Varicose Veins Symptoms & Diagnosis
Find your care
We offer a full range of vein treatments, including ones developed at UCLA Health. Call to learn more about our services.
Symptoms of Varicose Veins
The majority of individuals will complain of leg aches at the end of the day, especially after a period of prolonged standing. Symptoms may include: feelings of leg fatigue
- heaviness of the legs
- aching
- burning
- throbbing
- itching
- cramping
- restlessness of the legs
With time, darkening or hyperpigmentation around the ankles becomes a classic feature of prolonged varicose veins, and eventually ulceration.
Diagnosis of Varicose Veins
Varicose veins can usually be diagnosed by a simple physical examination; however, the cause of the varicose vein requires the use of Doppler (Duplex) ultrasound.
This painless test assesses the valve function in the groin, and can also determine how much blood is flowing back into the legs. The test can also determine the structure of your leg veins, as well as the presence of blood clots in the veins. This test can take between 20-30 minutes for each leg.