How long am I on sick leave?

After the operation, patients are usually put on sick leave for one week. However, the duration of the illness can vary individually. With uncomplicated, minor procedures and fast wound healing, it may also be possible to go back to work after only two days.

In contrast, larger, more complicated procedures can result in a duration of illness of two weeks or more. It is therefore not possible to say in general how long one is on sick leave after the operation. Of course, the employment of the patient also plays a role. Office workers can return to work earlier than construction workers or factory employees who have to stand a lot.

Pain after varicose vein surgery

As a rule, the pain after varicose vein surgery is not very strong. It is usually sufficient to take painkillers prescribed by the doctor (such as Ibuprofen 400). This can be taken as required.

Some patients do not need painkillers at all after surgery, others are more sensitive and need more. The pain should disappear after a few days or should have subsided considerably. Very severe pain is untypical and should be taken as a warning signal. Strong swelling and redness in addition to the pain should not be ignored. In such cases a doctor should be consulted again.

Complications

Overall, vein stripping is a very low complication operation. Pain and swelling of the affected leg can occur after the operation, which can usually be treated sufficiently with painkillers. At the site of the skin incision, scarring may be more or less pronounced, and in worse cases, wound healing may be impaired.

Wound healing disorders mainly affect wounds in the groin. Wound healing can be supported by avoiding frequent or constant bending of the hip joint. As with any operation, there is a risk of thrombosis.

However, since it is a minor operation, the risk is low. Thrombosis can usually be prevented by adequate thrombosis prophylaxis, such as wearing compression stockings and heparin. Post-bleeding is also possible.

In exceptional cases, other vessels or nerves are injured, which leads to temporary or permanent sensitivity problems in the leg. Since the operation is not a causal therapy, recurrences in other leg veins can occur, which means that varicose veins can develop again. However, at the site where the vein was removed, varicose veins cannot reappear.