Are Varicose Veins Causing Groin Pain?

While the lower legs are the most common place on the body to experience varicose veins, it is not the only place these painful, unsightly veins can appear. Varicose veins can also be found along the inside of the upper part of the legs and around the groin area, and can be the cause of a vein condition known as femoral vein thrombosis.

This condition is a particular type of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a vein condition that Dr. Susan B Fox at Fox Vein & Laser Experts, your premier vein clinic in South Florida, has extensive experience with successfully diagnosing and treating.

How DVT and Femoral Vein Thrombosis Condition Occurs?

DVT is when there is a blood clot in veins, usually found in either the calves, thighs, or pelvis. When the blood clot occurs in the femoral vein, which would include the thigh and pelvic area, it’s specifically referred to as femoral vein thrombosis. These superficial veins are more susceptible to blood clotting than deeper veins because of their closeness to the surface of the skin.

Symptoms of DVT and Femoral Vein Thrombosis

The symptoms of DVT and femoral vein thrombosis are relatively similar. They include tenderness around the area of the affected veins, low fever, swelling of the entire leg that is very noticeable, and pitting edema, a type of swelling caused by excess fluid in an area where an indentation or “pit” will remain when pressed upon with your fingers or hands. Swelling in general is the biggest indicator of femoral vein thrombosis, especially in the calf area. You may experience swelling in the affected calf that could be as much as three centimeters greater than the other leg — sometimes even more.

There are many reasons why femoral vein thrombosis can occur — or, as with many diseases and conditions, there could be no known reason or cause. Sometimes these blood clots are the result of a complication from illness or a major surgery or trauma to the leg(s). You also run the risk of developing femoral vein thrombosis if you have a history of DVT or any existing or underlying blood clotting disorder, have been diagnosed with cancer, or if you are experiencing a medical condition that requires you to be bedridden for a long period of time or if you are generally immobile.

Femoral Vein Thrombosis Prevention

There is one very simple way to prevent femoral vein thrombosis from happening to you: move. Try not to stand or sit for long periods at a time. If this is required of you in your daily routine, take a break every 30 minutes or so and walk around, do some stretching, or simply change the position in which you’re sitting or standing.

When traveling via plane, walk up and down the aisle every once in a while to get the blood flowing in your legs. If you’re driving a long distance, you should stop frequently so you can get out of the car and stretch your legs. Remaining mobile as much as possible is the number one femoral vein thrombosis and deep vein thrombosis prevention method.

Hydration is also key to prevention, as it helps promote proper blood flow and circulation. If you have problems with circulation, compression hose could be incredibly beneficial to your condition. Dr. Fox very often recommends these stockings or socks to her vein patients for post-procedural recovery, as well as a preventative measure.

Schedule your Varicose Veins and DVT Treatment

At Fox Vein & Laser Experts, we specialize in minimally invasive vein procedures to help treat patients experiencing varicose veins and DVT in the most comfortable and effective way possible. If you are suffering from varicose veins in the groin area and want to prevent the onset of femoral vein thrombosis, or if you are already dealing with femoral vein thrombosis, call us today at 954-627-1045 to schedule a consultation with our expert vein doctors.

Our team in Hollywood and Pembroke Pines are here to help rid you of the pain and discomfort your varicose veins are causing, once and for all.