Recovery from vein surgery... slow and painful

Hi, I wanted to reply to the person who started this thread. I found it because my brother-in-law just had the surgery and I was wondering how his recovery will be. I truly believe the first poster may suffer from CRPS Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. The symptoms are pain out of proportion to the original trauma, color changes in the skin, and symptoms that may worsen rather than improve I've time. I developed CRPS from wrist intersection syndrome(severe tendinitis) so I realize how debilitating it can be. Some people do experience nausea and fainting from the severe pain. Cold sensitivity is also very common in people with CRPS. I hope the first poster found help. If any one else has these symptoms and doesn't seem to be able too recover please look up CRPS and try to avoid ANY further surgery until you speak with a specialist. Where I live the best doctor to see for this condition is a Pain and Spine Specialist I know it sounds odd. But they are the most likely to recognize the symptoms and manage the severity of the pain. Every one deserves the chance to be whole again. I hope this finds its way to guest. Take care.

I had my right leg greater saphenous vein ablated using the laser treatment AND ambulatory phlebectomy on several ropey veins of my right thigh and calf. This was done on Dec 6th.

Days one through four were relatively pain free. I had no draining or bleeding occurring. However, the bruising went from a mild area around the uppermost thigh incision to covering my entire thigh in a deep purple bruise.

At day five, the pain set in. The phlebectomy areas did not hurt, but the area inside my groin and inside my knee, where the laser treatment started and ended, became quite tender. There was no redness or swelling, so I was told by a doctor friend that it was nothing to worry about.

Around day seven, I noticed that the ablated saphenous vein now felt like a piece of dry jerky in my leg. When I walked, I could feel a cracking sensation in that area. The pain was not worse, but it sure felt weird.

It took several days for that dry feeling to go away.

The inner thigh and knee pain remained until about day 12. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being most painful) it ranged from a 3 to 5. Never bad enough that I had to take anything stronger than ibuprofen while at rest. But, when I tried to go back to work (carpentry) after day 10, the pain quickly rose to a 7 or 8. I only lasted an hour or two the first few days back at work.

It seemed as though things were starting to get better... I started to work more each day... and then I slipped on a patch of ice. The way it extended my leg seems to have pulled apart some of the healed areas. I have now been in pain again the last two days, even though resting.

I had been told I could go back to work after 3 or 4 days. Nope. Not possible. If I had a desk job, then yes. The pain was never really bad, when I was taking it easy. But there is no way someone could go back to doing carpentry work within a week of these procedures. I'm a 39 year old guy, decent shape and always thought I had a good pain tolerance level. If someone could go back to climbing ladders and carrying lumber within a week or two of this procedure, I'd be quite surprised.

Plan on taking some time off to get plenty of rest and light walking the first few days. Then slowly work back into your normal routine. Do not rush it or you will set yourself behind.

I have the exact same procedure scheduled to be done on my left leg in April. Then a couple follow up visits to take care of some smaller varicosities in my lower legs. If this was just to make my legs look better, I wouldn't do it. I am doing it because my legs were sore all the time, cramping very badly at night - and I have a family history of bad veins leading to bigger problems.

One thing is for sure... look out for ice patches!!

I am scheduled for ELVT on one leg next Thursday 1/16 and I have to say these comments aren't helping my anxiety!! I have no choice though, as the pain in my leg is affecting my life terribly. On a bad day, going to the store is a challenge. If I have an evening event, I must rest all day or I can forget about walking anywhere. The valves in the vein have completely failed my dr. said... they got a full 7 seconds of leaking on the first u/s and it has gotten worse over the past few months. There doesn't seem to be much about ELVT besides positive spins from websites promoting it....I'm hoping it isn't too bad but I guess I will know soon enough!

I just had my EVLT treatment on my right leg 5 days ago. I wasn't really nervous at all coz I saw the video online of how the treatment goes and I I researched everything about it. Yeah it wasn't painful at all but uncomfortsble because of the pressure esp when they injected the anaesthesia and when the fiber catheter Is inside my veins. I started walking and did all the post-op instructions. After 3 days I took the bandages off and it is bruising. Now Its turning yellowish green. I still can see some varicose veins and spider veins and I thought it will disappear after this treatment but I read in some discussions that they have to have the sclerotherapy and If I want the my left leg treated it will be the same procedure. Is it okay if I won't have my left leg treated immediately? Will it affect my right leg? Will the varicose veins on my right leg still come back if I don't treat my left leg?

