Question:
I would appreciate any information anyone may be able to offer about varicose veins. I have them on the back of my right leg but none at all on my left. They do not cause any pain. Is there any treatment.

Answer: I would not presume to offer medical advice - for serious advice you should consult a physician. However, I do have some nuggets of information, and what I have is yours. First, the only medical treatment for varicose veins that I have heard of is called 'stripping', which essentially means surgically removing the varicose veins. I am given to understand that it is quite painful, but I suspect that pain therapy could alleviate this somewhat, and, to me, stripping seems to be an extreme solution, best left to extreme cases. You indicate that this condition is limited to one leg. My understanding is that varicosity in veins is typically based on poor support for the veins. Veins do not have the same kind of musculature as arteries, and are subject to this kind of 'sagging'. My information indicates that varicose veins *might* (read that as might, and get better info) be reduced or alleviated by improving the muscle tone in the area involved. The theory is that the firmer surrounding musculature serves to support the veins and assist them in their function. If the varicosity that you describe is serious, I would strongly recommend approaching a physician for ideas about how you might alleviate the condition. If it's not that bad, or if you, like me, tend to distrust physicians, I would join a gymnasium and go straight to the weight machine. They usually have an attachment that allows you to sit down and lift weights by pushing with your feet, and another that allows you to lay on your front, and exercise the backs of your legs by curling weights with your ankles. The approach you should take is not lifting large weights for short periods (which is a technique for building bulk), but rather to lift small weights for long periods (a technique to increase endurance and muscle tone). Further, you should do the exercises one leg at a time, sticking to the same weight, repetitions, and sets for each leg (this ensures that you don't 'carry' the weak leg with the strong leg). It may be that this kind of workout will alleviate the condition. What I cannot stress enough is that varicose veins can become a serious problem, and, if you are concerned about it, you *absolutely* should consult either a physician (if it's serious), or a physical therapist (who will likely refer you to a physician anyway). The fact that it occurs only in one leg suggests that it may be a symptom of circulatory problems in that one leg, so my advice is to go to the doctor first. If it is a circulatory problem, then that must be handled first. When it becomes a question of muscle tone, then the exercises may be of value. I'm a great believer in holistic medicine, but it is not always wise to use it exclusively, or even to rely on it. One final thing that occurred to me just now is that the fact that it occurs in one leg may be symptomatic of a disability in that leg. If you have a disability in your right leg that may be contributing to this condition, then see a doctor immediately, since it may be a small symptom of a more serious problem.