DVT deep vein thrombosis forum |
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DVT - Recovery time?
Started by Colleen |
Posted: February 4, 2010 at 01:34 | |
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I was wondering how long it takes to completely recover (if possible) from DVT? I had ankle reconstruction surgery on 12/1/09 and by 1/15/10, my PT sent me directly to the ER due to extreme swelling (rock solid hard), redness in the calf, warm to the touch. The ultrasound indicated a clot from the bottom of my calf to above my groin close to my lung. I had to self-inject Lovenox 2x a day and started immediately on Coumadin. My PT/ INR levels are finally good at 2.4. But my leg isn't really improving. I know it hasn't been long but will I have permanent damage to the veins? I realize that a PE is still possible at this stage. Are there specialists out there other than a GP that can be consulted? Lots and lots of questions here... Just looking for some insight. Thank you. 15288
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Re: DVT - Recovery time?
Reply #1 by Machka |
Posted: February 5, 2010 at 05:51 | |
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Mine developed almost 8 months ago. Just over 6 months ago I was finally diagnosed. I was in the hospital with mine for 2 weeks ... it took 2 weeks for my INR level finally get into the correct range so they could release me ... and it did that for that one blood test, and then proceeded to wander all over the map until this past December when it settled back into the correct range for a couple weeks again. I still have one clot and a few symptoms, and I'm still on coumadin. I'd say you still have a ways to go. Your 3-month ultrasound should show if you have any permanent damage to your veins. 15306
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Re: DVT - Recovery time?
Reply #2 by Colleen |
Posted: February 5, 2010 at 23:50 | |
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Thank you! They told me that I could go back to work while trying to get my INR level right??? With a clot 3+ feet long, I am not sure that I am getting all the right information. Have you considered seeing a Vascular Surgeon or Intervention Radiologist? Not sure what those are but thought they would have more answers than my GP. Good luck in your recovery Machka! 15320
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Re: DVT - Recovery time?
Reply #3 by Machka |
Posted: February 6, 2010 at 23:27 | |
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I couldn't work when I developed mine because I had not been granted a visa yet. But I started working toward the end of November ... so that was a little over 5 months after the clots developed and a little less than 4 months after diagnosis. My job involved standing 8-10 hours a day 5-7 days a week, and it did cause some problems, but I got through it. Unless I had a job where I could sit, and where there wasn't much in the way of physical activity involved, I wouldn't have wanted to return to work within the first month after being released from hospital. I got so tired all the time, and doing any physical activity was a lot of effort. I haven't seen anyone but my Dr ... although I've been tempted to find a specialist of some sort. Where I live, however, finding a specialist or getting to one is a bit of an effort. I'm pretty remote. 15338
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Re: DVT - Recovery time?
Reply #4 by Paulina |
Posted: February 14, 2010 at 08:02 | |
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I am sorry about your DVT, I know how scary it is. I was diagnosed with an extensive DVT in my left leg after a hysterectomy; it will be two years ago this April. I too had to inject Lovenox 2x a day and was on coumadin for 7 months. Doppler did show that the blood clot had dissolved. About a month after DVT diagnosis, general practicioner wanted me to go back to work although I could barely walk and was still suppose to be off because of surgery according to my obgyn, I think GP thought lack of flexibility, strength and pain were all in my head. I am very frustrated with the lack of information there is on "living with/recovering/therapy re DVT". My GP continues to deny my requests for physical therapy for the lack of flexibiliy, strength, & pain I have in my left leg. My obgyn explained that the vein has been scarred and will remain so, just like the skin on your arm would remain scarred if it were cut. Almost two years later and my leg continues to hurt daily, and is a bit swollen. The level of pain depends on hte weather, day's activities, and ??? still trying to figure it out. I am exercising now, doing some kind of cardio every day. Since I've had no therapy, I've had to figure this out on my own by trial and error. I have had to push myself, but have been very careful not to overdo it. I have to be extremely careful with any type of leg exercises. I walk at a pretty good pace now, can run on the treadmill, although I do walk with a slight limp. I have trouble balancing while walking at times and find that I can not carry heavy objects when I walk e.g. two reams of copy paper. I come home exhausted after work and am no longer able to do much of anything. It's very frustrating but I am so grateful to be able to do the things I can. I was sent to a blood specialist to see if I carried a gene with a predisposition for blood clots; I do not. Remember to be uber careful with what you eat so that your PT level stays in your range. Good luck to you! 15380
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Re: DVT - Recovery time?
Reply #5 by Colleen |
Posted: February 14, 2010 at 20:09 | |
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Good luck to you too Paulina! I was actually able to get in to see a vascular surgeon a couple of days ago. The technician who did my ultrasound said that the clot was now only from my knee down. His incompetence worries me as he couldn't even find certain buttons on the machine and did no measurements of the clots. Just have a hard time believing that 2' of clots could dissolve in 2 weeks (from my previous ultrasound). I will now go back to the hospital for all future ultrasounds as these are critical in determining treatment. Assuming that he got it right, there is nothing they can really do with a clot below the knee. Compression stockings are a must! Else, you will have issues later in life. You can order them without a prescription although I did get one just in case as I didn't know what "strength" to even start with. The surgeon also highly recommended as much activity as possible (or as much as I could tolerate). GP's will only treat it conventionally. If I would have seen the Vascular Surgeon earlier, they could have dissolved it immediately. All my best to your recovery too! 15384
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Re: DVT - Recovery time?
Reply #6 by Margie |
Posted: February 14, 2010 at 22:13 | |
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Hi Colleen - I've had two and the first one was two large PE's...one in each lung. We know what caused both of them. My Dr. turned me loose after the PE's as I had the US$6,000 IV that dissolves them and then the six mos. of Coumadin. The one from Dec. 5 2009 from heel to behind is almost gone. I had to take Dec. & Jan. very easy with my leg elevated and compression sock. We are now at Valentine's and I'm almost back to normal -- still a bit of swelling in ankle and foot and actually came on-line to get link of 'sock place' as I'm sure they will be cheaper than buying from a speciality store here. Past time for a much smaller sock. I'm thrilled as I live in the big snow country and can finally put on a shoe. Each and every step we make is fabulous progress. I was scheduled to have both knees replaced in Dec. and that obviously has changed to June. The secret to a beautiful INR is consistency -- if you are going to eat cabbage, eat some every day or if you like mayo, eat it every day. I like healthy food and even so doing I come in every month with a 2.1. I eat a great salad every day. I had asked if we had one of those vascular surgeons in town and was told YES and that was the end of that conversation. Sometimes GP's just really don't get this. I have NOT had an ultrasound since I was in the hospital for a few days in Dec. It's pretty easy to tell what's going on by size in with me. My understanding is that the others work on little 'valves' in the vein helping to keep the blood flowing normally so it goes back up into the body instead of pooling in leg. As for 'strength' of sock, my orthopaedic doc said to make it really tight in foot and ankle and then go looser all the way up so the sock will help push the blood out of the vein and back where it belongs. Someone on this site has posted all the info you need if you keep looking at back posts! Get well~Margie 15385
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