DVT is a serious condition, so if you think you may have DVT, you should see a doctor without delay. Call an ambulance on triple zero (000) if you: become short of breath. have pain in your chest.
It's important to call your doctor right away or go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of a DVT. Don't wait to see if your symptoms go away. Get treatment right away to prevent serious complications.
If you develop symptoms of a pulmonary embolism (PE) — a life-threatening complication of deep vein thrombosis — seek emergency medical help. The warning signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include: Sudden shortness of breath. Chest pain or discomfort that worsens when you take a deep breath or when you cough.
It's not something you feel instantly. A DVT or pulmonary embolism can take weeks or months to totally dissolve. Even a surface clot, which is a very minor issue, can take weeks to go away. If you have a DVT or pulmonary embolism, you typically get more and more relief as the clot gets smaller.
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.
For venous clots, you will take blood thinners (a)nticoagulants to prevent the clot from growing and help blood flow past the clot. You may also need a procedure to place a filter in your vena cava, the large vein that carries blood to your heart. The filter will stop the clot from entering your heart or lungs.
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:
You have symptoms of DVT (deep vein thrombosis), such as pain and swelling, and: breathlessness. chest pain.
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
you have pain in your chest, back or ribs that is worse when you breathe in. you collapse. you are coughing up blood.
A person should seek medical attention immediately if they suspect that they may have a blood clot in the arm. A blood clot in either of the arms can be dangerous as it might break loose and get into the lungs. If this occurs, it can cause a life-threatening situation.
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. Your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner -- they may call it an anticoagulant -- and compression stockings.
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.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Swelling of your leg or arm. Pain or tenderness that you can't explain. Skin that is warm to the touch. Redness of the skin.
Clues of a Clot
They may signal a deep vein clot or pulmonary embolism: swelling of the leg or along a vein in the leg. pain or tenderness in the leg, which you may feel only when standing or walking.
Is deep vein thrombosis pain constant? Yes—The cramping sensations and pain that occur with DVT will persist and even worsen with time.
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.
Will you be admitted to the hospital or sent home? If a DVT is confirmed, you may be discharged and sent home with injectable or oral anticoagulant medication (sometimes called a blood thinner). That said, every patient is different, and you may be admitted to the hospital if the ER doctor believes it's necessary.
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.
For most people with a DVT, it takes a few weeks or months to recover completely without long-term effects. But in some cases, if you're recovering from a blood clot in the leg, you may feel swelling and some discomfort.
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.
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.
Sitting still for 4 or more hours slows down the blood flow in your legs. This makes your blood more likely to clot. And for the next few weeks, your blood clot risk stays higher than normal.
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.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if:
throbbing or cramping pain in 1 leg (rarely both legs), usually in the calf or thigh. swelling in 1 leg (rarely both legs) warm skin around the painful area. red or darkened skin around the painful area.
It's also worth mentioning that the most common symptom after a blood clot is exhaustion and fatigue. So, be kind to yourself and rest when you need to. For the first couple of months, you might not feel like yourself; you might feel like resting is all you can do, and that's okay because that's part of this disease.