People of any age can suffer a blood clot in the leg. A clot in a small vein near the surface of the leg creates a condition known as superficial thrombosis. A more serious condition is deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, a situation in which the blood clot is in a larger vein and can travel to a lung with life-threatening consequences. When the vein is inflamed, which it often is, the diagnosis is thrombophlebitis. It is possible to have thrombophlebitis and notice no symptoms.
Swelling of One Leg
The swelling of one leg is indicative of thrombophlebitis, although it can also be caused by other conditions. This can be minor or quite significant, depending on where the clot is. The fluid collected in the leg can make the leg feel tight.
Pain and Tenderness
The affected area (usually the calf) may become painful and tender to the touch. Walking may be painful as the muscles near the clot are moved. The pain is often described as aching, dullness or tightness.
Redness and Warmth
If the clot is fairly near the surface, the area may become reddened and feel warmer than the same place on the other leg. Warmth and redness should not lead you to assume the clot is in a superficial vein, however, as a deep vein thrombosis can be close enough to the leg's surface to create these symptoms as well.
Vein Visibility
Sometimes the affected vein can be felt or seen. According to the Mayo Clinic, it feels like a hard cord under the skin that is tender to the touch. The vein may appear reddened.
Fever
Occasionally, a fever will manifest due to thrombophlebitis. This can lead to a general feeling of illness.
What to Do
Suspicion of a blood clot in the leg warrants a visit to a primary care doctor. Depending on the location of the clot and your specific condition, treatment may include a combination of bedrest with elevation of the leg, surgery, compression stockings, medication that thins the blood, mild pain medication or antibiotics. Eventually, the clot should dissolve with treatment. A person who has thrombophlebitis is at increased risk of developing blood clots in the future, and you will usually be counseled on preventative measures to avoid further clots.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Thrombophlebitis
- Medline Plus: Thrombophlebitis
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing;" Donna Ignatavicius, M.S., R.N. and Linda Workman, Ph.D., R.N.; 2002
