Bumping your leg against a table or stepping wrong and twisting your ankle typically results in a minor injury that quickly heals within a few days. However, there is a chance, a very small chance, that what you think is a minor injury could actually turn into something more serious – a blood clot.
Learning more about the symptoms of blood clot in the leg could help save your life. If left untreated, a blood clot could become life-threatening.
Why Do Blood Clots Happen After a Minor Injury?
Blood clots can happen with any injury where you experience bleeding or bruising. When you injure yourself, the body actively works to stop the bleeding. To stop the bleeding, your blood coagulates and clots start to form.
Usually, the blood clot that forms after an injury isn’t of any concern. The blood coagulates, a clot forms, the bleeding stops and over time the clot will disappear. However, that doesn’t always happen with every injury.
Sometimes, an injury occurs deep below the surface of the skin or it causes damage to the blood vessels. With injuries like this, the blood will naturally start to coagulate and form a clot. Due to the location of the injury, the blood clot that forms could block much-needed oxygen and blood flow to an area of the body. When this happens, you could experience dangerous, life-threatening problems.
Damage to the blood vessels can be especially dangerous. If an injury occurs to the actual blood vessel or inside it, the clot that forms as a part of the natural healing process could travel away from the injured area and cause life-threatening problems.
For example, the blood clot could break off and travel to the brain or heart, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. Similarly, a blood clot could travel from the injured area and cause problems in the intestines, legs or lungs.
Know the Early-Stage Symptoms of Blood Clot in Leg
Blood clots in leg can happen when you experience any injury that results in the formation of a bruise. Although rare, blood clots can also happen with injuries that bleed.
Some of the most common symptoms of a blood clot in the leg include:
- Bruises that never seem to go away – a bruise should disappear within two weeks. If a bruise is still present after two weeks, it could be a sign you have a blood clot.
- Formation of a small, noticeable lump – the lump will often feel like it is located directly under the skin and is near the injured area
- Sudden pain that doesn’t seem to go away with ice or other pain relieving methods
- Redness or discoloration of the skin
- Skin that feels warm to the touch, especially near the injured area
- Veins that seem to be bulging or protruding
It is important that if you experience any of the symptoms listed above, you seek medical treatment. Prompt medical treatment of blood clots is needed to prevent dangerous, life-threatening complications.
If you suspect you have a blood clot and experience shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood, a dramatic increase in heart rate, or difficulty breathing, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room. You could be experiencing a life-threatening condition that requires prompt medical attention.
A Vein Specialist can Help Treat Blood Clots
A vein specialist, like the professionals at Vein & Vascular Institute, have the necessary tools to help not only diagnose, but treat blood clots. The vein specialists at our clinic can run ultrasounds, MRIs and other imagining to determine if you may have a blood clot. Should a blood clot be found, our vein specialists can promptly treat it.
CONTACT US AT VEIN & VASCULAR
If you’re ready to schedule a consult at the Vein & Vascular Institute, just call 856-309-8346. During your call, we’ll help you find a great time to come by and get care for deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, or any other venous disorders affecting your life. We look forward to helping you remain in great health through the years, so please feel free to call today.