Recovery from vein surgery... slow and painful

I am 34 and under went treatment to remove my horrible varicose veins a week ago and wanted to share my experience of the striping process.

I was advised that I would need 10 days off work but if I'm honest I thought that this wouldn't be needed as I am a fit, healthy women who doesn't like to sit still for long. However for the first 7 days I have struggled to walk or stand for periods of time longer than 30 minutes. This worried me as I saw very little progress in this first week, however I am now 8 days later and all of a sudden I am much more capable of doing more jobs for longer periods of time. I now feel that I could drive and be able to do an emergency stop if needed but like I say I am now on day 8.

When under going this type of treatment it's important to keep moving as much as you can but listening to your bady when it's had enough. Each hour I made sure I got up and had a little walk around and when I was sitting I made sure that I had my leg elevated.

The bruising at the top of my inner thigh was much more than I ever expected and was very painful, the stockings didn't help as they dag straight into the bruise!

I can't wait for the bruising to fade so that I can see my new lump free legs :-)

I have learnt to be patient with my recovery and not to expected too much from myself and enjoy the 10 days off work!

Good luck to all those who are thinking of going through this process, this hasn't been an awful experience for me thankfully

I had my veins stripped on both legs almost the same date as Melanie above. I feel lucky as i felt well very quickly but it seems i could be more mobile now 10 days on. What I didn't get was advice about exercise,how soon, how much, how often, which was seriously remiss i think, and I would have been exercising more had I had the advice others have had above. So make sure you ask. I shall move around more now because of what Melanie has written.

I automatically took painkillers the first evening, expecting it to be painful, but then was amazed as i woke up the next day thinking the effect of the painkiller would have worn off overnight, then realized I didn't need any! Yes the bruises are huge but that was expected. Also I didn't realize, though should have done, that the ligation in the groin would mean dramatic bruising on the pubic area.

The length of time for stockings seems to vary with individuals. I have to wear them night and day for two weeks, then day only for two. It was nerve racking trying to get off the bandages the next day & put the stockings on as it seemed to put huge pressure on the inside of the thigh trying to flex the legs to reach over the toe, and that makes you feel the incisions will open, so I'd advise getting someone to do it for you for a few days if you possibly can.

At the last minute I thought I might have made a bad mistake committing to ligation & stripping rather than going further afield to investigate alternative treatment under local anaesthetic, but apparently some veins are too tortuous or near the skin (risk of burning) for newer methods so surgery was my only realistic option. For information I have read that if your GP says yours cannot be done on the National Health insist on being referred to the Charing Cross Clinic if you are within range. Too far for me after a general anaesthetic but worth a try in other cases.

Good luck and ask lots of questions to get information to suit you as an individual.

I posted another topic on this however when talking about the excercise, i can see conflicting reports all over the internet.

after evlt and phlebectomys down both legs at week 3 i was cycling ten miles a day, swimming and playing other sports

some say cycling is really bad for varicose veins (google tour de france varicose veins), others recommend it

my surgeon basically said just to live life as normal and if they come back they can be dealt with as and when

im at week 6 now, no bruising, few scars from the incisions but my legs feel brand new, none of the itching , heavyness etc, and the lumps are mainly gone, got a new pair of shorts for holiday (first time in over a decade il be able to wear them)

i would reccomend everyone if they can to get the procedures done, no need to live in misery because of this

Hi, I had EVLT a week ago today. The actual procedure was uncomfortable rather than painful, and after the procedure I left the hospital within a couple of hours. By the time we got home it was sore so I took one of the painkillers prescribed, and another before I went to bed. Pain was gone by the morning. The dressing (ankle to thigh plaster) was on for 4 days and when I took it off the upper thigh is green and yellow bruised, with bruising further down where the injections were. Today the leg has been quite sore, probably more than since I had the op. I have been wearing the stocking but been removing it when I went to bed, its only since reading here that I have realised it should be on 24/7. The surgeon advised me that the swollen vein in the calf probably wouldnt go right down as it was so enlarged, and sadly he seems to be right. Although slightly less pronounced it certainly is no immediate cure. Early days still and hopefully more improvement over the coming weeks. However, the varicose ecxema I had on my right ankle has certainly improved.

The night before I went in for my vein surgery I read all of these posts. Almost didn't do the surgery because of all the horrible results. Decided to go ahead and the morning of my surgery I was a bit apprehensive until the two valium they gave me took effect! The Dr told me the only painful thing was the sedative injections and boy was he right! The rest of the day I stayed in bed (like he said) only getting up for lunch and restroom. I was sore for a couple of days but overall the process was very easy. The only sore area is the groin area - it feels like a pulled muscle. I am supposed to wear the support hose for two weeks and no exercise until then but basically was fine.

We are all different in our experiences and recovery - it's all a bit like child birth - forgotten once its over!

I just found this forum. I am in my 30s, ballet dancer and am having surgery in a couple of weeks. One leg only. But this forum is freaking me out!! I really need the surgery it is not cosmetic and I have a great surgeon, but I have to have the ligation and stripping because the veins are too deep and big for anything else. The office staff on the phone told me I just needed one week of complete rest, but I am not sure she understood what I meant by exercise. I know my surgeon knows what I do. I guess I'll wait until I talk to him again the day of surgery....? But I also get around by biking. I guess I can't even do that for a week? Ugh I have really wanted this taken care of and now I am afraid. I also bruise really easily. So it sounds like my leg will be purple too? Thanks in advance for any more guidance on rest vs exercise.

