Know the Signs
DVT may occur without obvious symptoms and may be
difficult to detect. Up to 50% of DVT incidents may
produce minimal symptoms or are completely "silent."
Contact your doctor if you notice:
Pain, tenderness, or sudden swelling in the
leg
Discoloration or visibly large veins
Skin that is warm to the touch
Seek urgent medical help if you experience any of
the following:
Shortness of breath
Rapid pulse
Excessive sweating or anxiety
Sharp chest pain
Coughing up blood
Dizziness or fainting
Diagnosing DVT
Because several other conditions, such as muscle
strains, skin infections, and inflammation of
superficial veins (phlebitis), display symptoms
similar to DVT, the condition may be difficult to
diagnose without doing specific imaging studies. If
your healthcare provider suspects you could have DVT,
here are some of the tests that may be ordered.
Doppler (Duplex Venous) Ultrasound
This noninvasive procedure uses a wand-like device
called a transducer that sends sound waves into the
leg. The waves travel through the leg tissue and
reflect back, enabling a computer to transform them
into a moving image that can reveal the presence of
a clot.
Doppler Ultrasound is the most popular method for
diagnosing DVT. Not only is it painless and easy to
perform, it is also very effective for diagnosing
thrombi (clots) where they are most dangerous-in the
deep veins of the upper leg and groin. It is not
quite as effective when diagnosing below the knee.
Venography
In this study, dye is injected into a large vein in
the foot or ankle. An x-ray image is then taken to
reveal the location of possible clots.
Venography is one of the most accurate ways to
identify deep vein thrombosis, but it may be
uncomfortable. Occasionally it may cause phlebitis,
an inflammation of the superficial veins. In
addition to being invasive, venography is expensive.
It also requires a high degree of expertise to
perform and interpret correctly.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI uses a strong magnet to visualize the body's
internal structures and generate clear, high-quality
/images. Preliminary studies suggest that Magnetic
Resonance Imaging may be very effective in
diagnosing DVT, especially in the thigh and pelvic
areas.
Kendall Travel Socks
DVT OFTEN has no Signs or Symptoms, yet it can
become life threatening with in seconds...!
NIH says "Prevention is the only practical
approach to deal with DVT
Discover what may cause "killer legs"
(Click below for full Animated Illustration)
