I run 12 miles twice a week. It has been suggested that both of my legs need endovenous laser treatment. How soon after treating one leg can I have the other leg treated? Is it possible to begin running [carefully] 5-7 days after treating each leg?
I usually treat each leg with EVLT one week apart, but they could be done 2 to 3 days apart. I tell patients to resume running as soon as they feel comfortable with levels of discomfort. This varies from patient to patient, but 5 to 7 days is realistic.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
I often treat one leg and two days later treat the second, especially for people who are very active or need to reduce their down time. We encourage some walking and gradually increasing the pace to a run over the next 10 days.
If you have symptomatic varicose veins and pain/aching from venous reflux then EVLT is the method of choice. However, if you don't have varicose veins or symptoms then I recommend a second opinion from a Board Certified vascular trained surgeon including ultrasound.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Most patients after treatment report improvement in their symptoms within one to two weeks following the procedure. It is recommended to wear compression stockings for at least a week following the removal of the ace bandages and at this time you only need to wear it during the day and not at night. Also, it is recommended to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for two weeks after the procedure, but walking and staying active is encouraged. Always follow up with your physician after the procedure for your post op ultrasound scan that checks for lower extremity deep veins patency and closure of the superficial vein that was treated, after your post treatment follow up ultrasound if normal, it is a good time to treat the other leg. Also, follow up for any concerns you may have. It can take up to 2 months or more to see full results for both treatments, but exercise and active life style is encouraged in the recovering process.
Thank you for your question and good luck!
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Depending on your pain requirements and your insurance requirements, the other leg could be done within 5-7 days. I recommend no heavy exercise for 2 weeks after treatment and when exercising, you should wear the stockings.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
In my practice, I prefer to wait at least one week (preferably 2 weeks) between ablations of the greater saphenous veins (GSV). This allows the soreness to improve, and we can ensure that there is no problem or complication with the initial ablation. I allow my patients to resume modest exercise 1 week after an ablation as long as the postoperative follow up reveals no problems. Early strenuous exercise that involves repetitive hip flexion (like running or cycling) can cause significant problems.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Although some patients have only one leg treated at a time with endovenous laser treatment (EVLT), many physicians have been treating both legs with EVLT for many years without problems. If it is inconvenient to treat them separately, find another physician. The timing of resuming running is another issue which varies greatly, so make sure you ask and are fully knowledgeable about the do's and don'ts following the procedure.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Usually a month between the two legs would suffice as a safe interval, although there is no evidence-based guideline about the best time-interval. How soon after the endovenous laser treatment you can run will really depend on how extensive your treatment was and also on how much risk you might want to take in terms of worsening your recovery and developing complications. If the treatment was extensive and you are risk-averse, then I would say at least two weeks before running. If the treatment was not extensive and you don't mind taking risks, then it could be even earlier. I have had patients who ran 5-7 days after the treatment, even shorter, and did fine. I also have had patients who ran half-marathon one week after the treatment who regretted it. You really need to discuss this with your vein specialist before the treatment. A good motto to abide by is: Just because one can do it, does not mean one should do it. I would err on the side of safe and uncomplicated recovery.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
I recommend waiting at least 3 weeks between treatments. One week after the first procedure, you should have a checkup. That checkup should include duplex ultrasound, which examines the veins to determine whether the procedure was successful. If the followup exam is normal, you can return to regular exercise as tolerated.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Do the endovenous laser treatments a day apart, and then wait 10 days to run.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
The second leg can be done one to two days later.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
I would recommend you wait 2-4 weeks before having the second leg treated.
Published on Jul 11, 2012