I would get a copy of the report if you don't have it already. I am not a doctor so I'm just speculating here but while it part of what makes up the deep vein system, I suspect the treatment (aspirin vs prescribed anticoagulation) is based on whether or not the clot is isolated. Don't quote me on that though.

Thanks rmb, I do have the report - that's why it is confusing ;)

Findings : "there is an occlusive thrombosis within the posterior tibial vein 15cm above the ankle for approx 10cm in length. No extension into the peroneal trunk, however, or the deep venous system. The remaining cural veins, and proximal deep venous system ate patent."

That vein appears to be a deep vein, but at the same time they say no extension into the deep venous system.

Oh well, just trying to educate myself as much as possible. It confused the doctor too. Luckily I have my next scan coming up soon.

Yeah that is confusing, and if your doc is confused, at least it's not just you feeling uneducated. Hopefully more light will be shed at your next scan.

Has my follow-up scan today and yes it is a dvt.

As it is below the knee, the treatment could be the same as for a superficial clot... sounds like there is a lot of debate on that though!

I will try to clarify: The Posterior Tibial is part of the deep vein system. This vein has a 10 cm long clot , which is occlusive (limited or no blood flow through) but does not extend into other deep veins (the Peronean vein mentioned there). The other crural veins (the other posterior tibial vein, the two peronean and the two anterior tibial veins) and the proximal veins (above knee) are open without obstruction. So, having only this single clot would represent a minor clotting that should hopefully dissolve soon.

You have thus a deep vein thrombosis, but the clot is quite small and only limited to one of the posterior tibial vein. All the other veins, anterior and peronean and one of the Post tib veins and the the superficial veins debate are open.

The usefulness of Aspirin to prevent clotting is debated, but it is far from as effective as convnetional anticoagulants e.g. warfarin, heparin etc.

Im not a doctor, but I would guess that if the cause is known for your clotting (e.g air travel and lower leg cast) then Aspirin and stay active could prevent further clotting. If the clotting happened "out of the blue" without a cause, then perhaps a more effective anticoagulant would be more useful. Again, this is something for the doctors to decide..but the general practice is to be more cautious when the DVT happens without any reason.,..

Thanks stefan014 for the great detail. I've since been put on Xaralto by my usual GP who is keen to do something more active than just aspirin.
From my research, clots in veins are often made of higher ratio of fibrin to platelets (compared to an arterial clot) meaning aspirin is even less effective I guess!
Also convinced them to check my blood coagulation as well.
I did have leg surgery back in October but that is well outside the usual time frame for blaming the surgery. I have had lots of strange symptoms in that leg so I really have no idea how long the clot has been there.

During clotting the fibrin (proten strands) "glue" together the platalets (blood cells) and you form clots. The whole clotting system is really clever and is more or less the same in arteries and veins. When you cut a finger, a clot is formed and blood is re-routed through to other arteies/veins. Clot is then dissolved (partly with a process called fibrinolysis, (but thrombolysis (using strong artificially made enzymes) is effectively mimicking this process) is to get rid of the clot after the artiery/vein has repaired itself to restore blood flow. In case of DVT, if the blood flow does slow down (for what ever reason, e..g impaird calf function due to surgery) , the body tinks that the vein is injured and start to clot. We as other mammals are highly adapted to repair bleeding injuries, but we are not adapted at all to such major clotting events at all, as in normal circumstances t it is caused by immobility. Any mammal that is immobile for long time gets eaten or die of starvation. The exception is mamamls that hibernate and interestingly, some of those, e..g bears do actually produce anticoagulants during hibernation to avoid clotting.

Aspirin and other anticoagulants does not break down clots, but they can slow and stop further clotting. However, Aspirin is not as effective as e.g. xarelto, herparin and warfarin. However, all these work in slightly different manner, and target different targets in the biogeochemical cycles involved in clotting. The body produces enzymes to break down the clots. If the clots are very large, they can be broken down with thrombolysis...

One can speculate that the leg surgery did damage one of the Post Tib vein, but this is impossible to say...You can always undergo some genetic testing of the blood, although having said that, lots of people have genetic mutations that promote clotting and never clot. In the end, some people are more prone to clotting than others and often it is just impossible to know why....These people need to take precautions to reduce the risk of clotting..