Is it normal for my arm to hurt after varicose vein treatment in my leg?

I had surgery to remove varicose veins on my left leg and now my left arm hurts. I had surgery 6 days ago and was put under with a general anesthesia. The veins were superficial on my thigh & calf. My leg seems to be healing okay, but my left arm has been hurting since then. It's not red or bruised, but hurts. Coincidence, or not?

Answers from doctors (12)


Vein Center of Orange County

Published on Aug 11, 2012

Leg vein surgery has no effect on the arm. However, prolonged pressure on the arm during surgery while you were unconscious, or inflammation from an arm IV may be the cause.

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Answered by Vein Center of Orange County

Leg vein surgery has no effect on the arm. However, prolonged pressure on the arm during surgery while you were unconscious, or inflammation from an arm IV may be the cause.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Intermountain Vein Center

Published on Jul 23, 2012

It could be a variety of things, but probably nothing serious. Normally, general anesthesia is not used for treatment of varicose veins or even necessary. It could be a reaction to the anesthesia, but it's hard to say without knowing the outcome of your follow up appointment. Your provider should have scheduled a follow up with you within 7-10 days to see how the procedure went. If necessary, the provider could do an ultrasound on your arm as a precaution.

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Answered by Intermountain Vein Center

It could be a variety of things, but probably nothing serious. Normally, general anesthesia is not used for treatment of varicose veins or even necessary. It could be a reaction to the anesthesia, but it's hard to say without knowing the outcome of your follow up appointment. Your provider should have scheduled a follow up with you within 7-10 days to see how the procedure went. If necessary, the provider could do an ultrasound on your arm as a precaution.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor Austin Vein Specialists

Published on Jul 20, 2012

It may be coincidence. The only possible cause related to your treatment may be that your arm was not adequately padded during the general anesthesia and in that instance you may be having some nerve pain related to the pressure on your nerves while under anesthesia. The other possibility is that the pain is completely unrelated to the vein procedure. I would recommend evaluation by your physician.

Answered by Austin Vein Specialists (View Profile)

It may be coincidence. The only possible cause related to your treatment may be that your arm was not adequately padded during the general anesthesia and in that instance you may be having some nerve pain related to the pressure on your nerves while under anesthesia. The other possibility is that the pain is completely unrelated to the vein procedure. I would recommend evaluation by your physician.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


You may have discomfort from how you were positioned on the table or from being moved while under general anesthesia. An anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen should help.

Answered by North Country Thoracic & Vascular (View Profile)

You may have discomfort from how you were positioned on the table or from being moved while under general anesthesia. An anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen should help.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Arizona Vein Specialists

Published on Jul 18, 2012

I suggest you see your doctor as soon as possible to examine you. It is likely that your pain is due to positioning the left arm for IV access or it is inflammation from your IV. The IV could have infiltrated surrounding tissue. Why guess? See your doctor.

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Answered by Arizona Vein Specialists

I suggest you see your doctor as soon as possible to examine you. It is likely that your pain is due to positioning the left arm for IV access or it is inflammation from your IV. The IV could have infiltrated surrounding tissue. Why guess? See your doctor.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Smith Vein Institute, LLC

Published on Jul 18, 2012

It sounds like it was a coincidence. However, did you have an IV in that arm or was there a blood pressure cuff on that arm? If so, that might be related.

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Answered by Smith Vein Institute, LLC

It sounds like it was a coincidence. However, did you have an IV in that arm or was there a blood pressure cuff on that arm? If so, that might be related.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


VeinCare Centers of Tennessee

Published on Jul 18, 2012

Show your arm to your surgeon. The most likely casue of arm pain after general anesthesia for a leg procedure is superficial thrombophlebitis, an inflammatory change in the vein through which IV fluids and drugs may have been given. This rarely is a serious issue, but the best approach is to see your physician.

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Answered by VeinCare Centers of Tennessee

Show your arm to your surgeon. The most likely casue of arm pain after general anesthesia for a leg procedure is superficial thrombophlebitis, an inflammatory change in the vein through which IV fluids and drugs may have been given. This rarely is a serious issue, but the best approach is to see your physician.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Cosmetic Vein Centers of Texas

Published on Jul 18, 2012

The arm pain is probably from your IV line during surgery.

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Answered by Cosmetic Vein Centers of Texas

The arm pain is probably from your IV line during surgery.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


The Vein Clinic

Published on Jul 18, 2012

It sounds like you may have inflammation of an arm vein from the IV during your Vein Surgery. Follow up with your doctor to see if you need treatment for that.

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Answered by The Vein Clinic

It sounds like you may have inflammation of an arm vein from the IV during your Vein Surgery. Follow up with your doctor to see if you need treatment for that.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Jul 18, 2012

The arm has nothing to do with the leg. If you had an IV in your arm, this may be contributing to your discomfort. Speak with your surgeon.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

The arm has nothing to do with the leg. If you had an IV in your arm, this may be contributing to your discomfort. Speak with your surgeon.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Advanced Vein Center

Published on Jul 18, 2012

There is no direct connection between your arm pain and your vein surgery. However, you may be developing a phlebitis from an IV that had been in your arm. You should go see her doctor promptly about this.

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Answered by Advanced Vein Center

There is no direct connection between your arm pain and your vein surgery. However, you may be developing a phlebitis from an IV that had been in your arm. You should go see her doctor promptly about this.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Lafayette Regional Vein & Laser Center

Published on Jul 18, 2012

Positioning during surgery usually takes into consideration proper arm placement to prevent injury. The reality is that sometimes there may be soreness in areas unrelated to surgical incisions when general anesthesia is used. I would discuss this with your surgeon in the next week and ascertain if your symptoms are related to positioning or completely coincidental. Positional symptoms should resolve over a 2-3 week period in my experience.

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Answered by Lafayette Regional Vein & Laser Center

Positioning during surgery usually takes into consideration proper arm placement to prevent injury. The reality is that sometimes there may be soreness in areas unrelated to surgical incisions when general anesthesia is used. I would discuss this with your surgeon in the next week and ascertain if your symptoms are related to positioning or completely coincidental. Positional symptoms should resolve over a 2-3 week period in my experience.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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