Vein Pain: Causes

What causes vein pain?

Vein pain can result from a variety of causes, ranging from mild to severe. Commonly, vein pain in the legs occurs due to poor circulation, varicose veins, or cellulitis, a common bacterial skin disease. Vein pain in other parts of the body can be related to the outside temperature or muscle strain. In severe cases, vein pain can result from thrombophlebitis (vein swelling due to a blood clot) or a thromboembolism (a potentially life-threatening blood inflammation and clot in the veins).

Circulatory system causes of vein pain

Vein pain may be caused by problems with blood circulation including:

• Chronic venous insufficiency (poor blood flow through the veins)
• Thrombophlebitis (inflammation, swelling and clotting of the veins)
• Varicose veins

Other causes of vein pain

Vein pain can also arise from:

• Cellulitis (common bacterial skin infection)
• Muscle aches

Serious or life-threatening causes of vein pain

In some cases, vein pain may be a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting, such as deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a leg vein that can break loose and cause a pulmonary embolism in the lung or a heart attack or stroke).

Questions for diagnosing the cause of vein pain

To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner will ask you several questions related to your vein pain including:

• Are you at risk of developing blood clots?
• Do you have any other symptoms, such as enlarged or visible veins?
• How long has your pain persisted?
• What medications are you taking?
• When did you first notice your vein pain?
• Where do you feel your vein pain?

What are the potential complications of vein pain?

While in most cases vein pain is mild and arises from poor circulation, it can indicate a more serious condition, such as a blood clot. Potential complications of severe conditions leading to vein pain include:

• Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the leg that can break loose from the leg and cause a pulmonary embolism in the lung, a heart attack, or stroke)
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
• Stroke