Common Questions Concerning Varicose Veins
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What causes varicose veins?Can I be cured of my varicose veins?
Will treating my varicose veins adversely affect the return of blood from my legs to my heart?
Are all of the incisions closed with sutures?
When can I take a shower or a bath?
Why can't I just have the branches injected or removed if the main superficial truck is abnormal?
How much pain will I have after my vein operation?
When can I walk, exercise, drive, and resume other activities of daily life?
Are the lumps that I feel under my skin where the veins were removed a problem?
When will the bruising on my legs go away?
If I am supposed to have sclerotherapy for some of my vein treatment, will the sclerotherapy be done at the same time as my vein operation?
When should I return to see my doctor after vein stripping or micro-incision phlebectomy?
When should I call the doctor after treatment?
What follow-up is required after a catheter ablation?
What causes varicose veins?
Increase in the diameter of a vein results in the malfunction of valves inside of the vein that are designed to prevent blood from flowing backward in the vein. An inherited weakness of the vein wall (genetic) and circulating hormones that relax the smooth muscle of the vein wall are the common causes. Females have high levels of such a hormone, the hormone progesterone.
Pregnancies, obesity, hormone replacement therapy, the use of female oral contraceptives as well as occupations that require a standing position are additional causes of varicose veins. Since females usually have multiple risk factors for the development of varicose veins, about three fourths of the persons who have varicose veins are women and 25% are men.
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Can I be cured of my varicose veins?
Varicose veins are a problem that can be successfully treated but the disorder cannot be permanently cured. The treatment of the abnormal veins does not remove the original tendency of a patient to develop varicose veins. Therefore, many patients need to return for maintenance treatments after their initial treatment is completed.
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Will treating my varicose veins adversely affect the return of blood from my legs to my heart?
The veins that are being treated are abnormal in appearance and function, so in their diseased state they actually adversely affect the return of blood to your heart. The symptoms that patients experience from varicose veins are the result of the poor circulatory function of the vein. Removing or closing them will improve the circulation and return of blood from your legs to your heart.
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Are all of the incisions closed with sutures?
Incisions in the groin, behind the knee, and perhaps one or two other areas on the leg may be closed with sutures. The sutures do not need to be removed as they will dissolve in time. Most of the incisions are so small that they do not require sutures.
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When can I take a shower or a bath?
Twenty-four hours after you operation, you may remove your bandages and shower. You may not take a tub bath or swim until all of your skin wounds are healed (usually 2-3 weeks).
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Why can't I just have the branches injected or removed if the main superficial truck is abnormal?
For the treatment of the visible veins to last a long time, the source that may not be visible to the naked eye must be controlled as well.
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How much pain will I have after my vein operation?
The pain experienced after varicose vein operations may be regarded as mild to moderate. It is unusual for a patient to require any pain medication for more than two to three days. Worsening pain or onset of new pain in the operative leg(s) should be reported to your doctor.
Patients who have an ambulatory phlebectomy and/or catheter ablation frequently require no prescription pain medication. In most patients, adequate pain relief is achieved with over the counter acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil).
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When can I walk, exercise, drive, and resume other activities of daily life?
You are encouraged to walk as soon as possible after your operation. You may climb stairs and gradually resume other activities as tolerated. Also, you should avoid sitting with your legs hanging for long periods or standing in one place. When sitting, it is best to elevate your legs on a foot stool.
You should avoid high impact aerobic activities for about two weeks after your surgery. This includes running, playing basketball, biking, etc. You should not swim until all of your incisions are healed.
You may return to driving your car when you leg is comfortable, you are pain free, and you are no longer taking any prescription pain medications.
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Are the lumps that I feel under my skin where the veins were removed a problem?
No, lumps under the skin are commonly felt in the areas treated by the operation. They usually represent small collections of blood and disappear in several weeks.
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When will the bruising on my legs go away?
Postoperative bruises may take one month or more to disappear. The time it takes for the bruises to disappear is related to the size of the venous bulges removed and the extent of the operation.
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If I am supposed to have sclerotherapy for some of my vein treatment, will the sclerotherapy be done at the same time as my vein operation?
The injection treatments are performed in the office on a different day. Combining sclerotherapy with vein operations may increase the occurrence of blood clots. No anesthetic is required for sclerotherapy.
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When should I return to see my doctor after vein stripping or micro-incision phlebectomy?
This appointment will be scheduled at the time your procedure is scheduled.
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When should I call the doctor after treatment?
Please call our office if any of the following occur:
1. You feel an increase in the temperature of the legs, redness, swelling, or increase tenderness around the incisions.
2. You have unusual drainage, odor, or an increase in drainage amount from the incision. A moderate amount of bloody drainage is normal in the first 1-2 days.
3. You experience any chest pain, shortness of breath, or new leg pain.
4. You develop a fever of 101 degrees or higher.
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What follow-up is required after a catheter ablation?
1-3 days post-procedure, you will need to have a duplex ultrasound done to determine closure status and to make sure you have not developed any blood clots in you deep veins. These tests and office visits will be scheduled for you by our staff at the same time of your operation/catheter ablation is initially scheduled. Future follow-up visits will be scheduled if needed for care of remaining vein concerns.
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