It has been three weeks since my UGS procedure and there is a small purple lump about 20mm in diameter where my vein was treated. It is sore to touch. My follow-up appointment is in three weeks. What is the purple lump? Can it wait until then to be seen or is there something I can do/should do?
A lump after UGS can be related to either trapped blood or a small clot; an ultrasound would answer the question. Trapped blood should be removed to avoid hyper-pigmentation.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
The purple lump is probably an area of inflammation which may resolve by itself or require aspiration of trapped blood from a successfully closed vein. You may use cold compresses and oral NSAIDs, or call your doctor for advice. I usually follow-up patients 3-4 weeks after sclerotherapy.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Treat with heat, elevation, NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and follow up with doctor.
-Answered by Dr. Stuart A. Harlin
Published on Jul 11, 2012
It is probably trapped blood. It can easily be removed and can probably wait until your next visit. If it is very painful than go back for a recheck sooner.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
The purple lump is clotted blood. With time it will be less tender or your doctor can extract the clot. Try NSAIDs (Advil etc). This is likely not an emergency.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
This lump likely represents a clotted vein under the skin (not a dangerous clot). If there was a small varicose vein there before, now it is probably thrombosed (clotted, this was the goal of the injection sclerotherapy), and
may be drainable with a needle by your vein specialist. I usually wait 3-4 weeks to do so, as it takes this long for the clot to soften up enough to actually drain through the 18 gauge needle hole.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
This is not uncommon and can easily be addressed in the office. Please contact your physician immediately and tell them exactly what you have written here. They should be able to see you promptly to relieve the
discomfort.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
The purple lump is most likely a small superficial blood clot. What the sclerotherapy does is clot the blood and break down the vein, so it is possible to have lumps like those you describe. It is not a health risk but they will hurt. Sometimes the physician will make a small incision to drain the clot to promote faster healing, but it will heal itself after a while. If pain and size continue to increase, call and schedule an earlier follow up appointment.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
20 mm is not small. This sounds like a hematoma or an area of the vein that has clotted following sclerotherapy. Usually the treatment is evacuation of the clotted material with a small needle. I would recommend that you see your treating physician sooner rather than later. It can usually easily be treated under local anesthesia with immediate improvement.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
The lump is clotted blood that should be drained on your follow up visit. Treat with ibuprofen now.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
It is appropriate for you to contact your treating physician to describe the situation and request to be seen
earlier. You do not give enough information, nor is it proper to diagnose you unseen.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
It is hard to say without seeing it, but I suspect it may be trapped blood. It may be able to be drained, so I would advise having your treating physician take a look at it.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
The purple lump is one of the treated veins that now is closed. It is not uncommon to have some pain over those veins. You can take non-steroidal anti-inflamatories like ibuprofen or naproxen (Aleve).
Published on Jul 11, 2012
This is almost certainly an area of "trapped blood" and if it continues to be symptomatic, can be treated with a simple puncture to relieve the pressure.
Published on Jul 11, 2012