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 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.
Clots can form in any vein and, whilst massage should definitely be avoided around the affected area, it should also be avoided in general until a Doctor advises otherwise. Massage stimulates blood circulation, therefore can dislodge a clot, even if the point of massage is elsewhere on the body.
You need your doctor's approval when having a massage or going to the chiropractor when a clot is still present. It is important to be careful with any soft tissue in an area where there is or was a clot.
It is important to start treatment right away for DVT. 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.
Dr. Becker confirmed that you should not have deep massage when you have a blood clot, but agrees with me that a history of past blood clots is no reason to avoid massage. He notes that during massage, strokes on extremities (arms and legs) should always be toward the heart to assist venous return.
These are areas of the body where deep, sustained pressure should be avoided because of the structures that lie beneath. Those areas are the anterior and posterior triangles of the neck, suprasternal notch, sternum, axilla, spinal column, umbilical area, inguinal triangle, popliteal fossa, and the antecubital fossa.
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.
lie on their sides with a pillow between the knees if desirable.
The Importance of Exercise if You Have DVT
Aerobic activity -- things like walking, hiking, swimming, dancing, and jogging -- can also help your lungs work better after a pulmonary embolism. Studies show that exercise also can improve symptoms of DVT, including swelling, discomfort, and redness.
Contagious skin conditions (boils, warts, or herpes) Other skin conditions (burns, rashes, or sores) Circulatory system issues (high blood pressure, varicose veins, or stroke) Digestive system issues (ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, or colitis)
Foods rich in vitamin E, such as almonds, avocado, and spinach, can help dissolve blood clots. Vitamin E has anticoagulant properties and can help prevent blood clots from forming. It is recommended to consume foods rich in vitamin E regularly.
Treatment includes medicines to ease pain and inflammation, break up clots and keep new clots from forming. Keeping the affected area raised and applying moist heat can also help.
USING HEAT OR ICE FOR BLOOD CLOT IN LEG
According to a study from PubMed, ice is commonly recommended as a treatment to decrease bleeding thus could be used to help dissolve blood clots.
You may be able to feel the clot as a firm lump under the skin. The skin over the clot can become red, tender, and warm to the touch.
Support stockings (compression stockings).
They help reduce leg swelling. Wear them on your legs from your feet to about the level of your knees. For DVT , you typically wear these stockings during the day for a few years, if possible.
For years, if you had a DVT, your doctor would order bed rest. This was thought to lower the risk of a clot traveling through your bloodstream to your lungs. But recent research suggests that bed rest doesn't help people with DVT and that it may be fine for you to get up and move around.
Blood clots that travel to your heart cause a heavy feeling or pain in your chest, pain in your upper body, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and light-headedness. If the clot moves to your lungs, you could experience sharp chest pain, a racing heart, shortness of breath, sweating, and fever.
In recent years, Physiotherapy has become a viable treatment option for those who suffer from Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Physiotherapists are now trained to diagnose, treat and manage DVT, as well as provide advice on lifestyle changes to help prevent DVT from occurring.
Deep vein thrombosis usually occurs in the lower leg. It often goes unnoticed and dissolves on its own. But it may cause symptoms like pain and swelling. If someone is diagnosed with DVT, they will need treatment to avoid serious complications such as pulmonary embolism.
Because most athletes initially conclude they have a strain, they do exactly what is most dangerous – massage or hot-tub therapy. Both are contra-indicated because they can help dislodge a clot and allow it to travel to the lungs, where it's known as a pulmonary embolism.