Hi, sometimes clots happen for no known identifiable cause or causes. I would think had you had clots that many years ago, they would have resolved by now so I don't that's possible.

What does your doc say about possible cause. Have you seen a hematologist?

The clot in my leg causes no pain because there is another vein in my leg (which is not typical) which has been acting as a bypass, so there's no telling how long I could have had it. That's why I was wondering if it's possible if the clot had been "dormant" all these years and just recently broke up to bring clots into my lungs. I haven't yet seen a hematologist, but that sounds like a good idea. So far I've only dealt with a pulmonologist and a vascular surgeon. Thanks for replying.

Many, many clots are unprovoked and many of us (myself included) never find a cause for our clots. It can sometimes be a perfect storm of events. Or, possibly, you do have something that just hasn't been identified yet. They're learning more about clotting all the time and many of the things you were just tested for genetically were unknown 20 years ago.

It seems pretty unlikely that you've had clots for 9-11 years, especially since clots tend to harden over time and become scars on the vein wall. They're most dangerous when they are new, because they're softer and will break up easily. Old, chronic clots aren't really considered dangerous because they won't break up and cause issues once they've been around 3-6 months. Your body also will tend to dissolve clots eventually... I had one chronic DVT in my leg that finally dissolved somewhere between 5 and 9 years after it was diagnosed.

It's interesting that you have the supplemental, bypass vein, as that is something that many of us form after having DVTs (my leg looks like a roadmap of veins). By itself, that does make me wonder if possibly you had clots at the time of the muscle tears. They've since resolved, but possibly left some damage behind in the veins that made it more likely that you'd reclot in the future. Hard to say ... and I'm speculating of course.

I don't know that a hematologist will give you many more answers than you already have if you've already had the genetic tests. For me, I saw the hema twice ... both times he ran tests and answered questions and that was about it.

Yeah hematologists aren't necessary.for everyone although sometimes they can be a good source for questions and reassurance when there is no explanation for the clots.

Not much to add what others have said. However, there can be high variability in the vein anatomy, such as the number of veins. As an example, some people have two popliteal veins while most have one. The body can form a new veins, but it happens really only in cases of serious vein blockage. It appears that formation of new veins is quite uncommon, and generally involved formation of bypasses.

The question is wehther there is a link between the muscle tear and the DVT. BTW, how was the muscle tear identified? Were there any detailed assessment of your symptoms? A good doctor should be able to separate between muscle tear and DVT, but the DVT symptoms can be sneaky. If there was a muscle tear affecting the veins, the veins should heal as well. Like other said, the clots do not stay dormant.