Should I have a second VNUS closure if I am still experiencing major pain in the leg that was first treated?

I had the large saphenous vein in my left leg closed with VNUS 3 weeks ago. I'm supposed to do the small saphenous vein soon and have a few veins injected. There's still major pain in my calf and upper thigh. Should I have the 2nd procedure done despite this?

Answers from doctors (6)


Advanced Vein Center

Published on Feb 05, 2013

Maybe you should wait another month to make sure the treatment is helping your complaints.

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Answered by Advanced Vein Center

Maybe you should wait another month to make sure the treatment is helping your complaints.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Michael F. Gioscia, MD, FACS, ABVLM

Published on Feb 03, 2013

You may very well need to have the short saphenous vein closed, as well as having several branch varicosities treated. During the course of your treatment, you will continue to have symptoms. If you don't feel
comfortable with proceeding, consult with your treating physician. He or she can give you reassurance.

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Answered by Michael F. Gioscia, MD, FACS, ABVLM

You may very well need to have the short saphenous vein closed, as well as having several branch varicosities treated. During the course of your treatment, you will continue to have symptoms. If you don't feel
comfortable with proceeding, consult with your treating physician. He or she can give you reassurance.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


General Vascular Surgery Group

Published on Jan 30, 2013

Depends on many factors. It is reasonable to treat both veins if symptomatic. See your MD.

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Answered by General Vascular Surgery Group

Depends on many factors. It is reasonable to treat both veins if symptomatic. See your MD.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Clinic of North Carolina

Published on Jan 30, 2013

It sounds as though you are having normal responses to vein closure. The vein that was closed forms like scar tissue until the body reabsorbs the vein. It is not uncommon for procedures to be done back to back on patients. As for the injections, they are the second step to your vein treatment.

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Answered by Vein Clinic of North Carolina

It sounds as though you are having normal responses to vein closure. The vein that was closed forms like scar tissue until the body reabsorbs the vein. It is not uncommon for procedures to be done back to back on patients. As for the injections, they are the second step to your vein treatment.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Specialists

Published on Jan 30, 2013

It's difficult to say at this time. If you have reservations, postpone you next procedure until your thigh has had adequate time to recover. Then, you can better distinguish where most of your pain is. It is not unusual, however, to have pain in the thigh along the course of the closed vein. This can last for several weeks to months after endovenous closure since the fat around the vein becomes and remains inflamed for variable periods of time. I usually advise my patients to expect a feeling of a rubber band being pulled tight along the course of the vein. In terms of the calf pain and the small saphenous vein, you might
want to request another ultrasound of this vein before you have it closed to make sure it is still leaking. In some cases, closure of the great saphenous vein will resolve the small saphenous insufficiency by closing off the communicating varicose veins between the great and the small saphenous veins.

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Answered by Vein Specialists

It's difficult to say at this time. If you have reservations, postpone you next procedure until your thigh has had adequate time to recover. Then, you can better distinguish where most of your pain is. It is not unusual, however, to have pain in the thigh along the course of the closed vein. This can last for several weeks to months after endovenous closure since the fat around the vein becomes and remains inflamed for variable periods of time. I usually advise my patients to expect a feeling of a rubber band being pulled tight along the course of the vein. In terms of the calf pain and the small saphenous vein, you might
want to request another ultrasound of this vein before you have it closed to make sure it is still leaking. In some cases, closure of the great saphenous vein will resolve the small saphenous insufficiency by closing off the communicating varicose veins between the great and the small saphenous veins.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Jan 30, 2013

There is no urgency to do the second procedure. If you are still having pain, then you should wait until you are feeling better. This is an elective procedure.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

There is no urgency to do the second procedure. If you are still having pain, then you should wait until you are feeling better. This is an elective procedure.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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