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Rlyons, since you're concerned about varicose veins, here's some information about them. The Mayo Clinic defines varicose veins as "gnarled, enlarged veins."

Arteries take blood from our heart to the rest of our body; veins return that blood to the heart. This means that the veins in our feet and legs have to work against gravity. Muscle contractions move the blood, and tiny valves control the flow. Here's what happens with varicose veins:

"As you get older your veins can lose elasticity, causing them to stretch. The valves in your veins may become weak, allowing blood that should be moving toward your heart to flow backward. Blood pools in your veins, and your veins enlarge and become varicose. The veins appear blue because they contain deoxygenated blood, which is in the process of being recirculated."

Here are the symptoms of varicose veins. They don't really match the pains you describe:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/varicose-veins/DS00256/DSECTION=symptoms

And here's an article on identifying varicose veins:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2329723_identify-symptoms-varicose-veins.html

I hope this puts your mind at ease about this part of it.