13/06/2024
🩸 BLOOD CLOTS / DVTS🩸
Recently we have come across several patients who are presenting to the clinic with severe calf pain with an
idiopathic onset (an unknown cause).
Often patients describe their pain like their “calf wants to explode” and “feeling swollen, hot and hard”.
THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY that needs to be flagged straight away as these patients may be suffering from deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs.
The signs and symptoms of DVT can include:
- Swelling in the affected leg
- Pain or tenderness in the leg, which may only be felt when standing or walking
- Warmth and redness in the affected area
- Swollen veins that are visible or palpable
- Discoloration of the skin, turning blue or purple or red
Physiotherapists can play a role in diagnosing DVT through a thorough assessment of the patient’s symptoms, medical history, and risk factors.
To diagnose DVT tests such as a D-dimer blood test, ultrasound Doppler imaging, or venography can confirm the presence of a blood clot.
The management of DVT typically involves medical intervention including blood thinners to dissolve the clot. If left untreated, DVT can be dangerous as blood clots can break away and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, blocking blood flow and causing a pulmonary embolism (clot in the lung).
Encouraging regular exercise and walking to improve circulation, wearing compression stockings to reduce swelling and improve blood flow, and education to prevent reoccurrence of clots is also strongly recommended.
So if you have severe pain in your calf from an unknown cause, consult your doctor or physiotherapist straight away as it may save your life.
