Sudden vein bulginng in left leg, painful

[PaddiBoy]

Hello there.  I am a 37 yr old chef, and work on my feet constantly.  I have been through quite a bit in my life and have a very high pain tolerance, and also am pretty good about waiting things out.  That said, I have a suddenly bulging vein that runs the course of my inner left leg the is not discolored, but hard and painful.  I am aware of the movement of blood throughout the leg, I can feel it rushing,.  It has gone cold and then tight and then cold a few times.  It is quiet painful at times, and when it becomes painfull also the calf muscle -back of my leg-does as well.  The bulging vein looks "wormy", as in not like a straight line.  I can see where smaller veins run over it,, which are also swollen.  
  What in the hec is wrong with me?   I do have other symptoms, I have been getting ill for the last few weeks, but I am not certain they are related.  Painful itchy rash on my back, swollen lymph nodes under arms and at sides and pelvis, really worn out.  No fever that I am aware of, but I have certainly worked through sickness before, so perhaps.  Should I be freaked out by the leg?

[jemma116]

It is likely that it is varicose veins, but another medical condition may be inflammation of the vein.

With that and your other symptoms, you do need to be seen urgently by your doctor.

[PaddiBoy]

So now that I'm home and rubbing the thing, it would seem  that the angry vein runs all the way up my leg, as in upper leg as well.

[jemma116]

The leg vein issue the way you describe is that of varicose veins.  Because you are experiencing pain in the  calf muscle, you should make an urgent appointment to see your doctor to rule out deep vein thrombosis. The doctor will listen to the leg and can arrange to get your blood tested with regard to that - this is called a Doppler test.  He will also be able to confirm whether it is varicose veins that you have and what can be done about them.

The other symptoms that you describe also need medical attention urgently.  This may be a viral or bacterial infection.  If this is a bacterial infection the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic for you.

Other blood tests that the doctor can check for with regard to the swollen lymph nodes is for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.  The rash is likely to be related to the swollen glands and part of the infection, or may be shingles.  

Make an urgent appointment to see your doctor.

Let me know how you get on.