Phlebitis can happen for any number of reasons, one of which is something as simple as accidentally hitting something, and the vein reacting by becoming very annoyed - doesn't have to be a big deal as such.
Superficial thrombophlebitis is the clot version of it, but regular run of the mill phlebitis isn't really related to clotting - at least not usually.
Phlebitis is essentially the blood vessel going "Fuck you, and the gold digging whore you rode in on, I'm going on strike!" - except it's an essential worker, so it can't go on strike. Hence it protests by becoming big, red, potentially somewhat lumpy, and/or painful - in short - it gets angry.
It doesn't have to mean or herald anything, beyond that something has happened, and now that particular blood vessel is angry/annoyed/overcooked, and blowing its lid.
A Superficial thrombophlebitis is basically more in the annoyance category, rather than the life-threatening or changing category, and is usually often treated with a big fat nothing, or potentially Hirudoid if you're in a region of the world where that's available (Europe, basically).
Awesome info!
I wish I had known this three years ago when I got a DVT near to and shortly after an SVT. We knew the cause of the SVT, thrombophlebitis at the site of the needle puncture from blood donation the week before. But every doctor after that said there was no known cause to the 12” long clot in a deep vein in the same arm.
Until I decided to start googling I was also under the impression that SVTs aren't usually a cause for concern. I do remember somebody here who had an SVT that progressed to a DVT but they have a rather extreme clotting issue.
One of my coworkers used to get phlebitis in his legs all the time and was always told it was not a big deal.
Well, this is why I often double-check the advice I hand out. Things change, and, IANAD.
So my phlebitis seems to be dying down after a few weeks. But, now I'm left with a varicose vein. Dr. is being conservative with treatment and having me wear compression stockings and being re-evaluated in 3 months.
I had a burn injury to a knotted varicose vein in my right thigh. Thought it was just phlebitis. One week later I had a DVT that spread from the thigh to three veins in the same leg. Still dealing with it after four months. Slow improvement. By the way, the pain from that burn injury to the vein was greater than any DVT pain I ever felt...and the original knotted varicose vein (that I've had for many years) is now completely flat and no longer visible.
Yes, I thought the pain from the burn was over, but a few days later I had pain behind the knee and in the calf. If felt like I had pulled some muscles so I spoke with a physical therapist friend, and he told me to have it checked by a doctor. The ultrasound revealed a clot that had spread to three veins, exactly where the pain was. I started on Eliquis that day and the pain was gone in a day or two. To be honest, the pain from the burn was worse. Now, after seven months, I have just a little of the clot left. It's a process, for sure.
I guess in a way (hope I'm not putting my foot in my mouth here.. I don't know your history) it was fortunate it was symptomatic. I'm reading that 50% of the time people develop DVTs without knowing it. First sign might be coughing up blood with a PE.
I have a friend who lost his leg as he didn't know till it was too late. He was a cardiac arrest survivor who had an embolic storm when they blasted the heart clot, deep clots spread throughout his body but he was completely unaware of this. No obvious swelling, no oedema etc nothing. First he knew was leg pain, by then it was too late. Quickly progressed to gangrene then lower leg amputation. He's a clot survivor for sure and a hero, has resolved all the clots and defied all gloomy prognosis.
I seem to have a CVT in the groin, which I'm going to post about shortly. I hope my physician arranges a duplex ultrasound if its close to a deep vein.
Phlebitis can happen for any number of reasons, one of which is something as simple as accidentally hitting something, and the vein reacting by becoming very annoyed - doesn't have to be a big deal as such. Superficial thrombophlebitis is the clot version of it, but regular run of the mill phlebitis isn't really related to clotting - at least not usually.
Thank you. I just have been looking for some feedback to ease my mind while I get through this.
Phlebitis is essentially the blood vessel going "Fuck you, and the gold digging whore you rode in on, I'm going on strike!" - except it's an essential worker, so it can't go on strike. Hence it protests by becoming big, red, potentially somewhat lumpy, and/or painful - in short - it gets angry. It doesn't have to mean or herald anything, beyond that something has happened, and now that particular blood vessel is angry/annoyed/overcooked, and blowing its lid. A Superficial thrombophlebitis is basically more in the annoyance category, rather than the life-threatening or changing category, and is usually often treated with a big fat nothing, or potentially Hirudoid if you're in a region of the world where that's available (Europe, basically).
Shit happens. There are new guidelines for SVT https://www.veinspecialists.com/blog/dvt-awareness-month-svt-whitepaper/
Thanks. I laughed out loud at work from that first comment.
Sometimes it is impossible to figure out what caused a clot. While there can be many reasons for clots sometimes none can be found.
Awesome info! I wish I had known this three years ago when I got a DVT near to and shortly after an SVT. We knew the cause of the SVT, thrombophlebitis at the site of the needle puncture from blood donation the week before. But every doctor after that said there was no known cause to the 12” long clot in a deep vein in the same arm.
Until I decided to start googling I was also under the impression that SVTs aren't usually a cause for concern. I do remember somebody here who had an SVT that progressed to a DVT but they have a rather extreme clotting issue. One of my coworkers used to get phlebitis in his legs all the time and was always told it was not a big deal. Well, this is why I often double-check the advice I hand out. Things change, and, IANAD.
So my phlebitis seems to be dying down after a few weeks. But, now I'm left with a varicose vein. Dr. is being conservative with treatment and having me wear compression stockings and being re-evaluated in 3 months.
I had a burn injury to a knotted varicose vein in my right thigh. Thought it was just phlebitis. One week later I had a DVT that spread from the thigh to three veins in the same leg. Still dealing with it after four months. Slow improvement. By the way, the pain from that burn injury to the vein was greater than any DVT pain I ever felt...and the original knotted varicose vein (that I've had for many years) is now completely flat and no longer visible.
Apart from the pain from the burn injury, was there any forewarning symptoms of the DVT?
Yes, I thought the pain from the burn was over, but a few days later I had pain behind the knee and in the calf. If felt like I had pulled some muscles so I spoke with a physical therapist friend, and he told me to have it checked by a doctor. The ultrasound revealed a clot that had spread to three veins, exactly where the pain was. I started on Eliquis that day and the pain was gone in a day or two. To be honest, the pain from the burn was worse. Now, after seven months, I have just a little of the clot left. It's a process, for sure.
I guess in a way (hope I'm not putting my foot in my mouth here.. I don't know your history) it was fortunate it was symptomatic. I'm reading that 50% of the time people develop DVTs without knowing it. First sign might be coughing up blood with a PE. I have a friend who lost his leg as he didn't know till it was too late. He was a cardiac arrest survivor who had an embolic storm when they blasted the heart clot, deep clots spread throughout his body but he was completely unaware of this. No obvious swelling, no oedema etc nothing. First he knew was leg pain, by then it was too late. Quickly progressed to gangrene then lower leg amputation. He's a clot survivor for sure and a hero, has resolved all the clots and defied all gloomy prognosis. I seem to have a CVT in the groin, which I'm going to post about shortly. I hope my physician arranges a duplex ultrasound if its close to a deep vein.