Persistent DVTs
Persistent DVTs | Vascular Neurology of Southern California
Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a condition resulting from a blood clot that forms in the deep veins of the legs, arms, or other area of the body. When a DVT lasts longer than one to two months, it is called a chronic or persistent DVT. This condition can create long-term consequences if left untreated. DVT or chronic DVT can develop into a serious condition called pulmonary embolism (PE), which can become life-threatening.
Led by quintuple-board-certified neurointerventionalist Dr. M. Asif Taqi, our experts at Vascular Neurology of Southern California offer several solutions to help restore blood flow and vein function following DVT and chronic DVT with the aim of reducing your discomfort and improving your overall health and wellness.
Contact us online or call us at (805) 242-4884 to schedule your persistent DVT consultation. Our practices proudly serve patients in Thousand Oaks, West Lake, Woodland Hills, Ventura, Camarillo, Calabasas, and many other areas throughout Southern California as well as Las Vegas, NV.
What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, can occur when a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the body, typically in the legs. Often, DVT causes leg pain or swelling; however, DVT can occur without noticeable symptoms. DVT can develop due to certain medical conditions affecting the blood’s ability to clot or damage to a vein from injury, inflammation, or infection. Blood clots may also form due to lack of movement, such as while traveling, on prolonged bedrest, or anything else that prevents blood from flowing correctly.
Chronic or persistent DVT begins when a clot is one to two months old. In this condition, the blood clot hardens, scarring the affected vein. As a result, the obstructed vein shrinks and negatively impacts blood flow.
DVT can be severe if the clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs; it may block blood flow, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE). When they occur together, DVT and PE are venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Persistent DVT Symptoms
While DVT can occur without noticeable symptoms, typical symptoms may include:
- Swelling in the leg
- Pain, cramping, or soreness in the leg that often begins in the calf
- Skin color changes, such as red or purple, on the leg
- Warmth on the affected leg
Chronic DVT Complications
Chronic DVT can create many complications, including:
PE can be a potentially life-threatening complication that occurs when a blood clot migrates to the lungs and becomes stuck in a blood vessel. PE requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms of PE include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest pain while breathing or coughing, rapid pulse, fainting or feeling faint, and coughing up blood.
Blood clots cause damage to the veins, which reduces blood flow. This can cause symptoms like leg pain, swelling, skin color changes, or skin sores.
Often, blood thinners are prescribed to treat DVT. However, excessive bleeding is a side effect of blood thinners.
Who Is Most at Risk for a Persistent DVT?
Many factors can increase your risk of developing DVT, including:
While DVT can occur at any age, being older than 60 increases your risk.
Muscle contractions aid blood flow. If the legs are still for too long, the muscles don’t contract, allowing blood to pool. Sitting for too long, such as when traveling or on extended bedrest, can increase your risk.
Any injuries to the veins, including surgeries, can increase your DVT risk.
Due to increased pressure in the veins of the legs and pelvis, pregnancy creates a risk that continues for up to six weeks after giving birth.
Many of these options include estrogen or progestogen, which can affect blood’s ability to clot.
Being obese or overweight causes increased pressure in the veins of the legs and pelvis. A consistent exercise routine lowers DVT risk.
Smoking affects circulation, causes blood vessel damage, and thickens the blood, significantly increasing your risk.
Certain cancers and some cancer treatments increase clotting factors in the blood.
As the heart and lungs don’t work well during heart failure, this condition significantly increases your risk of DVT and PE.
Patients with autoimmune disorders like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have a greater risk of developing DVT.
If you or someone in your family has had DVT or PE, you might be at greater risk for developing DVT.
Some people have inherited DNA changes that may change the clotting factors of the blood. Often, inherited disorders do not cause blood clots until linked with other risk factors.
DVT Treatments
Typically, DVT and chronic DVT are highly treatable and preventable conditions if detected early. If a DVT is suspected, an ultrasound, blood tests, or CT or MRI scans may be performed to diagnose the condition.
Most cases of DVT require standard anticoagulant medications—blood thinners—to reduce the size and risks of deep-vein blood clots. Blood thinning medications can be delivered orally, intravenously, or by injection. They work by helping blood to flow around the clot, preventing the clot from getting bigger, and inhibiting the clot from traveling to the lungs.
Some patients may be required to take blood-thinning medications for three months or longer. Often, patients who are taking blood thinners will require blood tests to monitor their clotting ability and the level of medication in their system.
For more serious types of DVT or PE, or when other medications aren’t helping, clot busters—thrombolytics—are prescribed. These are administered through a catheter placed into the clot. As these medications can cause significant bleeding, they are reserved for those with severe blood clots.
For chronic DVT, surgical intervention may be necessary when no other treatments are available. Angioplasty or the insertion of stents to reopen blocked veins may be required to restore blood flow.
Certain patients may not be able to take blood thinners. In these cases, a filter may be placed into a large vein in the abdomen, the vena cava. This filter prevents any clots that may break loose from migrating to the lungs.
Preventing Future DVT
Following DVT treatment, there are ways to manage your condition and prevent complications or future blood clots from forming, including:
- Limit foods high in vitamin K as it can interfere with certain blood thinning medications. Foods to avoid include broccoli, spinach, kale, other dark leafy greens, and Brussels sprouts.
- Take medications as prescribed. Your provider will instruct you on how to take your medications and for how long. You may need regular blood tests as long as you’re taking blood thinners.
- Excessive bleeding can be a side effect of many blood thinners, making even minor injuries serious. Discuss this side effect with your provider and learn what to do if bleeding occurs.
- Get moving. After being confined to bed or sitting while traveling or working, be sure to get up and get moving. It decreases the chances of blood clots developing.
- Support or compression stockings help prevent blood from pooling in the legs to reduce swelling. Your provider may suggest you wear support stockings to help prevent future blood clots from forming.
Your Chronic DVT Recovery
Recovery from chronic DVT can take three to six months without creating significant complications or long-term adverse consequences. During this time, the body naturally absorbs the clot, and its symptoms gradually resolve. Typically, symptoms begin improving within a few days of anticoagulant treatments, which can last for three months up to a year.
While many patients fear physical activity could cause a DVT to break off and migrate to the lungs, the risk of clots forming PE is most significant during the first few days, with risks decreasing at four weeks. Patients who go about their normal daily activities are not more prone to PE than those who do not, so movement is encouraged. However, discuss with your physician whether physical activity is permitted, what should be avoided, and how much activity is recommended.
Choosing Dr. Taqi for Your Persistent DVT Treatment
Choosing the right provider is essential when you’re experiencing health difficulties. Quintuple board-certified neurointerventionalist Dr. M. Asif Taqi and his expert team continually seek new methods and treatments to help patients improve their overall health. In developing the relationships formed with their patients, our providers consistently deliver the utmost care to ensure each patient’s safety and well-being. With a team dedicated to providing outstanding results, Dr. Taqi and his team are your choice as the best persistent DVT treatment specialists in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Schedule Your Persistent DVT Consultation Today
Our experts at Vascular Neurology of Southern California can help when you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have chronic DVT. Our experts will guide you to the correct procedures to help restore your quality of life and comfort. When you partner with Vascular Neurology of Southern California, we want to help you feel like your best self again.
To schedule your persistent DVT consultation today, contact us at (805) 242-4884 or complete our online form.