[Pitfalls during phlebology consultation]

For a patient suffering with his legs, the pain is usually associated with the presence of one or more varices that can be seen. The physician must not fall into this trap. Questioning is vital. Establishing the kind of pain and the conditions under which it occurs may elok for (1) a rheumatological etioloty: sciatic or crural nerve pain, calcaneal pain: (2) a surgical etiology: an inguinal or particularly a crural hernia, a popliteal cyst; (3) a medical etiology: exogenous polyneuritis, hypokalaemia resulting from the abuse of laxatives or of diuretics, etc.