I had closure of my right GSV nearly 1 year ago. Since then, I have noticed that my right leg is bigger than my left, and it just feels uncomfortable all the time. This was not a problem before. Is this likely to get worse with time?
Surprising that this happened. It is certainly not normal. I think your leg needs to be re-evaluated with ultrasound to see what is going on. There could be other problems not related to the procedure, such as obstruction in the venous system in the pelvis or a problem with the lymphatic system.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Swelling after closure is common in the first few weeks; however, you should be symptom free at one year. I would contact your office and arrange for another venous ultrasound to be certain the procedure was successful. There are other causes of swelling such as lymphedema, but this is a diagnosis of exclusion and must be diagnosed after other causes are excluded.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Normally, a year after a closure procedure has been done, there should be no "new swelling." If your swelling developed right after your procedure and has continued since then, I suspect that a portion of your treated vein was probably normal. When a significant portion of a normal vein is treated, that is when you can see persistent swelling.
Another possibility is that you still have a lot of untreated refluxing veins. If your doc only treated one vein, then the likelihood is high that you only got partial treatment for your vein issues.
Historically, vein disease is inherited. For this reason, it is highly unlikely that out of the miles and miles of vein structure in your leg, there is only a single vein that may be 2 feet long that is abnormal.
Vein disease can affect any vein in the body. This is why a good vein doc should exam visually and with ultrasound all aspects of the leg and then treat all aspects of the leg from deep inside all the way out to the skin.
Any doc who only treats one or two veins is not a vein doctor. Treating the entire leg ultimately improves your venous circulation and thus makes your legs look and feel better. It sounds like you got an incomplete treatment.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
The only way to know for sure what is going on is to have a venous ultrasound done standing and laying down by a certified venous ultrasonographer. This will determine the cause and any possible needed treatment.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
It is not normal for the leg to be larger after the procedure. I would recommend an ultrasound to make sure you did not develop a DVT. There is also a small chance that endovenous laser ablation can cause lymphedema. Either way, I would see a vascular doctor and be evaluated.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
One year is a long time to have swelling post-vein closure. I would recommend a follow-up venous ultrasound of that leg to see if there is a reason for the swelling. Knee-length support hose will also help.
Published on Jul 11, 2012