I have had no meds for 6 hours and woke up a bit stiff but no excruciating pain. I just want to know if I damaged it somehow by lifting? Thanks!
I dont think you would damage anything. I cannot figure out from your story whether you had your compression stockings on as advised by your surgeon.If you were wearing compression stockings, nothing could have happened. But carrying heavy objects so soon just puts the vein at risk to reopen. But that would be usually quite evident to you with the return of symptoms for which you went to see the doctor for. Also, the post-closure venous ultrasound that is to be done within the first week would show you if the vein reopened or is successfully closed. Keep walking and keep your compression stockings on.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
If you are not still experiencing pain or numbness, it is likely you are fine, but if you are experiencing symptoms and are living within the Inland Empire then you should consider calling 1 -(800) -Varicose to schedule a free vein screening. We are currently booking appointments for March.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
You should be fine with that weight. The reason for avoiding lifting is because it engages abdominal muscles which put pressure on the large veins in the abdomen and theoretically pressure into the leg veins. I advise my patients to avoid 30 or more pounds.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Most likely everything is fine, especially if it was just a one time incident. You should be scheduled to have a follow-up appointment with an ultrasound after your procedure. They will be able to check the vein at that time.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
You can't damage anything if VNUS done properly. You can certainly get a big ecchymosis or hematoma that can take some time to dissipate or thrombophlebitis which can be painful for days to weeks or a blood clot (worst case scenario) in which you would need blood thinners. But lifting can't cause any of these things. They will happen depending on the treatment and severity of preexisting disease. www.MountcastlePlasticSurgery.com
Published on Jul 11, 2012
I wouldn't worry about it, just take it easy from now on and be sure to wear your compression stockings.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Highly unlikely you did anything wrong. If the vein reopened it will be noted on the post op ultrasound.
Michael D. Ingegno MD
Published on Jul 11, 2012
We often talk about straining as contributing to increasing the intra-abdominal pressure following a closure procedure which could lead to the valves reopening, but I doubt that there is any validity to this. Once the valves are sealed by heat, they should not reopen. The most common causes of recurrent veins are failure to close the valves initially and other accessory veins or perforators opening over time. I doubt that you did any damage.
Published on Jul 11, 2012