Have you thought about trying Physical Therapy? They might be able to help you either strengthen your leg, or get you braces that will help with mobility. My little brother had some pretty serious pain before he got his braces, but now that they're supporting the muscles it isn't so bad. A physical therapist may have advice on how to prevent the extra pain when you do try exercising. I don't know if you have the means right now, but you might look into it.

Also, have you thought about going to a gym? I think the social aspect of that will help, too. Also, you might be able to find one with a pool. Like rmb said, sitting there with only your thoughts for a long time can actually make everything worse. I'm guessing since you're a driver, you're pretty used to that, but being around people might help. I have issues with not getting out enough, and I swear the minute I'm around people everything gets better.

If neither of these things work and you do start exercising by yourself, just remember to take it slow and easy. Remember that when you exercise to strengthen muscles, you are technically breaking the muscle cells, and then they grow back stronger. Since DVT legs heal slower, you're going to have to take your time and let things heal before you push harder. Jumping in with a mile of biking the first day probably won't work. When you feel the leg getting tired, stop.

Hope all of this helps, and best of luck!

"Too much thinking is highly overrated."
So true...
Yes, I agree with RMB's diagnosis, Jerry you do things BIG or you don't do them at all. You will have to learn about "BABY STEPS" I had a whole post done up the other day and it disappeared on me after I pressed "Add" I was addressing you walking habit, where you went all out did a mile and a half, (I assume you had to do the same to get back home) making it 3 miles, way too bug as a first time out, no wonder you were in pain the following day.
After my second clot, it took me a full month to work up to a 10 mile. Starting with 500 feet and 500 feet to get back, that's the thing many people forget, if you go out 1 mile, you need to do another mile to get back home(unless you have somebody come and pick you up...)
BABY STEPS, learn it, love it and do it.
That's how I start my mountain bike season, my first ride is 10 miles every day for a week(5 miles out and 5 miles back), then I up it by 5 miles until I can go out for a 40 mile ride, then I know I'm at the point that anything around there is normal for me. BUT NEVER start BIG, BABY STEPS.
The other thing I wanted to address, GET THAT OUT OF YOUR HEAD, amputation is NOT option. That's a dead end, no coming back from there.

Yeah, I kind of love my fat, red, aching leg. I'm keeping it as long as it will have me.

"Yeah, I kind of love my fat, red, aching leg. I'm keeping it as long as it will have me. "

My 7-year-old calls it my "alien leg." :-)

Ha! It does kind of look like someone else's leg is attached to your body doesn't it? Honestly I just can't seem to care about how it looks any more. I feel like I kind of earned this raggedy thing, you know what I mean?

Well it was about a mile all together. I was also never an exercise buff before the DVT. I did ride a bike for miles a day when I was 18,19,20 and also in my teen years. So you are going to hang on to the alien legs. I think the X files needs to do an episode on alien limbs. lol. I'm looking at stationary bikes as I type this. Thanks for the advice.