Blood Clots
(Deep Venous Thrombosis)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain or swelling, but may occur without any symptoms. DVT is a feared complication of venous disease because it can lead to a pulmonary embolus, a clot in the lung that can be deadly.
South Bay Vascular is a leading treatment center for blood clots and DVTs. If you are diagnosed with DVT or have persistent pain or swelling in your leg, we have the experience and expertise to treat you quickly. We can help!
Make an appointment today!
Call 408-376-3626
Symptoms
- Sudden onset of pain and swelling in your leg (most commonly in the back of your calf or your entire thigh)
- Usually, the painful part of your leg is also swollen
- Pain and/or swelling comes on abruptly and generally does not go away even after a few days
Risk Factors
- Long plane or car rides
- Immobility (after an operation or injury)
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Pregnancy
- Orthopedic or gynecological procedures
- Some genetic factors (hypercoagulable syndromes)
- Dehydration
- Cancer
Solutions
If you suspect you may have a blood clot, it is very important to go to your regular doctor and get an ultrasound of your leg. If this test is “normal” but the swelling or pain persists, then you should go see a vascular surgeon, as more testing (such as CT scan or specialized ultrasound) may need to be done. This is quite important to do quickly, as some treatments only work if they are done within a week of the development of symptoms.
If you are diagnosed with a DVT, you should be treated with blood thinners immediately. The role of blood thinners is not to actually “dissolve” the clot in your leg, but rather to prevent it from traveling to your lung and causing a Pulmonary Embolus. The blood thinners also work to prevent the clot from becoming more extensive.
If this is your first blood clot, you should be treated for 6 weeks to 3 months with blood thinners depending on why the blood clot occurred. If there is not a clear reason for the blood clot, it is important to dig deeper and find the underlying cause.
If you or anyone you know suffers from long term non-healing ankle, foot or leg wounds,
call 408-376-3626 to schedule an appointment today at South Bay Vascular. Our physicians are experts in diagnosing and treating these types of problems.
For more information about blood clots and DVT, see our blog articles:
“I found Dr. Kokinos to be excellent at explaining, assessing, and treating. It is wonderful to find an excellent doctor who is also a friendly and compassionate person.”
– SBVC patient
“For over 12 months I went between UCSF and Stanford Clinics trying to get diagnosed because I was so ill...no one could ever find a cause to any of my symptoms....it turns out it was a blood flow problem that was making me so sick. I am very thankful I found Dr. Kokinos!”
– SBVC patient