Vericose veins and other uglies

[Dottie]

After cycling now for three years I do like how my legs look toned but the vericose veins, spider veins, and just plain veins are popping out blue on the surface. I know it might be age (I'm 50) or heredity but I don't like it!! One leg is much worse than the other too. I guess I may mention it to my doctor when I have my next yearly physical. I know insurance generally does not pay for surgery. They sometimes throb or itch too. How do you all feel about it? I may have to invest in support hose too which are expensive. I do sit at a desk most of the day but get up often to stretch and I can even work out a little here at work because I am alone most of the time. I gave up crossing my legs a few years ago too because I heard it aggravates it. Hope I don't sound vain but I don't like giving the riders behind me a gross sight. Thanks!

[jobob]

Well, if it's any consolation at all, Gorgeous George (Hincapie) has some whopping varicose veins and he's only about, what, 32??



... and those legs don't stop some of us from admiring the rest of him



Hope that cheers you up some.

Sure did me

[Adventure Girl]

Thank you Jobob!

[Dottie]

Thank you jobob! Good reply. My legs take me where I want to go and that is important!!

[jobob]

LOL, I'm not sure how helpful that was, to be honest I have no clue on what to do about v veins. I'll be interested in finding out too, since it looks like I'm starting to develop them as well

[Grouse]
Yeesh, it's like the moment I turned 45, that was the signal for everything to go downhill, fast.
- I'm starting to need reading glasses This is of course on top of the fact that I'm already (nearly) bind-as-a-bat nearsighted
- The gray hairs are coming in fast & furious. And it seems the hairs that aren't gray are all falling out.
- I'm entering that glorious stage of pre-menopause in which my periods, which used to be clockwork, are about as predictable as bay area weather in the wintertime.
- Oh yeah, and the veins in my legs are starting to make their presence known.
[/Grouse]

But, that said, my body is so much better-looking now than it was a couple of years ago, before I lost about 20 lbs and started cycling. And I feel so much healthier. So I suppose I shouldn't complain, should I?

- Jo.

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by jobob

What's going on in this picture? He's clipped in on the left but not on the right, and both legs are straight. He must be rolling slowly (because the spokes are slightly blurry). My guess is that he just clipped out and is coming to a stop and is going to put his right foot down.

Am I looking at this picture too much??

[admiral finch]

Yah, those legs are pretty nice. By the way, to me, it looks like maybe he's standing-like on the left leg and I have no idea why...but yes. He could be about to put his foot down.

I am also really interested in hearing what to do about the spider veins. I'm 25 and I've had some on my left thigh for over a year! My mom has them too, but hers didn't start showing up until her mid 30's. Guess I'm just... lucky?

A.F.

[Surlygirl]

I have them big time. I've had them since I was in my late 20's and I was very athletic. Its the role of the dice in the genetic gene pool ladies. Having kids didn't help much either. They don't give me much trouble but they sure are ugly. I've been told to wear Support stockings. Yeah thats going to happen. My grandmother wore those. Also stay off your feel for long periods of time and no sitting for long periods. Well, where do you go from there? I think they do laser on them now and other such things but you may also need those babies later in life. They take veins from your legs to use in other surgery. Sooo. I plan on staying the course. I agree with you Jojob, I'm 44 and the eyes are going, the hair is starting to come in grey, and things are sliding. Think I'll just grow old gracefully.

[CorsairMac]

I guess I just see them as badges of wisdom - right up there with my grey hair and my trifocals. I earned those veins darnit......I"m growing old well and they are growing old with me. I also sit all day at work but I have a foot rest that is tilt-able (is that a word?) so I can change the angle my feet rest at. I also read that they can be caused, aggravated, etc by poor circulation which it probably true since my feet and toes, hands and fingers are always the coldest part of me. I also didn't notice the first vein until after I was in a walking cast for 6 wks so the whole circulation thing would make sense. Plus my mother had them. Anyway, I don't think anything of it when I see them on other peoples legs and I sure don't think about mine.
As for Gorgeouse George....you mean his feet were in the picture??....guess I didn't notice!

[neuroticcyclist]

Watch your knee socks and crossing legs while sitting. I was told not to remove them since they are useful spare parts if I ever need a bypass.... Exercise in the middle of the day to keep circulation moving has helped and has stabilized it for the last 4-5 years.

By the way, I have asked folks I bike and run with (men and women) if they have noticed them, and the answer is always no. Are some of the folks being tactful? Likely the women are, but... I really think folks are just note looking at that!

[mtbstarr]

This may help some of you......

As far as the circulation thing goes....try elevating your feet slightly when you sleep. (I think it helps me recover from cycling faster too.) Also try some massage lotion and after long rides or long periods on your feet, elevate the legs and rubb them down toward your heart. Rubbing the opposite direction will only push blood into them and make throbbing worse.

As far as laser surgery, I watch the discovery channel all the time. All I have heard is good things. I have also researched and heard good as well. (Of course that's probably what they want me to hear.) Most of the small veins that spider or varicose, if those babies are blasted into oblivion, you won't miss them, and neither will the bypass docs. The large ones, you should consult a doc. If it were me I would do the laser. They are guarenteed not to come back. My hubby is considering it. He's 33 and he has legs full of them. I have heard that if they alter your quality of life (itching, throbbing, painful, and what not) and you can get a doc to write this down as a reference for surgery, insurances will cover this.

Just my two nerdy cents. Hope it helps.