QUESTION: My doctor has me scared because of a clot in my leg vein.
While I don't want to neglect anything important, I don't need additional doctor's bills either.
Just how serious is this condition?
ANSWER: Any clotting of the blood (thrombosis) in any part of your body is sufficiently serious to make you disrupt your daily routine and give it your full and undivided attention. Usually blood clots in the leg are accompanied by swelling, a sensation of warmth, and tenderness to the touch.
All these symptoms can be treated pharmacologically with medications.
But if the warm feeling turns to cold, the swelling grows to massive proportions, and the pain becomes unbearable, immediate surgical intervention might be called for.
These signs herald a more serious form of thrombosis, which involves the entire venous system of your leg.
In such cases, the oxygen present in the capillary blood drops, the skin takes on a blue pallor, and the entire limb can become gangrenous. Hopefully, I've made my message clear, without sounding like an alarmist. Follow your doctor's advice, consult him regularly, and don't take any chances with thrombosis.
Proper and timely treatment can do much to prevent unwanted complications, and get you back on your feet.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
