Hi. I have varicose veins (since in my younger years) not so big but you can see them. They are not bothering me until a fews weeks ago. I noticed that the biggest veins in my shin in both legs are bothering me. The pain is not as bad as the PN but it definitely contributes to the PN pain.

I have two questions, can varicose veins be related to PN? I have not read anywhere they are but just wanted to make sure. What kind of doctor should I see for the varicose veins, not dermatologist i hope?

Now, its official what i have been hearing from my aunties when i was growing up that all sorts of physical discomforts will manifest when you reach age 50. well, i thought then, i could prove them wrong. They are correct, at least in my case and in most of us in our family.

Mary

Hi Mary
I would think the doctor of choice would be a Cardiovascular doctor for this. and he/she could advise you There are also doctors that specialize in procedures for varicose veins. And I think Yes, there could be a possibility the PN could be related to your vericose veins. Remember the bloodvessels carry the oxygen supply and with irregularities in the vascular system, the supply to the nerve s is interrupted, and can cause neuropathy.
To tell you what my experience is:
I have vasculitis, an autoimmune disorder, and I have Peripheral Neuropathy,
I have vericose veins. I have had some swelling and discoloration of my legs. I have a lot of spiderveins and some telangiectasia
My rheumatologist told me I have vascular insuficiency, told me to use elastic stockings/tedhose/support hose.

I also have bad varicose veins, which I used to blame for my leg pain before I was diagnosed with hereditary neuropathy. A sudden worsening could be serious, though, and I would get it checked out. I developed phlebitis in a vein after a fall, it became very hot,greenish, and swollen, and I was sent for an MRI to rule out deep vein thrombosis (DVT). You should definitely bring this to your PCP's attention right away and most large hoptals have vascular surgeons. Thy can do a circulation test with little blood pressure cuffs on your toes.

Varicose veins do not normally get worse suddenly unless you are pregnant or gain a lot of weight. I hope this clears up for you, you are already dealing with so much!

Susanne and Synnove,

Thank you so much for your replies. I just recently had my ekg and am waiting for the call from my cardiologist's clinic, I will mention about the varicose veins getting a little bothersome.

I think I had that test last year when they took the pressure in my legs. that was the time when i was actively (and aggressively) finding the cause of my PN, well i guess it was normal. But that was early last year. I should bring up again with my neuro.

I rested my feet for almost 5 days...it has been painful. i tried walking today, gosh, it was really getting harder. i noticed that my right feet/leg is now more painful than my left. it seems there is something pressing in my sole and radiates up my leg.

Mary

This sounds like it may be serious. Resting with your legs up most of the day and occasionally getting up to walk for a few minutes sounds like a good plan, but I would try to get this checked as soon as possible.

Hi mary
Ive had pain in my rt calf for 10 yrs due to varicose veins, which came after the birth of my 2nd child. Pains lot worse 1st 2 days of menstrual cycle & when its humid outside. I'm 51 yrs now. I was dx with bilateral Tarsal Tunnel in ankles & ill tell u the pain in rt ankle is so much worse when my veins are acting up!! So ya definitely the swelling from the v. Veins can make the PN pain worse. A Vascular surgeon who specializes in varicose veins is who u should see. They'll do a venous ultrasound, mine showed severe venous insuffiency inside midthigh. They run in my family too. I've been putting off the surgery, due to having so many other problems.
What kind of pn problem do u have?
rhonda

Rhonda,

Thanks for your reply.

Well, my diagnosis is idiopathic PN. The varicose veins are in both legs, it seems symmetrical. It has been there since I was in my teens, but it never caused any pain. Since I started walking a couple of years ago, there was veins that developed in my shin, again in both legs. However, lately its only the right vein particularly in my shin that is bothersome.

Oh, i have other health issues too.

Mary