Koala can I recommend arnica to help with the bruising, it works for some people and not for others but its worth giving it a go. I bruise very easily and was still bruised 5 weeks after the surgery which was a pain as i was going in holiday so i used the cream and the bath oil to help. I wish I had used it right from the start as it did help and I recommended it to someone who had the same surgery and his bruising was gone much quicker than mine.

I am so happy with my legs now and even wore a bikini for the first time ever now my legs are lump free.

Good luck and please don't worry

HI folks

I am a 42 yr old male who had his veins stripped on his right leg this morning, I had fairly decent ugly looking veins on my right leg that to be honest was plain unsightly.

. So like a typical male I started researching this 8hrs after getting it done.

To be honest, Im kinda happy to see a good few of you folks felt pretty sore afterwards as im suffering a bit too, sorry if that sounds mean but im just happy that it seems to be the norm. I didn't really expect it to be as painful. Now, if I was told it was going to be sore, id still have gone for the op and would have been expecting the pain and could have been prepared for it.

As it seems with most people the most pain is up in the groin area with swelling (cant really bend over,

its only day 1 I know so im sure it will get better.

They handed me paracetamol and nurofen leaving the hospital, my advice is put them in the bin and find a friend who has some valium for the first day or so.

So its a weekend on the sofa watching the TV, with walks 2 or 3 times a day on Valium, hope my wife dosent leave me:-)

Hello! I have been searching the web for patient comments about their vein procedures and finally stumbled upon this one. (Before this, I could only find doctors' comments on the "easy", "minor" procedures and fast recovery.) I'm so thankful---and now terrified! I am scheduled for VNUS closure and stab phlebectomy of my right saphenous vein on Tuesday and Wednesday of this coming week. Three days and counting. I developed the varicose vein during my third and fourth pregnancies (7 years ago) and have always been a little self-conscious about it when wearing shorts or a bathing suit. It does cause me some discomfort when standing at certain times, but I couldn't really say it is painful. I am very active with walking and yoga and trying to keep up with my four boys, so I was thinking my recovery would be just as the doctor and nurses said...fully recovered in two weeks, with no pain and really no need for anything besides Advil. After reading your posts, this sounds HORRIBLE and is really making me think I should wait until the veins start hurting or getting worse to get this done, if ever. I am honestly terrified now! One of the reasons I went ahead and scheduled the procedure is that I have met my deductible for the year, so I won't have to pay very much if I get it done at this time. But maybe it is not worth it? I'm so conflicted now....Also, my doctor does the procedure with local anesthesia only and that sounds scary from what posters are saying too To those who have had it done, do you feel back to "normal" yet? Would you repeat the procedure if you had a choice? Should I wait and see if the veins get worse, or does that just make the procedures and recovery more difficult? Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Hello texasbeys

I have wrote earlier on in this thread so hope I wasn't one to frighten you. I was feeling pretty desperate when I wrote on here last. I just wanted people to realise that it was not a walk in the park like I had thought.

I felt pretty rough for two weeks!! I had to go back to work after a week which I wish I hadn't as I think it put my recovery back.

I had the surgery on the 8 th of September 2012 and didn't feel back to myself till January 2013. Although alot of others on here have recovered really well so maybe it was me that took a bit longer, but I am fit and healthy aged 30 so not sure why. You will be fine just make sure you don't over do things and you get looked after as the whole process is a bit grim.. Also like you I was self conscious after they developed after my two babies. So on the upside the overall look is much better so was worth it. Just be prepared xxx

Hi, I'm 42 and I had surgery done on 17th October, multiple avulsions of long saphenous vein of right lower

limb. I was so nervous but hospital staff were fantastic. Operation only took 30 mins as luckily my surgeon didn't have to cut my groin. I arrived at hospital at 7:30 am and I was home by 13:30 pm. I felt really groggy

for the rest of that day and I have been fine with Nurofen to help with the pain. I removed the bandage

yesterday and yes it all looks pretty horrendous but time is a great healer. I have to wear the compression

stockings now for two weeks, day and night then for two weeks, day only. The tegaderm/steristrips should start falling off in a couple of days so I can only dream of a proper shower. Arnica bruise cream at the ready. Please don't be nervous, I was in a lot of pain so I had no choice, I have to go back in January to have my left leg done. Good luck :0)

hi had stab avulsion op two days ago was bright and on my feet after op...today a different matter i am sore all down one side of leg and really bruised. been trying to keep walking but think i overdone it today.didnt get bandaged this time got compression stocking on for 2 weeks. op went fine and staff brilliant .had vein stripped in other leg 15 years ago and dont remember being this sore but hey at least its recovery pain and will go ...eventually.lol.good luck to anyone going in for this op

A quick update to my comments in August. Consultant was pretty much spot on, he said the vein was so bad he didn't think it would go right down on its own, and sure enough there is a bulge left about the size of a 50p piece and also some smaller veins.

Im going back in to have it tidied up in November, will keep you posted.

Would like to say that the varicose ecxema has improved 99%, just a slight itching now and again. It was worth the operation just to get that sorted out.

Just had vein stripped in right leg, 17 incisions, there are a few that are causing concern, the one on my thigh has swollen to the size of an egg, a couple of others are really painfull and feel solid and lumpy under the skin, is this normal? My op was two weeks ago.