Can deep vein thrombosis go away on its own? Though the clots associated with DVT often dissolve on their own, some diagnosed with DVT may need treatment to avoid serious and fatal complications such as pulmonary embolism.
Living with 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. Talk to your doctor about using compression stockings.
Sometimes DVT can be completely dissolved or lysed by the body's own natural processes. Even under these circumstances, however, the clot is likely to cause permanent damage to the vein and its valves.
If left untreated, about 1 in 10 people with a DVT will develop a pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism is a very serious condition which causes: breathlessness – which may come on gradually or suddenly. chest pain – which may become worse when you breathe in.
A blood clot in a leg vein may cause pain, warmth and tenderness in the affected area. 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.
DVT can be very serious because blood clots in your veins can break loose, travel through your bloodstream and get stuck in your lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism can be life threatening and needs treatment straight away.
The area of your leg or arm that's swollen or hurts may be warmer than usual. Skin that's red or discolored. The veins near your skin's surface may be larger than normal. Abdominal pain or flank pain (when blood clots affect the veins deep inside your abdomen).
Conclusions: Early walking exercise is safe in patients with acute DVT and may help to reduce acute symptoms. Exercise training does not increase leg symptoms acutely in patients with a previous DVT and may help to prevent or improve the postthrombotic syndrome.
If you notice possible signs of DVT and can't reach your doctor, go to the emergency room right away.
The authors concluded that walking exercise was safe in acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and may improve acute symptoms. Exercise training did not acutely increase leg symptoms of previous DVT and may prevent or improve post-thrombotic syndrome.
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.
Eat natural pineapple or take a nutritional supplement with bromelain. Increase your intake of other foods and drinks that may help dissolve blood clots such as garlic, kiwi, kale, spinach, red wine, and grape juice. Drink more water. Increase your exercise.
Typically, your body will naturally dissolve the blood clot after the injury has healed. Sometimes, however, clots form on the inside of vessels without an obvious injury or do not dissolve naturally. These situations can be dangerous and require accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Catheter-directed thrombolysis – This treatment is most commonly given to patients with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. A thin tube called a catheter will be inserted into a vein and moved through the blood vessel until it reaches the clot to deliver medicine directly to it.
DVT thrombolysis involves inserting a small catheter into the leg using ultrasound and x-ray guidance. Clot-dissolving medications as well mechanical devices may be inserted into the catheter and used to remove or reduce the clot.
10% – 30% of people will die within one month of diagnosis. 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.
Heart or lungs: A blood clot in the heart will cause symptoms of a heart attack such as crushing chest pain, sweating, pain that travels down the left arm, and/or shortness of breath. A blood clot in the lungs can cause chest pain, difficulty breathing, and sometimes can lead to coughing up blood.
This evaluation, known as Homan's Test, consists of laying flat on your back and extending the knee in the suspected leg. Have a friend or family member raise the extended leg to 10 degrees, then have them squeeze the calf. If there's deep pain in the calf, it may be indicative of DVT.
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. Blood clots in veins close to the skin's surface usually are not serious and often can be treated at home.
If you visit a vein clinic or hospital for a blood clot and blood thinners are suggested to you, taking aspirin may be an option, instead. It is not for everyone, and will not be enough in all cases, but it does have a similar effect and may work well to reduce the chances of another blood clot in the future.
A blood clot in a deep vein of the leg, pelvis, and sometimes arm, is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This type of blood clot does not cause heart attack or stroke. A blood clot in an artery, usually in the heart or brain, is called arterial thrombosis. This type of blood clot can cause heart attack or stroke.
The most serious risk of untreated DVT is a pulmonary embolism. This occurs when a blood clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs. It is an emergency situation and can be fatal. A pulmonary embolism can restrict blood flow to the heart, causing a strain that results in heart enlargement.
You can have DVT and not know it, especially if the clot is small. The most common symptoms of DVT are swelling in an arm or leg, tenderness that isn't from an injury, and skin that feels warm and is red in the area of the clot. A clot usually forms in just one leg or arm, not both.
Blood clots do go away on their own, as the body naturally breaks down and absorbs the clot over weeks to months. Depending on the location of the blood clot, it can be dangerous and you may need treatment.
How is a blood clot treated? If you're diagnosed with a blood clot, you may have to take a blood thinning medication, also called an anticoagulant. This type of medication stops the clot from growing and allows your body to break it down naturally, before it can travel to other areas of your body.