Anyone have varicose veins ????

[AmyRN1227]

and what do you do for them, as we are on our feet alot. I started out with the ugly spider veins...they run on my father's side and after two kids and almost three years as an RN I'm having trouble with one leg in particular. My right one towards the inside of my knee has one vein now that looks like it's becoming varicose, it bulges at times and is painful to the touch. Well, my whole leg will cramp mostly in my thigh and groin area. I've tried elevating it, using the heating pad, now I'm taking ibuprofen for it. I had some support stockings but they were the cheaper kind and were useless so I just ordered some thigh high Jobst stockings. I'm hoping this will help the cramping. Anyone know what else this could be? I'm thinking the cramping is from my veins. Do you guys agree or could it be something else? This is also the same leg where I have a bum knee...I hurt it many years ago and have always had problems with it, but don't know why it would cramp more to the top of my thigh/groin. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!! :D :D

[zambezi, BSN, RN]

I don't think there is too much you can do--though there are procedures once they are bad enough, or painful enough. I am only 25 no kids not overweight and I already have bad spider veins, starting to get varicose veins beind both of my knees. I am screwed when it comes to hereditary. My mom has them really bad. She had had them stripped and they are all back, the dr said they are pretty bad, some of the worst he has seen. So I am in for it. I used to wear support hose but not I just try to keep my feet up as much as I can.

[iliel]

I have a few small ones...I don't know, but I think mine are due to ballet...but I won't do anything until they start to cause problems.