“But about 30–40% of cases go unnoticed, since they don't have typical symptoms.” In fact, some people don't realize they have a deep vein clot until it causes a more serious condition. Deep vein clots—especially those in the thigh—can break off and travel through the bloodstream.
Small blood clots in the calf can sometimes go undetected for several days or weeks, especially if they don't show any symptoms. If left untreated, however, DVT can travel up the veins in the leg to the lungs or other major organs in the body, leading to a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism or similar complication.
Among people who have had a DVT, one third to one half will have long-term complications (post-thrombotic syndrome) such as swelling, pain, discoloration, and scaling in the affected limb. One-third (about 33%) of people with DVT/PE will have a recurrence within 10 years.
As many as half of those who get a DVT in their legs develop symptoms of intermittent leg pain and swelling that may last months to years. These symptoms are called post-thrombotic syndrome and can happen because of damage to the valves and inner lining of your veins leading to blood “pooling” more than it should.
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.
While a pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening, most patients survive DVT and need to learn how to live with the risk of recurrence. Your healthcare provider will probably prescribe anticoagulants, or blood thinners, which may be needed for as little as three months but can be lifelong treatment.
A clot that is over one to two months old is called "chronic." The clot becomes harder and scars the vein. As a result of this process, the vein becomes much smaller and does not allow blood to flow through effectively.
Blood clots can wreak havoc on your veins, leading to symptoms that can last for years. Pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in your lungs, isn't the only serious complication that can result from a blood clot deep in your veins.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain or swelling. Sometimes there are no noticeable symptoms.
You can get deep-vein clots at any age, but it usually affects people who are older than 40. After 40, the risk for DVT and PE may double with each passing decade.
If left untreated, the clot may become larger and cause significant swelling or pain in your arm or legs. An embolism can also break off and travel to your lungs, causing breathing difficulty, chest pain, and putting stress on your heart.
A blood clot in a leg vein may cause swelling, pain, warmth and tenderness in the affected area. Although anyone can develop blood clots that result in a pulmonary embolism, certain factors can increase your risk.
About 25% of people who have a PE will die suddenly, and that will be the only symptom. About 23% of people with PE will die within 3 months of diagnosis, just over 30% will die after 6 months, and there is a 37% mortality (death) rate at 1 year after being diagnosed.
The rate of missed diagnosis of lower-limb DVT by ultrasound amounts to 50% or so in patients without symptoms of DVT.
Most blood clots do not cause visible symptoms. Some blood clots can even cause swelling without any visible blood pooling. One example of this is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which typically results in swelling and skin discoloration in the legs. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
Unfortunately, in some cases, doctors misdiagnose DVT or miss it entirely. When that happens and injuries result, it may be a case of medical malpractice, and the doctor may be held responsible and ordered to pay damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
You should never ignore DVT. As with any medical condition, complications can develop when you have DVT. One in 10 develop a pulmonary embolism (PE), which happens when a clot in the leg works loose, moving through the bloodstream to the arteries in the lungs.
Duplex ultrasonography is an imaging test that uses sound waves to look at the flow of blood in the veins. It can detect blockages or blood clots in the deep veins. It is the standard imaging test to diagnose DVT. A D-dimer blood test measures a substance in the blood that is released when a clot breaks up.
Approximately 60% of patients will recover from a leg DVT without any residual symptoms, 40% will have some degree of post-thrombotic syndrome, and 4% will have severe symptoms. The symptoms of post-thrombotic syndrome usually occur within the first 6 months, but can occur up 2 years after the clot.
Blood clots can affect anyone at any age, but certain risk factors, such as surgery, hospitalization, pregnancy, cancer and some types of cancer treatments can increase risks.
If you think you have a blood clot, call your doctor or go to the emergency room right away! Blood clots can be dangerous. Blood clots that form in the veins in your legs, arms, and groin can break loose and move to other parts of your body, including your lungs.
Yes—The cramping sensations and pain that occur with DVT will persist and even worsen with time.
Many people with DVT blood clots will recover completely. But up to 50% will develop post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), a condition that can cause chronic pain, swelling, and discomfort that can permanently affect your quality of life.
If the clot is small, and with appropriate treatment, people can recover from PE. However, there could be some damage to the lungs. If the clot is large, it can stop blood from reaching the lungs and is fatal.