I Had Asclera Injections Done Yesterday, It Was So Painful I Couldn't Finish. Is This Normal?

Foam sclerotherapy is very well tolerated by our patients for the treatment of spider veins and reticular veins. Best, Dr. KaramanoukianLos Angeles

This is very unusual in my practice.  I typically use a 31 gauge needle (tiny), perhaps ask your doctor if he/she is using the smallest possible needle.  Also, Tylenol or Tramadol (prescription) before treatment can help.  Best regards- Dr. C

I usually place numbing cream in the areas of proposed injections for at least 45 minutes prior to injection.  The injections hurt and it is my only way to decrease the pain

Thank you for your question. Sclerotherapy agents such as Asclera may cause some discomfort, but are generally tolerable procedures. Make certain you do not feel continued pain, burning, or ulceration as these may be side effects. I would recommend perhaps pre-treating with ice to help numb the area. Be sure you are under the supervision of an experienced injector. I hope this helps.

As a sclerotherapy expert who has performed over
30,000 sclerotherapy treatments over the past 30 years, I can say this is not a
typical reaction. In fact, I have never had this problem in any of my patients.
At most there may be some minor discomfort during the sclerotherapy procedure.
There are a few reasons why sclerotherapy could be painful, but without further
information it is not possible nor appropriate to say anything further. I
recommend seeking treatment for your veins from a vein expert who has a long,
successful track record of performing advanced vein procedures.

The small pokes from the needle are irritating but we typically use among the smallest needles available, so the pain from these should be minor. If the pain was from the poke, you may simply be more sensitive than some other people to this stimulation. 
If your pain was from the actual injection of medication, that is unusual. Asclera should be essentially painless as it enters the vein. This contrasts with saline injections, which hurt substantially. 

 This is usually a very well tolerated treatment and done without much pain or problems.  Pain is different for everyone.  I have had people fall asleep during treatments and have had people screaming.  Everyone is different and feels pain differently.  If they have pain, you can try topical anesthetic but these topical numbing medications also can shrink down the veins that are injected and make it harder to see to inject them. 

Pain tolerance is different for everyone, sclerotherapyinjections involve some level of pain due to the fact that during theprocedure Asclera (polidocanol) is injected into the spider vein using aneedle. I prefer a small needle to prevent discomfort for patientsusually 30 or 32 Gauge needles. Another consideration would be sedationmedication if otherwise treatment cannot be tolerated. 
All the best, 
Dr. Nguyen

Asclera (polidocanol) is one of the most well-tolerated sclerotherapy agents with respect to pain and has a very, very low rate of causing damage to skin. I much prefer using it over Sotradecol or concentrated saline. Glycerin with lidocaine is well-tolerated as well. I usually use a 32 gauge needle - very small - which minimizes discomfort even more. Sclerotherapy has a very good safety profile when administered properly and has good success percentages.

Asclera, generic name Polidocanol sclerotherapy treatment may cause minimal discomfort depending on the area injected. A small needle is usually used and is well tolerated. Unusual pain associated with Asclera sclerotherapy may be related to the injection outside a vein. Asclera carries a mild analgesic property. MICROFOAM SCLEROTHERAPY is the most comfortable to administer.