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Suggest Treatment For Bulging Vein On Hands, Feet And Ankles

Posted on Thu, 16 Apr 2015

Question: Woke 5 days ago, Tue, with bulging vein running from mid forearm to thumb. Throbbing. Watched it all day and it seemed to enlarge and go down. This went on til Sat when I noticed the veins in my feet and ankles were also doing this as well as both hands and forearms. This as well seems to come and go. I've had some strange pains that are not confined to one area and not constant. Temporal lobes, forearms, legs, shoulder. No edema noted.No red areas noted. No ulcers noted. No loss of ROM. No fever or fatigue. No coughing or SOB. Achey feeling in overall comes and goes. Hands and feet get super cold and burn at times. Saw an MD and chest xray was clear. She ran blood work but no results. She said she wasn't concerned at all...well I am! I do take a Beta Blocker for Tacky Cardia which is under control. Very low Vitamin B 12 and D. Stress is a big factor but I don't think this causes vein bulging. Dr mentioned possible autoimmune or thoracic outlet. I'm not satisfied with the discussion with her. Can you help?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Possible Vasculitis should be assessed.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.

It could be an autoimmune disease that may manifest with your symptoms, most probably autoimmune Vasculitis ( or inflamation of blood vessels).

There are different syndromes that include Vasculitis.

There is need for special blood tests ( C-reactive protein, sedimentation rate, autoantibodies ANA, XXXXXXX ) urine test for red cells and protein level, in order to help determine or exclude the diagnosis.

Vascular thoracic outlet syndrome is an option, but the start within few days is not characteristic.

It can be assessed easily by provocation tests and vessels ultrasound.

I suggest you to discuss with your treating Doctor the possibility of having these tests done in order to evaluate correctly your concerns.

Hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (26 minutes later)

I saw an MD today. She said she wasn't concerned at all...which was confusing. She took blood but did not do a urinalysis. Chest xray normal. When I lay down for a while it goes away. When she started the exam she could see it in my left wrist. (swollen blood vessel on radial side and dorsal of hand). She looked at my feet and the dorsal surface looked normal and stayed that way during the 2 hour assessment and for 4 hours after that. I stood up 10 mins ago and the blood vessels blew up...huge like they were going to pop. Now they are back to normal. Sometimes it feels like I have an IV in my vein especially in my hand and sometimes I don't even notice it. She put me on a steroid for 5 days but no antibiotic. WHY DOES IT COME AND GO?? VEINS SWELL AND THEN GO RIGHT DOWN LATER. SOMETIMES PAIN (more like a throb or ache ) SOMETIMES NOT. How serious is this? She said for me not to be concerned. I worry about a clot... :( and why All of a sudden ? Do I need an antibiotic? I'm very scared.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I don't think you need antibiotics.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again XXXXXXX

I think this is not serious in the point you have to be scared.

Veins that blow in different body positions may have problems with the venous valves.

This may be related to autoimmune disease or may be a age acquired deficiency.

There is need for special blood tests mentioned before to assess autoimmune disease.

Echography of veins help determine diagnosis.

Hope this helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (5 hours later)

The MD yesterday said it looks like Migratory Superficial Thrombophlebitis. Does this mean that Cancer is somewhere?? She really wouldn't discuss it.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Most probably venous pathology.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again XXXXXXX

That sign related to malignancy you are referring, is different in nature.

Migratory thrombophlebitis as a early sign of malignancy refers to thrombosis of veins that travel from one leg to another, but for a period of time, thrombosis of the vein is evident by palpating it, redness, warmness and swelling in that location and discoverable by Doppler ultrasound.

You didn't mention any evident thrombosis that may last at least a couple of days at one leg with thrombosis characteristics.

Your problem seems more venous circulatory to me, so get checked about it.

Hope this helps. Wishing you good health.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj