Varicose veins can affect your job if you sit or stand all day. The pressure on your leg veins over time will likely cause irritation to the veins with blockages. This can be painful and may even require you to take multiple breaks throughout your workday to avoid pain. Severe varicose veins may eventually produce long-term mild swelling that can result in more serious skin and tissue problems. These include ulcers and nonhealing sores. The symptoms of varicose veins may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. A common question is “are painful varicose veins dangerous?” For the majority of people with varicose veins the answer is “no”, varicose veins are not dangerous. Although varicose veins can cause symptoms of pain, aching, tenderness, and itching these symptoms tend not to be life or limb-threatening.