Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Introduction
- Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Causes of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Diagnosing deep vein thrombosis
- Treating deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Complications of deep vein thrombosis
- Preventing deep vein thrombosis
- 'I got DVT from flying'
- 'I woke up and couldn't feel my left leg'
- 'Stay positive and be as informed as you can be'
In some cases of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) there may be no symptoms, but possible symptoms can include:
- pain, swelling and tenderness in one of your legs (usually your calf)
- a heavy ache in the affected area
- warm skin in the area of the clot
- redness of your skin, particularly at the back of your leg below the knee
DVT usually affects one leg, but this is not always the case. The pain may be made worse by bending your foot upward towards your knee.
If DVT is not treated, a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot that has come away from its original site and become lodged in one of your lungs) may occur.
If you have a pulmonary embolism, you may experience more serious symptoms, such as:
- breathlessness, which may come on gradually or suddenly
- chest pain, which may become worse when you breathe in
- collapsing suddenly
Both DVT and pulmonary embolism are serious conditions that require urgent investigation and treatment.
Read more about complications of deep vein thrombosis.
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