While signs and symptoms may vary among FAVA patients, common signs and symptoms include:

 

• Pain, often severe, and most often located in an extremity of the body (i.e., arm, hand, leg, foot).  The pain could be focal (in a specific area), radiating (travels from one location to another), or vague (difficult to identify the exact location).  The pain may be sharp or dull.  

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• The feeling of pressure at the site of the FAVA

 

• Swelling in the area of the FAVA

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• The lesion feels firm to the touch 

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• An impairment in the function of the affected limb 

 

• Contracture of the affected muscle

 

Normally, muscles stretch easily, which allows them to be flexible and to maximize their range of motion.  In muscles infiltrated by FAVA, the muscle tissue shortens and becomes resistant to stretching, resulting in stiffness and decreased range of motion.  This shortening and stiffening is known as contracture.    

 

• The appearance of abnormal skin overlying the area of the FAVA, including, but not limited to, a bluish tint to the skin or enlarged, visible veins 

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• If the FAVA is located in the legs, you could experience bowing of the legs 

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You may consider talking to your medical provider about exploring FAVA if you have been diagnosed with a different type of vascular anomaly (most commonly a venous malformation) and any of the following is true:

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• You have been treated with several rounds of sclerotherapy with no improvement;

• You are experiencing significant pain at or near the site of the vascular anomaly;

• You are experiencing muscle contractures at or near the site of the vascular anomaly; 

• The vascular anomaly feels firm; 

• Your experience bowing of your legs; or

• Your lesion does not shrink, fade, or disappear over time. 

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