Varicose veins

[Janeval]

I have had GCA for a year now & am currently on 8 mg Pred. I have had varicose veins in both my legs for many years now but since having GCA they seem to have become much worse & are giving me some pain. Has anyone had anything done to their varicose veins whilst on Pred with GCA & if so what procedure did they have done?

[SnazzyD]

I found my veins in general were not good on Pred so I had to wear support hosiery throughout. I don’t think it was the GCA because they were fine until I started Pred and are mostly back to normal now. I didn’t have surgery so can’t help there.

[Janeval in reply to SnazzyD]

I had varicose veins before I started on Pred but they have definitely got worse & can sometimes be very painful. I can't even get an appointment to see my Rheumy as he was off with stress at the end of last year & is now trying to catch up with seeing all his patients! Not seen him since last August either!

[SnazzyD in reply to Janeval]

I’m not sure the Rheumy will have much to say. I would go via the GP and if they think you need specialist opinion they can refer you to a vascular surgeon. Have you tried gentle compression hosiery yet from a chemist? You do need to get the correct measurements first but they can advise.

[Janeval in reply to SnazzyD]

Yes I have tried the hosiery but not much good I'm afraid

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I wonder if it could be the effect of pred on connective tissue around the veins? It tends to atrophy and so doesn;t support the veins as well.

[Janeval in reply to PMRpro]

I suppose it could be but as I said, I can't get to see my Rheumy & I really don't think my Doc will be of much help- if I could ever get an appointment to see him that is! I know the NHS don't do veins now so id have to go privately, I'll just have to try & pursue an appointment with my Rheumy even if it's just a phone call.

[SnazzyD in reply to Janeval]

Perhaps you need a higher compression that needs a professional assessment first. So that means GP for referral. There are some nurse leg clinics to assess circulation via Doppler scans so a specialist referral is not necessarily the only next stop. I’ve not heard of the NHS not ‘doing veins’. Perhaps they don’t do them for purely aesthetic reasons perhaps. Here is a pretty comprehensive, easy to read NHS vein information sheet with self help to treatment options.

england.nhs.uk/wp-content/u...

[Janeval in reply to SnazzyD]

Thats an interesting article and i have heard about some of the treatments. I actually had a vein 'stripped' from the top to the bottom of my leg about 30 years ago but i think they now consider that as butchery - which it was!! i need to get that appointment with my Doc to see what they can do as it is becoming quite painful and uncomfortable at times.

[Sophiestree in reply to Janeval]

Interesting you say that as when I had a parathyroid gland removed last March 80% of the ward were having veins removed. I guess they were bad cases but definitely NHS.

[Janeval in reply to Sophiestree]

Im just presuming that they don't do the 'butchery' method any more as it was very painful and i have been left with lots of scars.

[Grammy80]

Hi, I'm 83 and, like my mother, have had varicose veins for 40 years. I was diagnosed with GCA in 2019, but back in 2014 had the great saphenous vein cauterized to improve circulation...it has. While on heavy pred, I did find I bled easily, and if I bumped my leg, it would bleed under my skin. After two or three years, the 'wine stain' is still there...so I can relate.

I found support knee highs helpful and also went for some massages. To this day if I have cramps or pain in my legs, I drink quinine water. You can get tonic water just make sure quinine is an ingredient. They stopped selling quinine tablets in the States some years ago. I used to take a few of those before bed. Like SnazzyD, I found support hose really helped. 💞My best....

[Janeval in reply to Grammy80]

Yes, i do get cramps in my legs and feet. The tonic water I buy has quinine in it so i shall start having some every day and see if that helps. I will also ask my Doc about getting some proper support hosiery.

[Grammy80 in reply to Janeval]

I wanted to add....the first knee high support I got was so tight and hard to get on, I was not faithful in wearing them. I talked to one of the physical therapist who ordered some that were more comfortable but gave me enough compression and consequently, I wore them all the time and increased my water intake..it helped.

When I drink the tonic water... it is because I'm already cramping.🫤😕So, I just 'chug-a-lug' drink in big gulps as much as I can...and I get relief. Maybe backwards, but it works for me. 💞

[Janeval]

My problem is with me is that I am very tall-6' & the tights/ socks are never long enough for my very long legs plus they don't seem to have much effect anyway. I'll try again to get to see my Doc .Thanks for all your replies

[Sophiestree in reply to Janeval]

Have you looked at Venosan? I was measured for these as I have long legs but skinny ankles. They measured my calf, ankle and length of leg. Not cheap but definitely worked for me.

[Janeval in reply to Sophiestree]

Never heard of them! i need to get properly measured first.