I am 50 years old and have never done any competitive sport. I only started cycling about five years ago. I cycle about 8,000 kilometres a year. For the past two years, many blood vessels in my lower right leg have become very prominent, with a single vein visibly extending up to the groin area. An examination by a specialist resulted in a diagnosis of varicose veins. I was advised to wear special stockings and cycle. However, my personal impression is that these symptoms are more pronounced when I cycle. If I take a break for two days, the symptoms mentioned above are much less pronounced. Sometimes I also feel numbness in my right leg after about an hour on the bike. It can be improved or eliminated by changing my sitting position and riding in a standing position. My doctor assumes that I have a neurological disorder. Can I continue cycling despite my problems and what can I do about my varicose veins?
T. Heidrich, Erfurt
You appear to have a problem with varicose veins, or varicose veins. One of the main therapeutic measures here is exercise, for example cycling. By activating the muscle pump, this improves the return transport of the blood and thus relieves the veins in the legs. It is not very likely that the varicose veins got worse as a result of cycling, either in the long or short term. However, it is possible that the reduced subcutaneous fatty tissue and the more clearly defined muscles make the veins more visible. The numbness in your leg is probably neurological, and your colleague is probably right about that.
For example, pressure on the sciatic nerve can cause the symptoms. A neurologist should always clarify the exact cause. If the suspicion is confirmed, the next steps are in the hands of the treating neurologist. The focus will be on physiotherapeutic treatment and possibly improving your sitting position. In any case, you should have the symptoms clarified, as long-term damage can also occur under unfavourable circumstances.
