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This year I wanted to write about things that were more personal to me and I wanted to better my health. This post is about both of those things. If you don’t already know I am a respiratory therapist and work at a large hospital 3-4 days a week. Hospital days aren’t like normal 8-5 desk jobs days, we work 12.5 hour shifts and are on our feet all day.
I am constantly on my feet and bending over all day long. In the eight years that I have been doing this job I have suffered from neck and back pain, turned ankles, painful corns on my toes, and numerous other ailments that come with the job. Working at a hospital is not for the weak or faint of heart.
My latest malady, if you want to call it that, is varicose veins. Varicose veins are hereditary and I got them from my Grandmother. I have always had some form of spider veins, I started getting those in high school when I was super active in sports and they have just continued to get worse as I have gotten older.
I stared noticing the start of varicose veins few years ago on the outside of my knees but didn’t really thin much about it, I just figured it was something else I was going to have to deal with, but in the past year or so my legs have started hurting. And when I say hurting I mean it hurts to stand in one position for more than 5 minutes, my legs will literally start throbbing. It’s like a dull pain that never really goes away.
Around Christmas time I was cleaning my house in shorts, because Arkansas, and looked down and noticed these crazy varicose veins! I immediately made an appointment with a vein specialist at the hospital I work at.
I am only 33 years old. That doesn’t mean I want to have Grandma legs. I didn’t go to the doctor for vanity reasons, I went because my legs hurt. Not that I am trying to explain why am doing something about my legs, I am just telling you what I chose to do.
So I went to a vein specialist right before Christmas and got both legs ultra-sounded and found out that even though the outside looks bad the internal varicose veins are so much worse. Sigh…
My insurance is very conservative on treatments and instead of doing something drastic like surgery immediately my doctor wants me to wear compression socks for the next three months. If you are a runner then you know what I’m talking about, if not then compression socks are hose like socks that gradually compress your legs from the ankles up letting your legs get the circulation that they need. I had to get medical grade socks, 20-30 mmHg and I found these pretties on Amazon!
I wear them everyday and even though they are kind of uncomfortable at first, I can tell that they are helping. My legs feel so much better at the end of the day and I’m not so tired. I can’t tell that they have made any difference on the outer appearance of my legs but maybe they are helping with the internal ones??
I go back to the doctor in a few weeks and get ultrasounds done again. If there is no change then I get to have a little minor surgery/laser treatment to fix both the inner and outer varicose veins. I really just want to feel better and not have sore legs all the time. Anything that will make me feel better is a great solution in my book.
Do you have varicose veins??
If so, what did you do about them??
I know someone that also has varicose veins and she’s been looking for a product to help. I’m going to send her on over to your post to see how your managing yours.
I’m sorry to read that you’re in pain :( I hope the (super cute) compression socks help, and that you can avoid surgery, at least for now. I’ll be checking back to see how you’re doing.
Sorry to hear that you are in pain–as a former teacher I know what it is like to be on my feet all day. Happy to hear that you are starting to find something that is helping your discomfort–and those compression socks are adorable!
My mom has this. I hope these socks help the veins. I will share this with my mom. She’d probably love to try those socks.
My mom has had surgery for hers! I’ve already got spider veins… Wondering if I should be wearing compression socks since I am just started my PT career!!! Do you use the hose or socks?? My veins are up on my thighs.. I’m afraid I’d have to do the hose!!!
I have spider veins as well, and I am only 23. I am worried I will have problems with varicose veins when I get older. Eventually I will probably look into a minor surgery to have them fixed.
I have my grandma with big varicose veins. It is her badge of hard work and love to her family.
Awww so sorry to hear you are in so much pain from this! I hope you can find a cure soon. PS: Your compression socks is so cute!
This is something I never had to deal with but I have heard it can be very painful. I am glad you found the socks on Amazon so you could get some relieve. The socks are really cute. I wonder if they would help at all for restless leg syndrome? Thanks for sharing and good luck when you go back.
I’m so sorry to hear about your pain. These socks are adorable and I hope these socks help the veins.
Oh…so sorry about this dilemma for you. I experienced this when I was doing athletics. My Mom told me to raise my legs up in a stretch. I don’t know if that really worked, but fortunately they disappeared over time.
I know someone who had their varicose veins removed/treated, and they do not regret it. They did mention that it was super painful, though. Good luck finding a treatment that works best for you!
Varicose veins are something that affects my mom and aunt and they’ve always talked about the pain it causes. I’m glad you’re able to find something to help you manage the pain better.
My brother is suffering with varicose veins & sometimes it could hurt so much seeing him struggle even to stand for a while. These medical grade socks sounds like a good option to get some heal & I am glad there are other possible treatments available as well.