Varicose Vein Massage: Is It Safe, And Does It Help?

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If you’re a fan of massage therapy, then you know how incredibly relaxing it can be to surrender your tired muscles to the healing hands of your therapist. And the end result of making you feel better overall beats any discomfort you may feel as the knots in your muscles are dissolved. 

But what if you’ve developed varicose veins on your legs? Is it even possible to have a massage to help you get rid of the heaviness, itching, cramping, and throbbing you now feel in them, due to their development?

In this blog post, I’m going discuss varicose vein massage. Some types of massage may provide relief, but you should certainly speak with your doctor before trying any massage. Most medical professionals recommend against massaging varicose veins, unfortunately. I’ll explain below.


Varicose Vein Massage

Varicose veins are a symptom of vein disease, which is also known as venous insufficiency, and includes other conditions like spider veins, and restless leg syndrome. 

Basically, varicose veins develop because the tiny valves that control the blood flow inside of these small blood vessels become damaged. This leads to blood pooling in the lower legs due to gravity taking over (although they can appear in other parts of the body). 

Over time, and without any medical intervention, the veins will become more swollen and twisted, which will eventually cause severe and consistent pain, including itchiness, skin tone changes, ulcers, and nighttime leg cramping.

Over time, and without any medical intervention, the veins will become more swollen and twisted, which will eventually cause severe and consistent pain, including itchiness, skin tone changes, and nighttime leg cramping.

And the condition isn’t just common in elderly people!

If you have a family history, have had a deep vein thrombosis, are overweight or obese, are pregnant with increased blood volume, or are generally inactive, there’s a chance that you could develop varicose veins. 

Varicose veins won’t kill you, so they’re are considered a low priority as far as healthcare is concerned. The most common cause of complaints is that they don’t look great, especially since it’s mainly women who are affected.

But varicose veins are not deep vein thrombosis, and the former doesn’t pose the same risk at all. 

So, is it possible to have a varicose vein massage to get rid of them? Or at least to relieve the pain that you might be feeling because of them? 

Does Massage Help Varicose Veins? 

According to some doctors, if you have varicose veins, then you shouldn’t have a massage, because there is the potential of worsening your condition if the pressure that’s administered is intense enough to damage already weakened veins, causing them to burst. 

According to some doctors, if you have varicose veins, then you shouldn’t have a massage, because there is the potential of worsening your condition if the pressure that’s administered is intense enough to damage already weakened veins, causing them to burst.

This is definitely the case if you have a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. Because having a massage could dislodge the blood clot from your leg, and end up causing a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal, this isn’t necessarily true if you have varicose veins.

What having a massage won’t do though, is make your varicose veins go away. That can only be done with the help of medical intervention, like minor surgery. 


Massaging Spider Veins

Spider veins are varicose veins’ smaller cousins. Although they are similar to varicose veins, spider veins are much smaller, and sit closer to the surface of the skin, causing a web-like appearance, hence their name. 

Spider veins are also more delicate than varicose veins, but they won’t present you with added health issues. If you’re having any pain or discomfort in your legs, then it’s not from your spider veins — it’s the deeper varicose veins that are causing the problem. 

Because of their delicate nature, some doctors believe that too much pressure from massage can damage spider veins or make them burst.

However, if you consult with a qualified massage therapist before your treatment, they will be able to modify the pressure, and you can enjoy the benefits of your session.


Types Of Massage For Varicose Veins

Having a massage to relieve discomfort is the main reason for having a treatment for your varicose veins. And you should definitely have a consultation with your doctor before getting a massage, to make sure that you don’t have a DVT.

Having a massage to relieve discomfort is the main reason for having a treatment for your varicose veins. And you should definitely have a consultation with your doctor before getting a massage, to make sure that you don’t have a DVT.

Otherwise, it would be safe for you to consider one of the following massage treatment methods to help alleviate your symptoms:

1. Ayurvedic Massage

The Ayurvedic system of traditional Indian medicine focuses on discovering the cause of your varicose veins. Part of the treatment includes grounding exercises for the feet, the elimination of inflammatory foods, as well as massage to help with blood flow. 

Unlike more well-known massage methods like Swedish and deep tissue, Ayurvedic massage techniques for varicose veins include the tapping and stretching of the surrounding muscle tissue.

2. Reflexology Massage

Excess fluid buildup on the ankles, also known as edema, is a symptom of having varicose veins, and gently massaging this area, along with the feet, can help to relieve it. Reflexology is an ancient non-invasive massage therapy that is based on parts of the body corresponding to acupressure points that are mapped out in the feet. 

Reflexology is an ancient non-invasive massage therapy that is based on parts of the body corresponding to acupressure points that are mapped out in the feet. 

This kind of massage therapy can be done to not only drain any excess fluid and flush it out of the body, but also to help increase blood circulation, calm the nervous system, and relieve stress. 

3. Swedish Massage

Swedish massage is one of the most well-known bodywork techniques, and has long been used as a remedial way of offering muscle relaxation for improved circulation and pain relief. It is generally considered a lighter version of the (sometimes intense) deep tissue massage.

This particular massage method can help lessen the pressure in your varicose veins by enhancing circulation and stimulating drainage of the lymph. It also provides full-body stress relief, and when combined with essential oils, will boost your overall feeling of well-being.

The combination of all these benefits can provide a way of eliminating any discomfort you may feel from your varicose veins. 

Leg Massager For Varicose Veins

You’ll find that many varicose and spider vein sufferers wear compression socks during the day to give them relief from the discomfort they feel going about their business, especially if they have jobs where they have to be on their feet all day.

Perhaps this is why with the development of medical technology, leg massagers that provide compression therapy for home use have become a popular tool for those wanting to treat their varicose veins themselves. Adding pressure to the veins through full-leg air compression helps to enable blood flow which reduces swelling and pain. 

One such device is the Perfecore Leg Massager with Heat Air Compression . This adjustable leg massager includes three pressure modes, and seven massage options to help you relieve your symptoms.

Plus, it includes a handy bag that makes it portable to take with you wherever you need it.

Perfecore Leg Massager with Heat Air Compression Foot Massager for Circulation Muscles Relaxation...
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Last update on 2024-03-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API


Final Thoughts

Just because you have varicose veins, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to avoid being massaged altogether. 

It simply means that if you want to have varicose vein massage, then you must be extra careful and take certain precautions before doing so, such as speaking with your doctor and massage therapist beforehand to make sure that they only use a light-touch method to treat your legs.

What varicose vein massage won’t do is to cure or get rid of them. So, you should look at varicose vein massage as a way to help relieve any painful symptoms you might have as a result of the condition. 

In that way, you can enjoy your treatment for what it is — the relaxing and pleasurable experience it is meant to be.

If you have varicose veins, which affects up to 50% of the adult population of the United States, then you know how annoying and sometimes painful they can be. But what about varicose vein massage? Click here to find out more.