Can Varicose Veins Cause Foot Pain? What Sources Say and What to Ask

Varicose veins can bring heaviness and swelling that reach the feet, but the sources reviewed here do not establish them as a cause of foot pain, and foot pain has many other causes. NHLBI lists aching pain in the legs and a feeling of heaviness in the legs and feet among varicose vein symptoms, and MedlinePlus lists mild swelling of the feet or ankles. [1] [2] MedlinePlus’s list of foot pain causes does not mention varicose veins; it names foot conditions, injuries, arthritis, gout and nerve damage instead. [3] In a population study, leg symptoms often blamed on varicose veins were common whether or not varicose veins were present. [4] Narrowed leg arteries (peripheral artery disease) can also cause pain in the foot, and a blood clot can cause a painful, swollen leg. [5] [6] Only a clinician’s assessment can sort out which, if any, applies to you.

Urgent symptoms come first. Call 911 for severe chest pain or pressure, severe shortness of breath, or suddenly not being able to speak, see, walk or move. [7] NHLBI calls any bleeding from a varicose vein a medical emergency and says to call 911. [1] Difficulty breathing, or chest pain or discomfort that gets worse with a deep breath or coughing, can be signs of a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), which CDC says needs immediate medical attention. [8] Do not wait for a routine callback from your provider: go to an emergency department or call 911 or your local emergency number for help. [7] Call your healthcare provider right away for a swollen, tender leg that is painful to the touch, which can be a sign of a blood clot in a deep vein (deep vein thrombosis); CDC says this needs prompt medical attention. [6] [8] Do not wait to see whether the pain settles, or try to work out the cause at home, before getting help.

Save questions for my appointment

This page is general education for adults. It cannot tell you what is causing your pain, and it gives no medicine, compression or home-testing advice.

What the evidence says about the question

Your heart pumps blood out through arteries, and veins carry it back. [9] Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins just under the skin, usually in the legs. Weak or damaged vein walls and valves let blood pool or flow backward, which can enlarge the veins. [1] Learn how those valves work in the purpose of valves in veins.

• Official symptom lists focus on the legs. NHLBI lists bulging bluish veins, itching or burning around the veins, skin color changes, swelling in the legs, aching pain in the legs, heaviness in the legs and feet, and nighttime leg cramps. Symptoms may get worse after long periods of sitting or standing and better when you lie down or put your feet up. [1] MedlinePlus adds mild swelling of the feet or ankles, and says varicose veins do not cause problems for most people. [2]
• Symptoms and varicose veins often do not line up. The Edinburgh Vein Study examined 1,566 adults aged 18 to 64. Heaviness, aching, a feeling of swelling, cramps, itching and tingling were common in people with and without varicose veins, and the match between symptoms and varicose veins found on examination was too weak to be clinically useful. The authors concluded that even when varicose veins are present, most lower limb symptoms probably have a non-venous cause. [4] The study is from 1999, covered one Scottish city, did not include adults over 64, did not ask about foot pain specifically and could show only associations, not causes.
• Foot pain has a long list of other causes. MedlinePlus names plantar fasciitis, arthritis and gout, bunions, stress fractures and other broken bones, sprains, Morton neuroma, heel spurs, Achilles tendinitis, nerve damage from diabetes and other nerve problems, along with poorly fitting shoes, injury and long periods on your feet. [3]
• Arteries and clots are separate questions. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is plaque buildup that reduces blood flow to the legs and feet; NHLBI estimates that more than 8 million people ages 40 and older in the United States have it. [10] Its pain is often in the calf but can be felt in the foot. [5] A deep vein clot is a different problem again and should be taken seriously, because it can lead to a life-threatening clot in the lungs. [6] [11]

Vein, artery and other causes: questions for assessment

The table sets out how the sources describe vein-related, artery-related and other causes of leg and foot symptoms, and what a clinician may ask or check. It is a guide to the conversation, not a way to decide the cause yourself. NHLBI notes that conditions such as arthritis, vein problems and nerve problems can cause leg pain that may be confused with PAD. [12]

Some people with PAD have no symptoms at all. [5] Thrombophlebitis, a swollen vein most often caused by a blood clot, can affect veins near the skin surface and cause swelling, pain, warmth and tenderness over the vein. [14]

Compression is not right for everyone

Compression stockings come up often with varicose veins, but whether they suit you, and which kind, is a decision for your clinician.

