Varicose Veins and Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is diagnosed by bluish or purplish damaged veins that appear enlarged and knotted under the skin, which usually occurs with the leg veins. Some symptoms include:

• Swelling, burning, or aching
• Itching or tickling sensations in the legs
• The appearance of “spider veins”
• Loss of hair on the legs
• Heaviness in the legs
• Cramping in the legs at night or while resting
• Reduced pain in the morning or while standing
• Sores or rashes appear on the skin
• Skin color changes in the lower legs
• Toenails thickening

A non-surgical procedure that is typically used to correct damaged veins is called ablation. With this procedure, a catheter is used to destroy the affected veins so that the blood is rerouted through other veins. The destroyed vein tissue is then absorbed by the body.