Top Treatments Deep Vein Thrombosis

In the medical field, Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT, is a common name for what are informally known as blood clots. DVT is often characterized by painful swelling, redness and discomfort in the extremities such as the lower legs. The most dangerous thing about DVT is that the blood clots in question can travel to your lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism.

Chest pain, shortness of breath and eventual death are the symptoms of embolisms. Suffice it to say, DVT is a serious issue that requires immediate medical attention. Today we’re going over symptoms, causes and treatments for Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Top Treatments Deep Vein Thrombosis

How it Starts

DVT typically begins when the fibrin in red blood cells becomes too dense. When this happens, the veins in question can begin to become obstructed, which can lead to ongoing pain and inflammation. This is most noticeable when standing for extended periods of time. If you live a mostly sedentary lifestyle or have experienced recent physical trauma you could be at a greater risk for DVT to develop.

Other risk factors include hyper-coagulation, or the presence of too much thickness in the blood. Breaking legs or experiencing similar trauma in the extremities can also lead to the increased risk of DVT in patients. If you’re experiencing symptoms similar to these, speak to your doctor and ask about treatment options.

Types of Treatment

There are a number of treatments available for DVT in the modern era. These include stents, IV procedures and medical treatment. Each has different strengths and weaknesses, though some are more dangerous or more effective than others.

In any event, the best person to talk to about these treatments are your doctor. We’ll give a brief overview of each, though you should consult your physician regarding any treatment plans. They’ll be able to advise you as to which treatment is the best for your unique situation.

Medicine

Blood thinning drugs like coumadin and heparin are commonly prescribed to help with DVT. These drugs help to thin the blood if it is experiencing hyper-coagulation. This allows the blood to flow more easily and prevents the buildup of clots, though it is not entirely without risk.

Those on blood thinners need to take care to not experience physical trauma. Simple scrapes and cuts can be very dangerous for people on blood thinners as their blood is much slower to clot when they are taking blood thinners often. As such, younger patients aren’t advised to use these medications, as they’re not a great idea in the long term.

Typically, older patients are better candidates for blood thinner medication. That’s because they have a lower risk of receiving injury that can draw blood and they also won’t need to take the medication for as long a period as younger patients.

Stent IV Treatments

For younger patients who can’t stay on blood thinners indefinitely, there are other options available. For instance, many younger patients opt for more invasive procedures like stents in order to combat their DVT.

One example is the stent procedure. Doctors perform this procedure using a catheter that helps to clean out a clot and then installing a stent. Stents are small mesh objects that are placed inside the vein at the narrow point. These stents then hold open the thinnest part of the vein while doctors implant a small balloon.

This medical balloon, which is quite tiny, is then inflated ever so slightly in the vein. This helps open the stent a bit more and gets the vein back into the shape and width it should be normally. While that may all sound like a lot, patients have stated that it’s a great treatment to help ease DVT symptoms.

Typically, patients will need to go on blood thinners for about a year following this type of procedure. However, this is to make sure that the vein doesn’t experience the same blood clot production it did to begin with. Compression socks are also usually recommended for those recovering from this procedure.

Potential Complications

There are risks associated with invasive surgery. The first, and most notable, is that you’re introducing foreign objects to the body. This does introduce the risk of infection, though it is a minor one. Normal complications like potential allergies to anesthesia or medications are also considerations. Other complications that can occur from surgery are internal bleeding, as is the case with all surgical procedures.

In the case of IV stent treatments, there aren’t a lot of ways to ensure that clots don’t form in the stent area again. While blood thinners are prescribed to keep the likelihood of this down, it’s not a surefire way to stop it from happening. Those at higher risk of developing repeat blood clots may be kept on blood thinners for longer in order for doctors to ascertain what their risk is.

People who receive stent IV treatments for Deep Vein Thrombosis need to be aware of the risks that the recovery period could pose. For instance, if the leg begins swelling again after the treatment then they need to contact their doctor immediately. This is why regular check-ups are very important following this procedure, so that your doctor can keep tabs on how you’re recovering.

After Treatment

Typically, patients who receive stent IV treatments for their Deep Vein Thrombosis will experience back pain for a few weeks following the procedure. Most patients report this pain as being mild and manageable with simple pain medication like Advil.

Final Notes

If you feel shortness of breath, pain in your extremities or swelling in your legs or arms, speak to your doctor. If they diagnose you with Deep Vein Thrombosis, don’t panic. There are a number of treatment options available for you. If you speak with your doctor about treatment, they’ll work with you to find out which procedure is the best fit for your lifestyle.

Remember: pulmonary embolisms are scary and potentially life-threatening. If you think you might have DVT, don’t hesitate to speak with your doctor. Better safe than sorry!