• What they can do. NHLBI says compression may help relieve pain, swelling and heaviness in the legs for some people, especially those who sit or stand for long periods, but it only relieves symptoms. Stockings can also cause discomfort, itching, skin irritation or swelling. [1]
• Many types. Stockings come in different pressures and lengths, and MedlinePlus says to talk to your provider about which kind is right for you. [15]
• Guidelines differ. The 2013 NICE guideline for the health service in England says not to offer compression stockings to treat varicose veins unless procedures are unsuitable, though they may be considered for leg swelling in pregnancy. [16] US practice may differ.
• Artery problems change the picture. A vascular medicine patient information page says that in severe PAD, compression socks could further restrict blood flow into the leg, and that most people with PAD can wear them for other conditions after a thorough evaluation by a vascular specialist. [17]

When to contact a healthcare provider

These are reasons the sources give to contact a provider. The urgent signs above come first.

• Varicose veins that are painful, get worse, or do not improve with self-care. [2]
• Varicose veins that suddenly get worse, or a sore near them. NHLBI says to call your provider right away. [1]
• A sudden increase in leg pain or swelling, fever, redness of the leg, or leg sores. [2]
• Sudden, severe foot pain, or foot pain after an injury, especially with bleeding, bruising or not being able to put weight on the foot. [3]
• Redness or swelling of a joint, an open sore or ulcer on the foot, or a fever. [3]
• Foot pain when you have diabetes or a disease that affects blood flow. [3]
• Sores on the toes, feet or legs that heal slowly or not at all. [5]
• With thrombophlebitis, new symptoms such as a whole limb becoming pale, cold or swollen. MedlinePlus says to contact your provider right away. [14]

Questions to save for your appointment

Write your answers before your visit and take them with you. The questions follow what the sources say clinicians ask about and what MedlinePlus suggests asking about varicose veins. [1] [12] [3] [11] [18] This page does not collect anything you write.

Download the appointment question sheet (PDF, 2 pages, 42 KB)

What I notice

1. Where exactly is the pain: toes, ball of the foot, arch, heel, top of the foot, ankle, or higher in the leg?
2. When did it start, and did it begin after an injury, a change in activity or new shoes?
3. Does it get worse after sitting or standing for a long time, and does it ease when I lie down or raise my legs?
4. Does it come on when I walk or climb stairs and ease when I rest, or does it start when I stand up or change position?
5. Have I noticed swelling, bulging veins, skin color changes, itching, a foot that feels colder than the other, numbness or pins and needles?
6. Do I have a sore or wound on my foot, ankle or leg that is slow to heal?

My health and family background

7. Which health conditions do I have, such as diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease?
8. Do I smoke now, or did I smoke in the past?
9. Has anyone in my family had varicose veins, peripheral artery disease or blood clots?
10. Have I recently had surgery, an injury, a long trip or a long stretch of not moving much?
11. Am I pregnant, or have I given birth recently?

Questions to ask my clinician

12. Could this pain be coming from my veins, my arteries, my nerves or the foot itself, and how will we find out?
13. Do I need a test, such as an ultrasound of my leg veins or an ankle-brachial index test, and what will it show?
14. Do my varicose veins need treatment, and what could happen if I leave them untreated?
15. Are compression stockings right for me, which type, and is there any reason I should not wear them?
16. Should I see a specialist, such as a vascular specialist or a foot specialist?
17. Which changes mean I should call you right away or get emergency care?

Bring to your appointment

• This sheet with your answers
• A list of every medicine and supplement you take
• The names of other clinicians you see about your feet, legs or circulation
• Reports from any earlier leg or foot tests, if you have them

Bring this sheet to any appointment where your feet, legs or circulation come up, whether with your primary care provider or a specialist.

What this page cannot tell you

• It cannot tell you whether varicose veins, an artery problem, a nerve problem or something in the foot is causing your pain. A clinician’s history, exam and, where needed, tests do that. [1] [12] [3]
• It does not suggest any test you can do at home, any medicine, or whether to wear compression stockings.
• The study described above looked at adults aged 18 to 64 in one city, and the NICE guideline was written for England. Your age, health and local practice may differ. [4] [16]
• Symptom lists are typical examples. Symptoms vary, and a blood clot or PAD can cause few or no symptoms. [6] [5]

For more on how blood moves through the body, browse Heart and circulation or test what you know with our circulatory system worksheets. For practice reading what a label does and does not say, try the food label reading worksheet.

Common questions

Can varicose veins cause foot pain?

The sources reviewed here describe aching pain in the legs and heaviness in the legs and feet, not foot pain itself, and MedlinePlus does not list varicose veins among causes of foot pain. A population study found that leg symptoms often blamed on varicose veins were common whether or not varicose veins were present. Ask a clinician to assess the cause. [1] [3] [4]

Can varicose veins make my feet or ankles swell?

