Suggest Treatment For Varicose Vein On The Back Of The Thigh

Posted on Sun, 28 Aug 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 28 Aug 2016 Answered on

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I have vericois veins on the back of my thigh. They are very sore lately. What can I do to help feel better there?

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Treatment for superficial phlebitis.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I am sorry you are having soreness in your varicose veins.

If this happened because of a recent injury to them, elevate your legs several times a day and apply a cold pack to them.

But if they are tender to the touch and there is swelling over the vein, you may have superficial phlebitis, an inflammation of the veins with superficial clots. Treatment for this is elevation and heat (especially moist heat).

So the treatment is different in that one does better with cold and the other with heat. But elevation is important regardless.

If you are able to tolerate ibuprofen (no history of stomach acid problems or reflux), you can take 1 ibuprofen (OR 2 aspirin) after eating 3 times a day until the symptoms start to resolve. Ibuprofen is both a pain reducer, and helps to lessen inflammation.

This should help and your symptoms will resolve. But if the pain is severe, then go in to see your doctor to have a look.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar