If you are currently being treated for DVT, do not massage your legs. Massage could cause the clot to break loose. If you are scheduled for surgery, ask your surgeon what you can do to help prevent blood clots after surgery. Stop smoking.
Massage is also contraindicated if the person has a blood clot. Another word for this is “deep vein thrombosis.” The risk is that the massage may cause the blood clot to dislodge and travel to the lungs, thus causing a pulmonary embolism that could be life-threatening.
DON'T stand or sit in one spot for a long time. DON'T wear clothing that restricts blood flow in your legs. DON'T smoke. DON'T participate in contact sports when taking blood thinners because you're at risk of bleeding from trauma.
Massage can loosen blood clots. This could be dangerous because the clot could migrate to the brain, lungs or heart. If you are aware of any blood clots, consult your doctor before massage to make sure that it will not be effected by massage therapy.
If you think you have a blood clot, call your doctor or go to the emergency room right away!
It takes about 3 to 6 months for a blood clot to go away. During this time, there are things you can do to relieve symptoms. Elevate your leg to reduce swelling. Talk to your doctor about using compression stockings.
Elevate your legs above the level of your heart.
Elevate your legs when you sit or lie down, as often as you can. This will help decrease swelling and pain. Prop your legs on pillows or blankets to keep them elevated comfortably.
The authors opine: “Not only can [massage] dislodge an already established blood clot, but, as in this case, it can also predispose an individual to venous thrombosis and subsequent pulmonary embolism. … there is likely underreporting.”
If you take anticoagulant medication (blood thinners, such as warfarin or apixaban), you may find you bruise much more easily, so deep tissue massage won't be suitable. If you've had a heart attack or are recovering from heart surgery, it is common to feel anxious, so having a massage may help you to relax.
Second, a massage shouldn't be done in any area of the body where there may be blood clots, fractures, open or healing wounds, skin infections, and healing from a recent surgery.
Exercising With DVT
Overly strenuous exercise while suffering from DVT can cause complications and negatively affect your health. Exercising with DVT should start light, and build up slowly over time. A common exercise regimen involves going for walks every day and gradually adding more time to each walk.
For most people, walking or taking care of some housework are fine right after you find out you have DVT. It's also OK right after a pulmonary embolism.
Following a DVT, your leg may be swollen, tender, red, or hot to the touch. These symptoms should improve over time, and exercise often helps. Walking and exercise are safe to do, but be sure to listen to your body to avoid overexertion.
It is possible for DVT to resolve itself, but there is a risk of recurrence. To help reduce the pain and swelling that can occur with DVT, patients are often told to elevate their leg(s), use a heating pad, take walks and wear compression stockings.
People experiencing DVT blood clots will feel increasing levels of pain. The skin around the area will become warm and sensitive to touch. The skin may have a reddened appearance as the body works to get rid of the clot.
DVT and Massage: Possible Dangers
If you have aching, sore legs, it's natural to think a massage could help relieve those symptoms. And if your soreness is caused solely by muscle fatigue or strain, you could be right. But if those symptoms are caused by a DVT, massage should be avoided.
Using warfarin with methyl salicylate topical can cause you to bleed more easily. If you receive treatment with warfarin you should avoid or limit self-medication with these products.
Regardless, taking a blood thinner puts you at high risk for bleeding. This means any type of accident that creates bleeding—no matter how minimal—may be hazardous. Those individuals taking anticoagulants should avoid high-impact or injury-prone activities, such as hockey, soccer, skiing or football.
If a person isn't moving their legs and contracting their muscles, their blood flow becomes sluggish and this can result in blood clots forming.
As keeping blood moving to all areas of the body helps prevent blood clot formation, simple movements and stretches can help reduce the risk for deep vein thrombosis, allowing for healthy habits during work from home periods.
Blood-thinning medications are commonly used to prevent blood clots from forming or getting bigger. Thrombolytic medications can break up existing clots. Catheter-directed treatments, such as percutaneous transcatheter treatment, are done by inserting a catheter into a blood vessel in the groin.
Bed rest is sometimes recommended as part of the treatment for an existing DVT, in an effort to prevent a pulmonary embolism. Your chances of getting a DVT depend on many things, including how long you're not able to get up. If you are older or a woman, your risk goes up.
The skin around painful areas or in the arm or leg with the DVT may feel warmer than other skin. Trouble breathing. If this happens, it could mean that the clot has moved from your arm or leg to your lungs.
Does blood clot pain come and go? Unlike the pain from a charley horse that usually goes away after stretching or with rest, the pain from a blood clot does not go away and usually gets worse with time.