Q: I have 7 cuts in my leg between my knee and ankle from vein stripping and 3 above. I have just awful tingling and numbness especially at the inner ankle. All the cuts and areas are sensitive 6 months after surgery. What do I do? I have adductor tenditis too.
A: With routine daily use [...]
Q: I have to wear a compression sock because I had a DVT and the valve in the vein that runs behind my knee is broken. I am still young and would like this fixed so I don’t have to wear the sock. Is there a procedure to fix this?
A: I strongly recommend that you continue [...]
Q: It is the tool used to pull veins through microincisions. What are these called?
A: Phlebectomy hooks would be the general name for the tool. There are many types including Varaday, Ramelet, and Mueller to name a few.
- Dr. Wright
Q: Can you please detail some of the restrictions after an Endovenous Laser Ablation?
A: Normal activity should be ok, including walking, standing, and house chores. Activity can essentially be resumed right away. Rigorous exercise and heavy lifting (<20lbs) will need to be delayed by 1 week. Typically showering is ok immediately as well. I advise [...]
Q: Does it matter if I fly after a varicose vein surgery?
A: While there is no specific answer to this important question, the following guidelines should help: First, the question comes up because air travel is a known risk factor for the development of vein thrombosis and phlebitis. The concept is to minimize multiple risks [...]
Q: I just had Endovenous Laser Ablation and some of my bandages are blood soaked. Is this normal or is something wrong?
A: Some blood in the bandages is seen sometimes. It is not a serious or concerning complication for the great majority of patients. Compression for 5-10 min should take care of the problem. If [...]
Q: I heard that ELVeS has recently updated or added a new type of procedure. What is it, and how is it different from ELVeS?
A: ELVeS is certainly the endovenous laser associated with the least discomfort by patient rating, on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the worst), the average rating was 3. Which is [...]
I had 3 laser surgeries done on left leg in 2006. It helped tremendously. I had much pain swelling etc. off and on for years until I did this. Well now I have some new vein problem in same leg. Right now I have superficial phlebitis in the left leg. How many times can you [...]
What is the most effective surgery that is least painful?
Most vein procedures are done without sedation. However most surgeries/ treatments can also be done with mild sedation with oral drugs and local anesthetic. Even the most apprehensive patients do well with oral medications and a supportive vein center atmosphere.
- Dr. Wright
Can you please tell me if this is painful or not?
If you’re asking about the Endovenous Laser, it’s not very painful. More like mildly uncomfortable for most people. If you’re asking about the Cutaneous Laser, or an IPL they are a little more uncomfortable. It feels like grease popping on the skin. However, most people [...]
My wife is 73 and is suffering from varicose veins for the last 5 years. We have tried all possible medication. Is there a treatment for a permanent cure?
There is a procedure called an Endovenous Laser Ablation. That is a small fiber that is inserted through a needle stick in the skin. Pulses of laser [...]
If the EVLT procedure doesn’t alleviate problems in the lower leg do/can you laser the lower leg?
Yes you can laser in the lower leg, but you have to be much more careful. There is a nerve that supplies sensation to the skin, called the saphenous nerve, that runs along the vein in the lower [...]
What kind of anesthesia is used during Varicose Vein Surgery? Would I be put under, or is just a local used?
Vein procedures often can be performed fully ambulatory under local anesthesia. If you are having a more involved procedure, the type of anesthesia depends.
The choice of anesthesia during surgery is a decision made between [...]
I was wondering what test can be performed to detect which veins in the pelvis are refluxing? I am having a hysterectomy and have been told if we know which veins are refluxing they can be taken care of during the hysterectomy surgery.
Varicose veins in the legs are best studied with a reflux ultrasound.
Varicose [...]
After having sclerotherapy 6 weeks ago, now I am having intense pain in my foot and I am having trouble walking on it. Is this normal? The physician says it is not related to the sclerotherapy or vein stripping I had done on same leg.
Difficult to tell if related. Nerve damage can develop after stripping or [...]
