Varicose vein surgery is one of the most common types of surgery performed in the U.S., helping men and women relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of varicose veins while improving their circulatory health at the same time. Today, most varicose vein treatment is performed on an outpatient basis, which means you’ll go home soon after your procedure. And while most procedures have little or even no downtime, there are still a few guidelines you’ll need to keep in mind, especially during the early stages of healing. One of the biggest questions patients have is how soon they’ll be able to walk after their surgery — and whether walking is recommended at all.
The good news is, walking is actually recommended after varicose vein surgery. In fact, regular walking is an important part of your healing process. Walking after surgery helps prevent clots from forming in your legs, and it also promotes good circulation in the area. When you walk, your calf muscles contract. These contractions play an important role in pushing your blood from your lower legs and feet back toward your heart and lungs, relieving some of the pressure on the tiny valves inside your veins. Plus, regular walking normalizes circulation, preventing your blood from “pooling up” behind those valves, which can actually increase the risk of developing more varicose veins in the future.
So now you know walking after surgery is good; the next questions are, how soon can you begin walking and how much should you walk? To some degree, the answers to those questions will depend on the type of surgery you have. With pretty much any type of varicose vein surgery, you’re going to need to take it easy for a few days to a week or so. Heavy lifting and strenuous activities will need to be avoided for at least a week and usually for as long as two weeks. And you’ll also need to wear compression socks or stocking during the initial period of healing to help speed your recovery and improve circulation. In most cases, though, you’ll be encouraged to walk for at least 10 minutes a day, and often more frequently. The key is to follow the doctor’s postop instructions, and to stop your activity (and call the office) if you feel pain or other unusual symptoms.
Vascular and Interventional Associates Vein Center is a top-ranked Cincinnati vein treatment clinic, offering the most advanced vein treatments for men and women suffering from varicose veins, spider veins and other vascular issues. If you’re suffering from varicose veins, having an evaluation is an important part in improving your health and in making sure you don’t have a more serious underlying medical problem. To learn more about our treatment options or to see before & after photos of our patients, visit our website. And to schedule your own vein evaluation, give us a call at 859-286-7333 today.
