Do I have trapped blood in my vein, or could it be a new varicose vein?

I had varicose vein stripping & litigation a month ago. Following the procedure, I developed two hard lumps in my thigh. Now, there is a very hard vein in that same thigh, and it's sore. What is this? Could it be trapped blood or a new varicose vein?

Answers from doctors (4)


Advanced Vein Center

Published on Aug 12, 2016

It is most likely trapped blood in the vein and should resolve with time. Your doctor can ultrasound it very quickly and confirm that.

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Answered by Advanced Vein Center

It is most likely trapped blood in the vein and should resolve with time. Your doctor can ultrasound it very quickly and confirm that.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS, RVT, RPVI, RPhS

Published on Aug 08, 2016

What you are describing is a thrombosed cord or cords of veins, representing the superficial clots in the tributaries of the great saphenous vein. Get a Duplex venous scan.

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Answered by Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS, RVT, RPVI, RPhS

What you are describing is a thrombosed cord or cords of veins, representing the superficial clots in the tributaries of the great saphenous vein. Get a Duplex venous scan.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor Vein Center for Women PC

Published on Aug 05, 2016

Hi, this is a condition called thrombophlebitis. What happens in stripping is some of the branches get torn away as the vein is stripped. These veins close by clotting the blood in them because now the vein into which they drain is stripped. Acute thrombophlibitis in a superficial vein can also happen spontaneously, particularly in large varicose veins. If it is very painful, or if there is local inflammation associated with it such as redness surrounding the thrombosed vein and tenderness to touch, warm soaks over the area and anti-inflammatories such as Motrin or Advil can be used. A venous ultrasound to assess the deep veins, if done, is ideal to make sure that there is no DVT; meaning, the imaging test would look for clots in the deep veins. An ultrasound is more likely to be performed if you have risk factors favoring DVT, or if you have a history of DVT. But this needs to be done with clinical evaluation when you go for follow up. If you have pain and your leg feels very heavy and difficult to walk, then you should call your MD without waiting for your appointment. I hope this info is what you were looking for. Lastly, if the superficial thrombophlebitis is so painful or so inflamed that usual conservative measures are not helpful, then a local venous thrombectomy can be done in the office very easily under local anesthesia, and this will relieve the symptoms of pain and the local inflammation.

Answered by Vein Center for Women PC (View Profile)

Hi, this is a condition called thrombophlebitis. What happens in stripping is some of the branches get torn away as the vein is stripped. These veins close by clotting the blood in them because now the vein into which they drain is stripped. Acute thrombophlibitis in a superficial vein can also happen spontaneously, particularly in large varicose veins. If it is very painful, or if there is local inflammation associated with it such as redness surrounding the thrombosed vein and tenderness to touch, warm soaks over the area and anti-inflammatories such as Motrin or Advil can be used. A venous ultrasound to assess the deep veins, if done, is ideal to make sure that there is no DVT; meaning, the imaging test would look for clots in the deep veins. An ultrasound is more likely to be performed if you have risk factors favoring DVT, or if you have a history of DVT. But this needs to be done with clinical evaluation when you go for follow up. If you have pain and your leg feels very heavy and difficult to walk, then you should call your MD without waiting for your appointment. I hope this info is what you were looking for. Lastly, if the superficial thrombophlebitis is so painful or so inflamed that usual conservative measures are not helpful, then a local venous thrombectomy can be done in the office very easily under local anesthesia, and this will relieve the symptoms of pain and the local inflammation.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Oct 18, 2014

Most likely this is trapped blood. Follow up with your treating physician. If uncertain, an ultrasound will determine what it is and if it is trapped blood, then an evacuation under local anesthesia will solve the problem.

//imgs-origin.edoctors.com/imageresizer/image/user_uploads/58x58_85-1/doctors/1053_1499982262.jpg
Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Most likely this is trapped blood. Follow up with your treating physician. If uncertain, an ultrasound will determine what it is and if it is trapped blood, then an evacuation under local anesthesia will solve the problem.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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