Leg Pain During Pregnancy: Causes & Symptoms

Question
This is my first pregnancy. I am 23 and am 33weeks 4days pregnant.  I have been having pain in one of my legs near the knee and I am worried that it could be a blood clot, or less seriously, a varicose vein.  I wonder if you could tell me the symptoms of both.  I have been having the pain for a couple of months, but it comes and goes.  It doesn't seem to matter what I'm doing or if I'm touching it or not.  Could it just be due to weight gain? I have gained about 35 pounds.  
I feel strongly that the pain is not a ligament or muscle.  
Thank you.  

Answer
Leg pain during pregnancy can be due to your weight, sciatic nerve pain (which usually radiates down the outside of the leg and can be alleviated by Tylenol), varicose veins (which is usually superficial pain), or a blood clot ("DVT" or Deep Vein Thrombosis) which is a life threatening situation. If you have difficulty in walking  or lots of pain, you should have it checked out and get "doppler" studies of your legs. If DVTs are ruled out, you do not have to worry.