur in small saphenous vein alone. Symptoms 1.Early stage: there may be no symptoms, only the superficial veins of lower limbs are tortuous, dilated and panged out of the body surface, like earthworm-like or grape bulb-like. 2.Middle stage: lower limb skin pigmentation, itchy and painful skin, swelling, lower limb swelling or soreness when standing or walking for a long time. 3.Late stage: A large amount of stagnant blood makes the local skin dark or dark brown, the skin is coarse and dry, the swelling of lower limbs is obvious, local special pain, ulcers can be formed, recurring, long time to cure. Clinical manifestations Primary varicose veins patients mostly have no local symptoms in the early stage, but the following clinical manifestations can appear gradually. 1.The affected limbs often feel soreness, dullness, swelling and pain, easy fatigue and weakness. 2.The superficial veins of the affected limbs are bulging, dilated, varicose, or even tortuous or lumpy, which is more obvious when standing up. 3.Swelling: slight edema may appear in the ankle and dorsum of the foot, and mild edema may also appear in the lower part of the calf in serious cases. Hazards There is a family history of varicose veins in the lower extremities, older age (over 50 years old), women (especially those who give birth more often), oral contraceptive pills, long standing work (more than 6 hours a day), obesity, and other factors. Varicose veins in the lower extremities often have no obvious symptoms at the beginning of the disease. Some people may feel itchy skin on their calves, swollen legs, soreness, fatigue, and a feeling of heaviness in their legs, especially after standing all day, with particularly sore calves and swollen ankles, which are more comfortable when the feet are elevated. These symptoms are most severe in women of childbearing age before menstruation. The more severe the varicose veins are, the more localized pain in the lower extremities becomes apparent, and even blood pooling in the feet and ankles becomes purple; in more severe cases, blood does not flow back easily, resulting in hyperpigmentation, eczema-like dermatitis, and possibly bruised ulcers and sometimes bleeding from ruptured veins. In some cases, blood clots and inflammation along the vein wall, known as thrombophlebitis, may occur. The epidermis may become red, swollen, and painful along the vein, and even painful nodules may be palpable. If the clot moves to the lungs with the blood flow, a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism can occur.