What Causes Calf Veins to Hurt and Protrude?

Calf veins protrude for many reasons, most of which involve increased pressure in the veins. Sometimes, pressure increases for healthy reasons, like when we exercise, which causes our hearts to beat faster. But other times, veins swell for unhealthy reasons, like weakened walls or valves in the vein that let blood flow the wrong way. When this happens, it’s called Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), and it can cause varicose veins and spider veins. Book an appointment with our Long Island vein specialists to learn why your calf veins are popping out.

In some cases, vein protrusion is a natural occurrence. But other times, there’s a causative issue like CVI, a blood clot, or a vascular disease that needs medical attention. When veins become varicose, their symptoms include cramping, heaviness, swelling, fatigue, itching, and restlessness in the legs. If CVI progresses, patients can develop venous stasis dermatitis, bleeding that’s difficult to control, hyperpigmentation, and venous ulcerations that are hard to treat. See a vein doctor to determine whether your calf veins are healthy, so you can avoid these complications.

The blood vessels that are most likely to become varicose, or “hurt lines,” as some patients call them, are veins in the lower extremities. That’s because leg veins pump blood from the feet to the heart while resisting gravity and bearing our body weight. This makes them more susceptible to blood leaking backward through a valve. In addition, many careers and lifestyles require standing or sitting for long periods of time, which allows blood to pool in calf veins.

Several factors contribute to varicose veins, including family history, gender, aging, obesity, inactivity, and hormone fluctuations (like pregnancy, menopause, and birth control usage). Each of these things impacts pressure in and on the veins, which contributes to venous reflux. If a vein wall stretches, the internal valves can’t create a tight seal, so blood flows in reverse. If a valve breaks, blood also leaks backward, elevating pressure in the vein, which produces varicose veins at the surface of the skin.

Blood thinners aren’t advised for most varicose veins. Varicosities often result from blood trickling backward through weak valves. Thinning the blood could worsen that problem. It could also cause profuse bleeding if your varicose vein is injured.

In addition, some varicose veins are caused by a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If you take a blood thinner, the clot could break loose and cause a lung blockage called pulmonary embolism. Some doctors prescribe blood thinners for DVTs, but it depends on their location. Never try blood thinners for bulging veins without consulting your doctor.

Can you try things at home to keep veins from popping out in your feet and calves? First, see a vein doctor to rule out medical reasons for bulging veins. Blood clots, vein disease, vasculitis, and Chronic Venous Insufficiency can cause serious problems when untreated. Vein specialists will determine whether you need treatment, or whether it’s safe to try lifestyle adjustments for your symptoms. Options include elevating your legs while resting, avoiding long periods of standing or sitting, and maintaining a healthy weight and fitness routine.

Always see a vein doctor when veins look different or produce symptoms. Varicose veins often have a bulging, twisted appearance. They might look blue, purple, red, or green. Symptoms of varicose veins range from mild to life-threatening. At advanced stages, varicose veins can cause venous ulcerations, venous stasis dermatitis, and profuse bleeding, as well as hyperpigmentation. Some varicose veins are asymptomatic, so seek an assessment for any protuberant vein to rule out a serious condition.

Varicose veins almost never require surgery in 2023. New technology lets doctors remove veins from circulation without removing them from your body. Vein specialists inject sclerosants or adhesives through tiny needles to close veins. Or they deliver laser or radiofrequency through tiny catheters to cauterize veins. The blood vessel shrinks and disappears. Blood is redirected into healthy veins that pump it back to the heart, instead of collecting in the vein.

Studies show that minimally invasive procedures like sclerotherapy last longer than surgery. When a vein is cut from the body, it tends to grow back (neovascularize). Veins that regrow don’t have valves, so they’re prone to reflux, which recreates varicose veins. Choose a doctor who favors non-surgical vein treatments. These are gentler, faster, safer, and more effective than surgery for most patients.

The top Long Island doctors for varicose veins (“venas varicosas” in Spanish) are Dr. Thomas Arnold and Dr. Zalekha Shair. These vein specialists are Harvard trained and hold multiple board certifications. They offer the latest minimally invasive vein treatments at their accredited vein clinics. (Si necesita un médico de venas varicosas que hable español, visite al Dr. Zalekha Shair.)

Sites like 1800 Varicose claim to help patients find doctors. But these are marketing tools for vein clinics. Instead, call our Hampton Bays clinic at (212) 273-1617. Call our Jericho clinic at (631) 919-4495. Call our West Islip clinic at (631) 651-6240. Or call our Port Jefferson clinic at (631) 651-6240. We look forward to meeting you!