MedlinePlus lists mild swelling of the feet or ankles among varicose vein symptoms. It also says to contact your provider for a sudden increase in pain or swelling. [2]

Could foot pain when I walk be a circulation problem?

It can be one possibility. NHLBI says PAD pain usually comes with walking and goes away with rest, and can be felt in the foot. Nerve problems and arthritis can cause pain that may be confused with PAD, so a clinician needs to assess it. [5] [12]

Should I wear compression stockings for foot pain?

Not without your clinician’s advice. Compression may relieve some vein symptoms for some people, but guidance differs on when to use it, and in severe PAD it could further restrict blood flow into the leg. [1] [16] [17]

What tests might a clinician use?

For varicose veins, often a duplex ultrasound; for PAD, usually an ankle-brachial index test first; for foot pain, sometimes X-rays or an MRI. Your clinician decides which, if any, you need. [1] [12] [3]

Are varicose veins dangerous?

MedlinePlus says they do not cause problems for most people, but poor blood flow can lead to swelling, pain, blood clots and skin changes. NHLBI lists bleeding and ulcers as complications and calls any bleeding from a varicose vein a medical emergency. [2] [1]

Urgent symptoms come first. Call 911 for severe chest pain or pressure, severe shortness of breath, or suddenly not being able to speak, see, walk or move. [7] NHLBI calls any bleeding from a varicose vein a medical emergency and says to call 911. [1] Difficulty breathing, or chest pain or discomfort that gets worse with a deep breath or coughing, can be signs of a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), which CDC says needs immediate medical attention. [8] Do not wait for a routine callback from your provider: go to an emergency department or call 911 or your local emergency number for help. [7] Call your healthcare provider right away for a swollen, tender leg that is painful to the touch, which can be a sign of a blood clot in a deep vein (deep vein thrombosis); CDC says this needs prompt medical attention. [6] [8] Do not let a list of questions delay getting help.

Save questions for my appointment

Sources and limitations

1. NHLBI: Varicose Veins. Last updated September 26, 2023. General patient education about varicose veins in the legs; the symptoms listed are typical examples, not a checklist for deciding the cause of pain.
2. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Varicose veins. Review date June 4, 2026. General adult information.
3. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Foot pain. Review date June 27, 2026. General adult information; lists common causes and is not a diagnostic tool.
4. Bradbury A, Evans C, Allan P, Lee A, Ruckley CV, Fowkes FGR. What are the symptoms of varicose veins? Edinburgh vein study cross sectional population survey. BMJ. 1999;318(7180):353–356. Published February 6, 1999. Cross-sectional survey of 1,566 adults aged 18 to 64 in Edinburgh, Scotland, with a response rate of about 54%. It shows associations, not causes, did not ask about foot pain and did not include adults over 64.
5. NHLBI: Peripheral Artery Disease Symptoms. Last updated March 24, 2022. Symptoms vary, and some people with PAD have none.
6. NHLBI: Venous Thromboembolism Symptoms. Last updated September 19, 2022. Symptoms vary, and a clot sometimes causes none until complications develop.
7. MedlinePlus: When to use the emergency room - adult. Review date July 15, 2026. General adult guidance on emergency warning signs; examples, not a complete list.
8. CDC: About Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots). Last updated March 5, 2025. General public education on the signs of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; signs vary, and some people have none.
9. NHLBI: How the Heart Works. Last updated March 24, 2022. General anatomy education.
10. NHLBI: What Is Peripheral Artery Disease? Last updated March 24, 2022. US figures; general patient education.
11. NHLBI: What Is Venous Thromboembolism? Last updated September 19, 2022. General clinical education.
12. NHLBI: Peripheral Artery Disease Diagnosis. Last updated March 24, 2022. Describes questions and tests done by a healthcare provider, not tests to do at home.
13. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Venous insufficiency. Review date June 4, 2026. General adult information.
14. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Thrombophlebitis. Review date January 14, 2026. General adult information.
15. MedlinePlus: Compression stockings. Review date July 15, 2024. General patient instructions; the type and wearing schedule come from your provider.
16. NICE: Varicose veins: diagnosis and management (CG168), recommendations. Published July 24, 2013. Written for the National Health Service in England; US practice may differ.
17. Evans NS, Ratchford EV. Vascular Disease Patient Information Page: Compression therapy. Vasc Med. 2021;26(3):352–355. First published online April 8, 2021. A patient information page in a vascular medicine journal; general guidance, not individual advice.
18. MedlinePlus: Varicose veins - what to ask your doctor. Review date July 15, 2024. Example questions for adults.