Is it normal to lose feeling in the bottom of your leg after having varicose veins removed?

Answers from doctors (20)


Advanced Vein Center

Published on Jul 03, 2012

It is not normal, but it can happen. It usually means a nerve was traumatized during the procedure. Often, sensation returns after several months but occasionally can be permanent.

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Answered by Advanced Vein Center

It is not normal, but it can happen. It usually means a nerve was traumatized during the procedure. Often, sensation returns after several months but occasionally can be permanent.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Pittsburgh Vein Center

Published on Jul 03, 2012

This can be a temporary, minor disturbance related to the tumescent anesthesia, depending on what procedure was performed.

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Answered by Pittsburgh Vein Center

This can be a temporary, minor disturbance related to the tumescent anesthesia, depending on what procedure was performed.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Clinic of North Carolina

Published on Jul 03, 2012

Not usually. However, without the information of what procedure and treatment you had, I can't provide any more information. You should be further evaluated.

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Answered by Vein Clinic of North Carolina

Not usually. However, without the information of what procedure and treatment you had, I can't provide any more information. You should be further evaluated.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


ANY TIME you have an incision, something removed or something injected into your skin there is a chance of nerve involvement. We can't see the nerves and can only estimate where they are, based on the average person's anatomy. Most numbness is only temporary, but can take up to a year to completely resolve.

Answered by North Country Thoracic & Vascular (View Profile)

ANY TIME you have an incision, something removed or something injected into your skin there is a chance of nerve involvement. We can't see the nerves and can only estimate where they are, based on the average person's anatomy. Most numbness is only temporary, but can take up to a year to completely resolve.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


You should ask the doctor who did your procedure.

Answered by Center for Venous Disease - Santa Fe (View Profile)

You should ask the doctor who did your procedure.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Coastal Vein Institute & Aesthetic Center

Published on Jul 03, 2012

It depends on if there was a nerve lying near the vein. Typically, nerves lie near the artery, not the vein. However, because of the size and location of varicose veins some nerves may be affected. You should be evaluated by the physician who did the removal to see if your exam is consistent with a complication from removal of your varicose vein.

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Answered by Coastal Vein Institute & Aesthetic Center

It depends on if there was a nerve lying near the vein. Typically, nerves lie near the artery, not the vein. However, because of the size and location of varicose veins some nerves may be affected. You should be evaluated by the physician who did the removal to see if your exam is consistent with a complication from removal of your varicose vein.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Center of Orange County

Published on Jul 03, 2012

Surgery for varicose veins is rapidly becoming extinct because newer methods for ablation have less complications and work better. One disadvantage of surgery is neuropathy. It is difficult to remove veins
without cutting nearby sensory nerves which can leave part of the leg numb. This was a relatively small price to pay in the old days, but not anymore.

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Answered by Vein Center of Orange County

Surgery for varicose veins is rapidly becoming extinct because newer methods for ablation have less complications and work better. One disadvantage of surgery is neuropathy. It is difficult to remove veins
without cutting nearby sensory nerves which can leave part of the leg numb. This was a relatively small price to pay in the old days, but not anymore.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


General Vascular Surgery Group

Published on Jul 03, 2012

Not normal, but occasionally a superfiial nerve can be affected. See your MD for a check.

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Answered by General Vascular Surgery Group

Not normal, but occasionally a superfiial nerve can be affected. See your MD for a check.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


American Access Care

Published on Jul 03, 2012

It is not normal, but maybe you had peripheral neuropathy before and now is when you are noticing the numbness. Another reason could be if it was a small saphenous vein ablation, the sural nerve could be injure and that causes numbness in the lateral aspect of the foot.

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Answered by American Access Care

It is not normal, but maybe you had peripheral neuropathy before and now is when you are noticing the numbness. Another reason could be if it was a small saphenous vein ablation, the sural nerve could be injure and that causes numbness in the lateral aspect of the foot.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


The Vein Clinic

Published on Jul 03, 2012

No, but it might be from your support hose or bandages. You might also have some temporary nerve damage if the veins were removed surgically. Check with your vein doctor to see which it is.

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Answered by The Vein Clinic

No, but it might be from your support hose or bandages. You might also have some temporary nerve damage if the veins were removed surgically. Check with your vein doctor to see which it is.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Smith Vein Institute, LLC

Published on Jul 03, 2012

I don't know about normal, but it is a potential outcome after laser ablation or stripping. The probability of nerve involvement increases in direct proportion to the length of the vein treated, becoming much more likely if treatment extends below the calf.

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Answered by Smith Vein Institute, LLC

I don't know about normal, but it is a potential outcome after laser ablation or stripping. The probability of nerve involvement increases in direct proportion to the length of the vein treated, becoming much more likely if treatment extends below the calf.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Veins etc. at Comprehensive Cardiovascular Consultants

Published on Jul 03, 2012

It may be normal for several days to two weeks, but longer than that and there should be reassessment by your treating physician.

