I was dx 2 years ago. I was hospitalized intiailly for 5 weeks trying to get my INR level at 2.0. once we did that life went on as usaul. But I would foolow his Dr advice to a T. I failed to do that and ended back in the emergency room and then hospitalized once more for a week.

Oh it varies so much. It depends so much on the size of the clot, the location, whether your Dad has clotting factors adding to this, how active he is, so many things. We're all a little different. I felt noticeably less pain starting about 4 days after starting on heparin/coumadin. Now I just get twinges when I exercise. But because of my particular vein anatomy, my leg never swelled up much at all, so I'm a strange case. Other people have much more trouble with pain and swelling, and all of that resolving. The most important thing is to stay on the blood thinners and keep that INR at a therapeutic range.

Everyone is different...as jujuridl said. I actually didn't feel THAT much pain to begin with. Enough to make me limp slightly and put an ice pack on at night, but I could still walk. No swelling. I notice improvement a few days after starting heparin/Coumadin. I still have no swelling. Things have improved quite a bit!

I kept asking my dr. that same question every time I went to get my inr checked and they never could give me an answer as to when I would feel better. I actually got worse before I got better and am STILL on meds and recovered 9mos later.

I had the charlie carp (or dead leg) feeling for the first couple of days. I can't remember when it stopped but it was within a few days of taking blood thinners.

I then stayed on blood thinners for 3 months. During this time I would sometimes get pains in my groin etc. And twice my leg swelled a bit (not as bad or originally) due to too much standing around. It's now 5 months and thankfully don't have genetic factors so am off blood thinners.

I don't have any pain really, leg still slightly bigger and will swell if I exercise too much etc. Main problem I have now is with my toe which is a bit infected due to the circulation problems and wearing stockings.

I have recently started wearing the stockings less and only one leg after the genetic tests. I am now just wearing it when I'm driving a long way or exercising. My life is pretty normal again now and I'm not experiencing any pain.

Everyone is different.. the important thing is to take the meds faithfully.. and do what the doc says to do.
(unlike me)...wear the buttarse fugly surgical stockings and don't complain..(unlike me).. and take care of yourself.

I was told I will be on Coumadin for 12 months. That is the new medical thinking btw.. no more of this 3 month stuff.. it is now 6-12 months to make sure the clot is taken care of.
And then Aspirin for life. There is a chance of more clots in the future from what reading I have done, something the doctors do not tell you. Take the meds, exercise, drink the water, wear the stockings, elevate the limb.. and don't overdue the caffiene, booze etc.. (unlike me).. and you should be fine and feeling much better very soon.