dvt question

[berty bassett]

this is aimed more to the uk people as I believe treatment is different in other countries but anyone may be able to help / have an opinion
like I say , question about dvt , this is my third one , first end up in lungs , second dispersed and hoping this one will also go away with pills , trouble is this one is bringing a lot of pain with it . its from just below the knee to just above knee and while I am sitting still everything in life is wonderful . soon as I start walking I can get about 100 yards then pain kicks in . it is exactly like if you are stretching hamstrings trying to touch toes - then you try to put palms on floor and you stretch too far , that burning feeling - it starts aching then when you stop the burning feeling kicks in for a while then start all over again and repeat - question is - has anyone else had/have this , how long will it last and is there anything you can do to relieve it ? I have stopped all exercise as such but dogs still need walking . I will have to ask when exercise can resume cos this is sending me mad , also got to ask if its ok to push through the pain and just try to ignore it . I know its impatience and only been into second week but just wondered if anyone on here has the same - thanks in advance for any help

 

[fossyant]

I would get onto the GP ASAP. @ColinJ knows all about DVT.

 

[tom73]

My ANP wife would not be happy to let you wait and see what happens. You need to see your GP ASAP, or get off to A&E if the pain get's worse or you get any shortness in breath. DVT's can become a medical emergency quite quickly.

 

[si_c]

Definitely go and see someone, your local hospital should have a DVT clinic - you need to get your GP to get you a referral into this ASAP.

 

[fossyant]

I think the pain issue is a very very strong reason to go to a medical professional straight away !

 

[oxoman]

Berty get your butt down to the hospital ASAP if not quicker. Some things you don’t muck about with, this is one of them.

 

[ColinJ]

Yikes - I would go to the hospital ASAP!

I got the leg pain the first time but there wasn't any question of going for a walk because the clot had broken up and spread to my lungs (a pulmonary embolism), which completely disabled me. I was taking 20 minutes to crawl down one flight of stairs to make a cup of tea and when I got there I struggled to open a bottle of milk.

It is alarming that you're suffering from a third lot of clots! They tried taking me off anticoagulants after 8 months but I lasted just a few months before clotting again so now I am on them for life.

Apparently, DVTs often don't completely clear - they leave scar tissue inside the veins. That is rough and disturbs blood flow so the risk of subsequent clots is much higher. I would have a serious conversation about taking the pills for life now!

My veins are still sore 14 years on but not generally painful. The non-return valves in the left leg were damaged though so the leg keeps swelling up. I wear compression sleeves to keep that under control.

A pulmonary embolism can kill as quickly as a heart attack, so take the risks seriously!

I got onto the meds much quicker the second time so I avoided the pain, and my breathing improved enough for me to get back on my bike in a couple of months. I never made a 100% recovery though. I reckon my lung function only got back to about 75% of what it would otherwise have been. My left lung still feels stiff, probably due to scar tissue from the second PE which was mainly on that side.

GWS!!

 

[Kingfisher101]

My friends aunt had this and it swelled in her leg and she wouldn't go to hospital because she wanted a night out instead. Her friend called round for her the next morning and she was dead in bed. It had dislodged and formed an embolism. You need to go to the hospital asap.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

this is aimed more to the uk people as I believe treatment is different in other countries but anyone may be able to help / have an opinion
like I say , question about dvt , this is my third one , first end up in lungs , second dispersed and hoping this one will also go away with pills , trouble is this one is bringing a lot of pain with it . its from just below the knee to just above knee and while I am sitting still everything in life is wonderful . soon as I start walking I can get about 100 yards then pain kicks in . it is exactly like if you are stretching hamstrings trying to touch toes - then you try to put palms on floor and you stretch too far , that burning feeling - it starts aching then when you stop the burning feeling kicks in for a while then start all over again and repeat - question is - has anyone else had/have this , how long will it last and is there anything you can do to relieve it ? I have stopped all exercise as such but dogs still need walking . I will have to ask when exercise can resume cos this is sending me mad , also got to ask if its ok to push through the pain and just try to ignore it . I know its impatience and only been into second week but just wondered if anyone on here has the same - thanks in advance for any help

You do know this is just a cycling forum. Ring your GP now!

 

[berty bassett]

Yikes - I would go to the hospital ASAP!

I got the leg pain the first time but there wasn't any question of going for a walk because the clot had broken up and spread to my lungs (a pulmonary embolism), which completely disabled me. I was taking 20 minutes to crawl down one flight of stairs to make a cup of tea and when I got there I struggled to open a bottle of milk.

It is alarming that you're suffering from a third lot of clots! They tried taking me off anticoagulants after 8 months but I lasted just a few months before clotting again so now I am on them for life.

Apparently, DVTs often don't completely clear - they leave scar tissue inside the veins. That is rough and disturbs blood flow so the risk of subsequent clots is much higher. I would have a serious conversation about taking the pills for life now!

My veins are still sore 14 years on but not generally painful. The non-return valves in the left leg were damaged though so the leg keeps swelling up. I wear compression sleeves to keep that under control.

A pulmonary embolism can kill as quickly as a heart attack, so take the risks seriously!

I got onto the meds much quicker the second time so I avoided the pain, and my breathing improved enough for me to get back on my bike in a couple of months. I never made a 100% recovery though. I reckon my lung function only got back to about 75% of what it would otherwise have been. My left lung still feels stiff, probably due to scar tissue from the second PE which was mainly on that side.

GWS!!

Thanks for the answer sir
My first was after a long haul flight and I ignored it not knowing why I felt so rough , ended up being stretchered out of home and wired into the mains for about a week after it had split into 3 and all hit me lung , like you I don’t think I ever fully recovered but asked to come off pills after about 3 years and they said yes as long as I took certain precautions , second I thought I may have pulled a muscle as I am a builder and prone to stuff like that ( as cyclists are too ) it was recently and I was put on double dose thinners for a week and then scanned and given all clear but week later calf ballooned up and was taken to emergency care, put back on double dose , scanned and found dvt from below knee to above knee - it didn’t hurt but looked spectacular
I’ve just been to doctors now and he has put me on codeine saying good chance vein is damaged causing pain ( may be short term ) but there is blood flow round leg and he’s happy swelling has gone down to what it was so next thing is getting measured for stocking end of the week
Thanks for passing on your experience - it has helped
I do know they are a killer and was constantly reminded that I was a lucky boy the first time but it is hard to sit there and not worry that’s why I tend to joke about it a bit
Thanks again for your help and time

 

[Drago]

DVT killed my gran, and recently killed a friend of mine who was only 60. Both went out like a switch had been thrown.

Get to a hospital and get a professional opinion,pronto.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I’ve just been to doctors now and he has put me on codeine saying good chance vein is damaged causing pain ( may be short term ) but there is blood flow round leg and he’s happy swelling has gone down to what it was so next thing is getting measured for stocking end of the week

Imo you should have a scan asp, the blood cloth could be travelling towards your heart.

 

[Chislenko]

Question to the OP

Are you on blood thinners at the moment?

 

[vickster]

Question to the OP

Are you on blood thinners at the moment?

Sounds like it as he's hoping "it'll go away with pills"?

 

[fossyant]

Do you have a contact number for the Team that looked after you ? Worth a call - no disrespect to GP's, they aren't the experts.

I have a contact number for my hip/pelvis - I was discharged at 6 months, but should I have any worries, I can phone the Orthopaedics Team and they will see me straight away.