If you have an area on your leg that has been cramping frequently, feels hotter than the rest of your leg, and seems discolored, you should reach out to your doctor. Call the experts at South Valley Vascular at 1-559-625-4118 or one of our other four locations. Leg pain can be a symptom of so many disorders; contact us to ensure you get the correct diagnosis.
What Is DVT?
Deep Vein Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in one of your major veins. The biggest fear is that the blood clot in the leg will break loose and go to the lungs, heart, or brain. Symptoms of DVT are:
- Swelling in the leg or the area of the leg blood clot
- Pain in the leg that starts like cramping, then gets progressively worse
- Red or discolored skin on the area of the clot
- A feeling of warmth on the skin over the area of the leg pain
Who Is at Risk for DVT?
- People of any age can develop DVT but after age 60 the risk increases.
- Being overweight. Use this NHLBI BMI Calculator to determine your BMI.
- Smoking, pregnancy, and birth control increase your risk.
- People with heart failure, IBD, cancer, and some cancer treatments
- People with an Injury, who just had surgery, are on prolonged bed rest, or sit for extended periods like long flights
- Have a family history of DVT
How Is DVT Diagnosed?
At South Valley Vascular, our surgeons order ultrasounds to examine the arteries and veins of the legs. We have two different ultrasounds, the standing venous reflux ultrasound and the lower extremity arterial duplex ultrasound, that our physicians choose from depending on your individual needs and the pain in your legs. Here is more information on these two ultrasounds:
- Standing Venous Reflux Ultrasound: This is the most frequently ordered test by our physicians for patients with varicose veins and pain in the legs. It can identify abnormal valves, vein disorders, blood clots in the legs, and varicose veins.
- Lower Extremity Arterial Duplex Ultrasound: This is the main test for patients with Peripheral Artery Disease, which results from a lack of blood flow to the legs and feet. It can evaluate the leg arteries for narrowing or blockages.
Your doctor may recommend treatment or further testing based on the ultrasound results. He may recommend:
- simple treatments such as compression stockings and prescription medication.
- vein ablation, which can be done in the office with little downtime
- an angiogram, which is a series of X-rays of your arteries that can identify any unusual narrowing or blockages. At South Valley Vascular, angiograms are performed in the office surgery center by a highly specialized team. Depending on the results of your procedure, your physician may be able to treat your problem right away.
For some people, Deep Vein Thrombosis can be life-threatening, but for others, it is not very serious. Many people have blood clots and they do not even know it. But don’t take that chance. If you have any symptoms, be sure to get checked. Contact one of our offices at 1-559-625-4118 or South Valley Vascular.
