I injured my varicose vein over my knee, what should I do?
Question: I knelt down the other day and injured the large varicose vein over my knee. It bruised quickly and felt very sore, so I put a pressure bandage on it. Since then, the vein bruise has spread and is now about 12" up my thigh. It is very red, and I'm not sure what to do. Do you have any advice?
Answer: Trauma to prominent varicose veins is common. Anti-inflammatories, ice, Arnica gel, and gentle compression are useful to help manage the discomfort. It is possible than when a superficial vein is damaged, it can thrombose (close). The redness is likely due to this occurring. I recommend gentle compression, such as athletic shorts, a thigh sleeve, or traditional compression stockings. You can also take an anti-inflammatory (Advil, Tylenol, Aleve), and use ice or a cool compress to help with the discomfort. An ultrasound by a qualified vein provider can confirm my supposition.
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