Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Support Group

Deep-vein thrombosis, also known as deep-venous thrombosis or DVT, is the formation of a blood clot ("thrombus") in a deep vein. It can be caused by something preventing blood from circulating or clotting normally. Join the support group if you are coping with DVT and find others who are going through the same challenges.

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Purple Ankle

LauraLu
LauraLu
My DVT leg was never outrageously swollen or discolored, except for at my ankle. It's a mottled port wine shade of purple below the ankle bone and along both sides of my foot. I look like a one-legged grape stomper.
It's starting to get on my nerves. I thought the bruising would be gone by now, 3 months after dx. Of course I went online and read all kinds of discouraging info about post thrombotic syndrome, and so now am freaking out about this being a permanent, or worse yet, progressive thing. Compression socks have helped with swelling, but not the bruising. Soaking in a hot tub helps some, temporarily. Elevation doesn't seem to matter at all. Standing or walking will make it more pronounced after half an hour or so.
Has anyone else had this, and if so, did it go away or improve at all?
ShilosMommy
ShilosMommy
Hi Laura,

I'm sorry that I don't have any experience myself in this as far as the DVT, but I do have a question, is the discoloration like a hematoma, or is it like discolored, burst capillaries? I have before had a hematoma in my ankle/foot and I think it took about 6 months before it cleared up. I didn't have to do anything special for it, just took a long time for the body to reabsorb it, is all.

Hope you get some answers!
Sarah
LauraLu
LauraLu
It's like burst capillaries - not one solid mass of purple, but splotchy. I'm just wondering if I should be doing something prevent further damage, or if this is just a typical DVT side effect that's nothing to worry about? I really don't want to make a special appointment with the doc if there's nothing that can be done about it. But then with my luck it'll become ulcerated and I'll get yelled at for not going in sooner, y'know? Damned if ya do, damned if ya don't. Guess we all know how that feels!
ShilosMommy
ShilosMommy
Yes, I certainly know that feeling! Actually you bring up a good point for me, since evidently splotchiness and skin ulcers are going to be part of my future, I'm going to try to remember to ask at what point, exactly, should I deal with something like that when it starts?

Just a thought, I really have no idea, do you think a little massage might possibly help? I know that can sometimes help with blood flow.....maybe it could at least reduce the appearance.
LauraLu
LauraLu
Well it's worth a shot! I just feel there has got to be a way to prevent skin ulcers and also to take away discoloration - it may just be wishful thinking, but for now I refuse to accept we're doomed with one funky leg for life.
ShilosMommy
ShilosMommy
Yeah, I hear you on that. I'm already putting calls in out to my South American friends to ask if there are any funky natural remedies for it, because at this point I'll try anything! The other day the doc started out saying, Well, you're young....

At that point I expected (because this is usually how it ends) and you're body will recover better being young.

No, this time he said, maybe in the next 15-20 years they'll discover a way to treat it! Ugh!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have a purple ankle, too. It looks more or less purple depending on what light I'm in. I have decided, for instance, just not to look at it when I'm at the pool. The lighting there is kind of dim (it's a pool on a Navy base, so it's utilitarian, maybe not as attractively appointed as a health club pool might be) and makes my ankle look awful. In the noonday sun, it does not look so bad. If it is still purple come summer, I have already decided to put make-up on it.