Varicose veins and their treatment

According to the data you provided (bulk in legs that pains when stretched), it is possible that you might be experiencing varicose veins. Varicose veins are veins that are dilated beyond the normal diameter. They are usually dilated due to increased pressure caused by the decreased blood flow which leads to larger amounts of blood in the veins. Varicose veins can be found anywhere in the body, but are more common in the lower parts of the body (legs), due to the effects of gravity. It is important to note that the veins do not have a strong muscle layer in their walls like the arteries. Therefore, something else has to pump and to push the blood through the veins. This is done by the surrounding muscles. This explains why varicose veins might easily develop in people that have to stand for a long time without moving (hairdressers, surgeons, etc.).


Mothers during pregnancy are more likely to develop varicose veins because the baby can put pressure on the big veins in the abdomen, therefore causing the blood to stay in the legs. Because the blood flow is slower than normal, it is easier to form blood clots. It might even cause thrombosis.


The presence of blood clots might be painful when the leg stretches and the surrounding muscles try to push the blood clot.


You might want to visit your family doctor for a physical examination. You might be referred to a specialist for hematology for blood tests that would determine if the blood tends to form more blood clots than usual. In more severe cases, where the veins are so dilated that they are clearly visible and almost completely non-functional, a surgery to remove them might be needed.