Sometimes it occurs because a person's blood clots too quickly, and sometimes it is associated with trauma. Old age, overweight, and some types of drug therapy also increase the risk. Blood clots in the veins buried deep in the calf or thigh can be difficult to detect. If you have any of these, check with your doctor immediately. In most cases, deep vein clots heal without any special treatment, but extra care may be needed to keep the clot from breaking off and traveling to the lungs, heart, or brain.
Hospitalization is a good idea in many cases, at least at first.
Bed rest, elevation of the leg, and warm, moist heat to the area may relieve pain. Prolonged sitting must be avoided. Although most blood clots in the leg dissolve on their own, complications may occur and can be life-threatening. The most dangerous complication is called pulmonary embolism. In pulmonary embolism, a blood clot moves into the lung and lodges there.