LEG PAIN COULD MEAN VEIN TROUBLE! GET CHECKED TODAY!
If you feel a pain in your leg, it could be a cramp or a pulled muscle. It could also be a much more serious condition called blood clots of deep vein thrombosis, or DVT.
While relatively rare DVT affects about 300,000 to 600,000 people in the United States it can have serious health consequences. DVT happens when a blood clot forms in a vein deep in the body, usually the lower leg or the thigh. If left untreated, the clot can break off and travel through the bloodstream to an artery in the lungs, blocking blood flow and possibly causing death.
A clot can cause problems even if it remains in the leg. It can lead to chronic swelling in the leg, which can cause chronic pain, and at times cracking in the skin, which can lead to skin problems and ulcers.
Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosis:
Spotting deep vein thrombosis can be a little tricky. Only about half the people who get DVT show any symptoms at all, and the signs are sometimes mistaken for other conditions.
Here are signs of DVT to look for:
- Swelling in the leg, the most common symptom
- Only one leg is affected
- The area is painful and warm
- Symptoms get worse over time, rather than get better as they would with a pulled muscle
The swelling of DVT usually does not subside when the leg is elevated for an hour or even overnight, If you have a pain in your leg, consider whether you have any risk factors that make deep vein thrombosis a more likely cause.
Treatments available for DVT?
Patients with a DVT may need to be treated in the hospital. Others may be able to have outpatient treatment.
Treatments include medications, compression stockings and elevating the affected leg. If the blood clot is bad enough, you may need more invasive testing and treatment. The main goals of treatment are :
- Stop the clot from getting bigger
- Prevent the clot from breaking off in your vein and moving to your lungs
- Reduce the risk of another blood clot
- Prevent long-term complications from the blood clot (chronic venous insufficiency).
Can a DVT be prevented?
If you have never had a DVT , but have an increased risk of developing one, be sure to:
- Exercise your lower leg muscles if you need to sit still for a long time. Stand up and walk at least every half hour if you are on a long flight. Or get out of the car every hour if you are on a long road trip.
- Take medications or use compression stockings after surgery (if prescribed by your doctor) to reduce your risk of a clot.
- Follow-up with your doctor as directed to and follow your doctor’s recommendations to reduce your risk of a clot.
If you have any questions about DVT or about any other aspects of vein health, make an appointment today here at the Alpha Vein Clinic Las Vegas! Go ahead and give us a call at (702) 430 7661 our staff will be excited to answer any questions for you! Stop guessing and get treatment today.
Alpha Vein Clinic
3150 N. Tenaya Way Ste. 400
Las Vegas, NV, 89128
(702) 430 7661
Dr. Sassan Kaveh
You Can Now Call Us 24/7