Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Support Group

Did you do a lot of limping when the DVT struck? That may have stressed the good leg and now that your gait has changed it is getting stressed again. What about extended periods with the legs elevated? If you are habitually using the same positioning on elevating your leg that may be irritating it.

I recently "de-elevated" the foot of my bed significantly (it was really high!) and that reduced a lot of the pain in my back and good leg. I find that most of my pain is reduced by frequently changing positions.

I am 3 weeks out of surgery and have mild pain (3 out of 10) that builds through the day (to about a 5 out of 10). I had significant swelling and unknown damage to the leg. I also have a couple stents in place (although I also have a filter in place that causes no discomfort).

I plan on asking my surgeon next week about pain and damage to the leg...I have another ultra sound scheduled next week too.

I should probably preface my comments with a note that I am not doing the kind of focused exercise you are doing. Mostly light/short walks several times a day.

I try hard to not sit too long and do the evevation above my heart regularly (except while I'm stuck in traffic hahaha) and I always wear the compression sox, this is new pain though. My good leg had no issues unitl recently, the only real change is the increased exercise. I try hard to stretch etc. but it doesn't feel like muscle achy, it's that internal deep ache inside the leg like on the DVT side. In the old days I would have taken a couple of Advil and forgotten about it. But these days, who knows... Good luck with your leg sounds not so fun either :). -P

Has your doc checked for the possibility of peripheral artery disease? I only get pains in my DVT leg, but my good leg will feel heavy after exercise. Heck, my whole body feels heavy after exercise....
I don't know how they test for PAD, but it may be worth an inquiry. I don't know if deep pain is a symptom, but a friend of mine has PAD and limb heaviness is definitely there.

I go back to see the IR doc in a couple of weeks (venous clinic) I will ask. They have PAD literature all over the waiting room. Thanks for the thought.

It has been 9 months since my knee dvt. After the first 8 months of 1 hours of cardio (elliptical trainer, body pump, stationary bike) for 5 days a week, my leg would swell up horrifically, turn a little darker, and it would be painful to walk. Now into my tenth month after the dvt I have added tennis (45 minutes) and treadmill jogging (20 minutes) to my routine. At first after adding tennis and jogging, my leg became really swollen and hurt very badly, but I preservered. Now 10 months post dvt, my leg is much better, swelling is way down, leg does not fall asleep and very little pain. I don't even use my handicapped placard any longer. I can't believe that I got better, but it took almost 1 year of exercising for me to feel better. I tried physical therapy, but did not find it useful. Oncologist declared the dvt had gone away based upon the post dvt doppler and I have my vascular surgeon appointment on Tuesday. Follow up appointment with ortho surgeon is in December.

jka,
That's great! My ankle therapy ends next week, the Ortho has declared the ankle healed, but the leg that's another issue, and my lungs mostly clear. She wants me to see a vascular surgeon and that is early next month. I just started walking without my ankle brace 2 weeks ago and am wearing normal shoes again :) Next week will be 4 months out from the DVT/PE 5 from the surgery and periodically the leg swells and is really painful but I think those days are starting to be fewer than the "feeling normal" days (or I keep telling myself :). I really try to do a lot of walking and take the stairs vice the elevator whenever practical, I think the exercise is helping. I ran last week for the first time in a LONG time, only 1/2 mile and more of a shuffle but progress none the less :)

Hahahaha the hangtag, I stopped using mine 2 months ago and park at the farthest corner of our lot and walk to the building.

I can't say enough for my therapy group, they pushed me hard and 3 days a week for 2+ hrs they had me stretch, cardio, jumping, balancing, lifting weights etc. and I'm sure I wouldn't be this far along without them. That being said, I hope I can keep the schedule up on my own after next week. For me its been much easier to push through those days when you really don't feel well when you have someone to motivate you!

Best of luck with your appointments, your progress is a nice ray of sunshine! -p