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Answered by Veins etc. at Comprehensive Cardiovascular Consultants

It may be normal for several days to two weeks, but longer than that and there should be reassessment by your treating physician.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Atlanta Access Care Vascular and Interventional Specialists

Published on Jul 03, 2012

If the treatment with laser or radio-frequency began below the knee, it is possible for a nerve to be injured. This can be temporary, and the feeling may gradually return, but can be permanent in some patients.

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Answered by Atlanta Access Care Vascular and Interventional Specialists

If the treatment with laser or radio-frequency began below the knee, it is possible for a nerve to be injured. This can be temporary, and the feeling may gradually return, but can be permanent in some patients.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Physicians Vein Clinics - Sioux Falls

Published on Jul 03, 2012

I would say that it is not normal but can occur at times. I would recommend discussing with the physician that performed your procedures.

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Answered by Physicians Vein Clinics - Sioux Falls

I would say that it is not normal but can occur at times. I would recommend discussing with the physician that performed your procedures.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Angelo N. Makris MD

Published on Jul 03, 2012

This is unusual and you should follow up with your treating physician.

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Answered by Angelo N. Makris MD

This is unusual and you should follow up with your treating physician.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Jun 01, 2012

It is not normal to lose feeling in the bottom of your leg following removal of varicose veins. However, small veins in the treated areas can be damaged by the procedure resulting in what you describe. This is a well known and accepted complication of vein procedures and symptoms usually improve over about one year. Occasionally, however, the symptoms can be permanent.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

It is not normal to lose feeling in the bottom of your leg following removal of varicose veins. However, small veins in the treated areas can be damaged by the procedure resulting in what you describe. This is a well known and accepted complication of vein procedures and symptoms usually improve over about one year. Occasionally, however, the symptoms can be permanent.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


The Vein Treatment Center

Published on May 15, 2012

There is a small risk of developing a localized feeling of numbness if the saphenous nerve gets traumatized during varicose vein surgery. If there is an equal loss of sensation to your lower legs (usually part of the ankle), this is a peripheral neuropathy and should be further evaluated. It is not related to varicose vein surgery, and most likely coincidental.

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Answered by The Vein Treatment Center

There is a small risk of developing a localized feeling of numbness if the saphenous nerve gets traumatized during varicose vein surgery. If there is an equal loss of sensation to your lower legs (usually part of the ankle), this is a peripheral neuropathy and should be further evaluated. It is not related to varicose vein surgery, and most likely coincidental.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Intermountain Vein Center

Published on May 11, 2012

When those veins were removed, it is possible that some superficial nerve endings were irritated or cut, but generally speaking, feeling should return to that portion of your body. Usually the numb areas are close to the incision sites. The farther down the incision sites are on the leg, the greater the chance of nerve irritation. I would recommend that you schedule a follow up appointment with your doctor.

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Answered by Intermountain Vein Center

When those veins were removed, it is possible that some superficial nerve endings were irritated or cut, but generally speaking, feeling should return to that portion of your body. Usually the numb areas are close to the incision sites. The farther down the incision sites are on the leg, the greater the chance of nerve irritation. I would recommend that you schedule a follow up appointment with your doctor.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor Austin Vein Specialists

Published on May 08, 2012

Although this in unusual, you potenially could lose feeling in the lower leg after vein stripping or phlebectomy as a result of nerve damage or neuropathy after the procedure. This often improves over time as the nerves heal.

Answered by Austin Vein Specialists (View Profile)

Although this in unusual, you potenially could lose feeling in the lower leg after vein stripping or phlebectomy as a result of nerve damage or neuropathy after the procedure. This often improves over time as the nerves heal.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


The Sheen Vein Institute

Published on May 08, 2012

Is it normal to lose feeling in the legs after varicose vein removal.. No. Can it happen..Yes. Because your veins run everywhere throughout your body, it is safe to say that they run in conjunction with your nerves as well. That being said, when a person has vein treatments ( especially vein stripping procedures or endovenous laser ablation treatments), the physician can irritate and potentially damage or cut some of the adjacent nerves next to the vessels being treated. The incidence of nerve injury appears to happen more so in the regions below the knees especially when treating the great saphenous or small saphenous veins. There is a saphenous nerve and a sureal nerve that run in the area around your ankles that can be injured during treatment of these veins. So if you are having numbness in the bottom of your leg and had those vessels treated, it is possible that this is what happened.

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Answered by The Sheen Vein Institute

Is it normal to lose feeling in the legs after varicose vein removal.. No. Can it happen..Yes. Because your veins run everywhere throughout your body, it is safe to say that they run in conjunction with your nerves as well. That being said, when a person has vein treatments ( especially vein stripping procedures or endovenous laser ablation treatments), the physician can irritate and potentially damage or cut some of the adjacent nerves next to the vessels being treated. The incidence of nerve injury appears to happen more so in the regions below the knees especially when treating the great saphenous or small saphenous veins. There is a saphenous nerve and a sureal nerve that run in the area around your ankles that can be injured during treatment of these veins. So if you are having numbness in the bottom of your leg and had those vessels treated, it is possible that this is what happened.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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