• A blood clot formed in the blood vessels of the leg will cause excruciating pain
• Taking a long drive across the country? Take some breaks to walk around and get the blood flowing through your body
• Coumadin and/or Lovenox injections may be necessary to dissolve the blood clot
• Warm compresses may ease the pain of a blood clot, Also, you will most likely be instructed to elevate the affected leg above heart level

Blood clot formation begins from the coagulation of blood, or the changing from liquid to solid. Although blood clotting is necessary at some times, blood clot formation in the blood vessels can be life threatening with need for immediate treatment. Blood will clot to stop bleeding from an injury, which is exactly what we want the blood to do. However, blood clot formation within blood vessels prevents oxygen from reaching vital organs.

There is a wide array of reasons for blood clot causes. A blood clot in a blood vessel may be caused by a trauma or other conditions. Normal blood flow changes like unusual turbulence or partly to complete blockage of blood flow are among other blood clot causes. There is also an abnormal blood process called hypercoagulability. This condition is when blood is more prone to clotting than usual. Other blood clot causes and risks include prolonged sitting, like in a car or plane, prolonged bed rest due to an immobilizing injury, recent surgery like orthopedic, gynecological, or cardiac which particularly increase risk, lower limb trauma, obesity, heart attack or heart failure, aging, birth control pills, estrogen replacement, cancer, organ replacement, or respiratory conditions.

Symptoms of blood clots may include swelling, gradual pain, redness with warmth to touch, more intense pain when bending the foot, leg cramps particularly at night, as well as whitish or bluish coloration of skin. Some people will have no symptoms of blood clots, whatsoever.

When a blood clot is discovered, immediate treatment is necessary so that the blood clot does not get bigger, the clot does not travel to the lungs, new blood clots are kept from forming, and post thrombotic syndrome does not take place. The most standard treatment for a blood is medication which will thin the blood, or anticoagulant medications. Heparin is usually the drug of choice and injected in the skin. Lovenox, Fragmin, Arixtra, and Innohep are other medication choices. After a few days of this treatment, Coumadin is taken by mouth for a few more days. PT INR blood tests are done to determine the effectiveness of the Coumadin or warfarin. The labs will show if enough or not enough drug is being taken. Some doctors will recommend that a blood clot patient wear compression stockings for a while.

For blood clot pain relief, it is suggested that moist heat be applied to the area which is affected. A patient with a blood clot is usually required to have bed rest until symptoms of the DVT pass. Also, the leg should be propped up, or elevated, to be positioned above the heart. This will ease the swelling which adds to the blood clot pain.

In extreme conditions, surgery for blood clot would be necessary if an embolus develops. The surgery would prevent the clot from spreading to the lung. Surgery is always done as a last resort. If there are complications from a blood clot, a filter is surgically inserted into a large blood vessel. This is to trap blood clots which are heading toward the lungs.

Blood Clotting1 Sep 2009