Venous Thrombosis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Venous Thrombosis is a condition, which can produce arm or leg swelling and increased warmth of the overlying skin, involves a clot in a vein. You probably have also heard it called thrombophlebitis, phlebitis, phlebothrombosis,and "milk leg."

Actually, phlebothrombosis indicates that little or no inflammation is present with the clot, while thrombophlebitis and phlebitis' indicate definite inflammation of the vein wall (The ending-itis means inftammytion) phleb-refers to a vein; and thrombo-means clot). "Milk leg" is sometimes used to indicate a clot in the iliac or femoral vein with massive leg swelling.

Among the reasons why a clot may form are accidental injury of the lining of a vein and standstill of blgod-In a vein because of inactivity, prolonged bed rest, or pressure on the back of the leg when sitting in, a chair. The clot may grow and, in doing so, may obstruct a vein. The danger of a clot in the leg is that sometimes part or all of it may break loose and be carried in the blood to a lung vessel. If that happens, the clot is called a pulmonary (lung) embolus (clot that has migrated). On the other hand, the clot may stop enlarging at its original site and become firmly attached there; over a period of some months a new hannel for blood flow may form in the vein or new branches may develop so blood can etour around the clot.

With venous thrombosis, you should have me<iical help as soon as possible. Treatment may include elevation of the arm or leg to encourage blood return to the heart, and moistwarm packs plus an anticoagulant (anticlotting) drug to prevent further clotting. Elastic stockings are recommended. Usually within five to ten days, tenderness and swellingdisappear, and if the leg was affected, you can expect to walk with an elastic support.