Thrilled to have discovered this forum and happy to share my experience and also ask a question about my current level of pain. I'm a slim, active 60 something woman and have had two previous "nick and strip ops on varicose veins, which have come back. I did my research and decided to have the varicose veins and masses of thread veins in both legs treated, so am sitting here seven days after my op with more pain than on days one or two and wonder if anybody else has experienced the same thing?

I had bilateral EVLT and also some stripping on the horrendous veins on the right leg, (the leg that had previously been stripped).

My surgeon was brilliant, (I went privately with Radiant Health) I had great advice and have been following it to the letter.

General anaesthetic, operation a breeze. I was told to take arnica for two weeks before and two weeks post op. I had the pink sticky bandages from toes to thighs on both legs for five days, then was told in no uncertain terms to TAKE A PAINKILLER (voltarol - these were given to me on discharge) and soak in a bath for at least 10 minutes, or until the bandages stopped bubbling, and then the glue dissolved and they just came away.

I was measured for and given TED stockings and told that I should wear them all day (unless they were seriously uncomfortable) but to take them off at night.

I can see a difference - I mean the legs look "sort of" the same as before, lots of thread veins but with the addition of a load of bruises and covered in indelible ink dot to dot, arrows and "cut here" (joking about the last bit!). My right foot was always sort of purple, and now it's skin coloured, so I know it's worked.

I was told that I didn't need to walk for miles, but I should not take to my bed. Keep active, walk on the spot when standing, elevate legs when resting. So from day 4 I've been ambling round the shopping centre for at least 45 minutes every day.

I was also told that massaging with arnica cream would help. So ..... last night I gently stroked my legs with my hands to see what they felt like, and there is an area at the front of my shin on the right (bad) leg that made me jump through the roof when I touched it. I couldn';t bear even the touch of the duvet on it and of course the TED stockings don't help. I was given some swabs so have wadded one and made a sort of pressure relieving pad which I've stuck on under the TED stocking today

It's still excrutiatingly painful to the touch today, and even without touching it is throbbing and painful. Apart from that, I feel in fine form, bright eyed and bushy tailed, and I know that I made the right decision. I stopped taking voltarol after 5 days, as I don't think it's very good for you, but think maybe intense, localised pain is worse :-)

I don't regret for a second having the op though. My spare time hobby/passion is dancing and I've been spending longer on making up my legs to cover the unsightly veins than I do on making up my face :-)

Sorry for the length of this post, but I would say, in summary, if you're thinking of having this done, do it. If you're having both legs done, have a general, keep active post op, it's only hurting in one small area, so probably best to keep on taking the drugs!!

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I had veins stripped from my right leg two days ago and have been very happy to find this forum.

As it was my first experience of a general anaesthetic I was a bit apprehensive, but needn't of worried...I'm also learning that the challenges start once you get home!

For the first week I have been told to keep mostly seated/lying with my feet elevated, but make a short walk e.g. to the window or get a cuppa every hour or two. The stockings will be removed after a week and then I hope to be able to make longer walks (outside), but this to be confirmed. I have been signed off work for 4 weeks, so understand it will take a while to recover, with no serious exercise during this period (cycling etc.).

So far I'm finding that standing can be quite painful and I can become light headed. However, I am persevering and feel a bit reassured to hear that others have the same experience. I have painkillers, but only take them when I really need to.

All in all I think it's as I expected and feel that time is important. Will keep you advised on how it goes!

I had my veins stripped 4 weeks ago(at the calf area) .

I been going to the gym for a week doing a lot of walking on the treadmill (no running or jogging)and it seem everything is ok for now but as now I am back at work , my leg start to hurt (inner thigh area) while standing still for a long period of time . Does anyone have kind of problem or is it just me ???

My own surgeon is very insistent that I don't return to work or do any vigorous exercise until after 4 weeks...as time goes by (now 8 days) I am tending to agree with her. However, I can't help thinking that after such an operation (and time off) there is likely be some (slight) discomfort when going back to work/exercise as the body gets back to normal. Maybe I'm wrong, though.

Hi all! I have been reading what i can of this thread...SIMON i have the inner thigh vein pain but no surgery yet. I am so frustrated as I keep going to the doctors as i have stinging in the veins behind my knees... one particuary bad and throbbing pain in the one from my knee to groin. the doctors dont seem to think its worth doing anything about but quite franckly..its ruining my life! im 29, active, not overweight at all, dont smoke and am absolutly gutted that i have these problems now..only got it from last 2 months! Doctor says was thrombophlebitis and I am petrified that I will get a clot.

Does anyone have any advice at all?

Sara

I been to the gym doing some stretching on those vibrating exercise machine.

They tend to ease some pain from my leg .