varicose vein pain

[HipGnosis6]

This is interesting. I don't know how many of you have been following the thread about my leg ulcer, but it's related to circulation problems and fluids that wouldn't clear out of the wound site - and the treatment, involving compression dressings, has been very successful so far. Your VVs can turn into ulcers, usually at the ankle - and boy do you want to get it taken care of before then. My mom had VV surgery 20 years ago and said it wasn't bad then and it can only have improved since then.

Several friends in my age group (early 30's) have had veins done but I don't know any who voluntarily wear compression stockings....

[doc]

I am in the middle of dealing with my VV problems right now. I am deciding between EVLT and sclerotherapy for my biggies, and doing sclerotherapy on the ones that are merely ugly and not painful.

EVLT is done by interventional radiologists and by various "vein specialists". Vascular surgeons tend to do the stripping which I did have done about 5 years ago for a giant honker of a vein. That I do NOT recommend to anyone. My surgeon required me to have general anesthesia which really sucked.

I am actually looking forward to sclerotherapy (injection) or laser and being done with the throbbing in my thighs. I hate that incessant throbbing! Nowadays stripping is done very rarely and if your doc suggests it, go see an interventional radiologist!

[cyclesooz]

Thanks for your reply Emily! You made me feel better and more at ease about going through with this procedure (EVLT). I do worry about the amount of pain I'll have afterwards. Just one more question for you...How long did you experience that "pulling sensation"?? Did it go away after 3 or 4 weeks?? Thanks again for your help. I will let you know how it goes after I've had it done!
Susie

[emily_in_nc]

Just one more question for you...How long did you experience that "pulling sensation"?? Did it go away after 3 or 4 weeks??

Yes, I felt completely normal after three weeks and close to normal after two. The pulling sensation was mild. I could still take walks. It was just something I was aware of -- not really pain, just an odd sensation. The RN told me that it was more common in thin people, for some reason, and that not everyone feels it.

Good luck, and please do check back in after your surgery!

Emily

[Titania]

I've got a big honker of a VV that runs down the inside of my left thigh down to my knee. I asked my doc about it a couple of months ago, but she said it wasn't worrisome if it wasn't causing pain.

[emily_in_nc]

EVLT is done by interventional radiologists and by various "vein specialists". Vascular surgeons tend to do the stripping which I did have done about 5 years ago for a giant honker of a vein. That I do NOT recommend to anyone. My surgeon required me to have general anesthesia which really sucked.

My EVLT was done by a vascular surgeon (vascular surgery dept. at UNC). Stripping is much less common these days, he said. I'm lucky to have very good hospitals where I live, though. Both UNC and Duke offer EVLT.

I actually liked having the general anesthesia as I didn't want to feel any pain - and I didn't. I don't have any problems with anesthesia, though. Most who have EVLT have only local anesthetic or IV sedation, but I guess since I went to a vascular surgeon, I got the full kit and kaboodle. It was more expensive as a result. I was very pleased with my surgeon, though.

My varicosities were too large for sclerotherapy -- I'd asked my dermatologist before I went for a consult for EVLT.

Emily