If you develop any of the symptoms below, you should make an appointment to be seen as soon as possible by your physician. Your doctor can evaluate you for a possible DVT and help you treat the clot before it's too late.

Swelling

If you have a DVT, you may develop swelling in the extremity where the clot has formed.  This swelling may occur after an injury (which may have been the cause of the blood clot) or for no apparent reason. If you have recently injured your leg or ankle and developed swelling that does not respond to conventional treatments (e.g., NSAIDs or hot and cold compresses), it may be the sign that a DVT has formed under the swollen area.

Leg Pain or Tenderness Similar To A Charley Horse

A blood clot will often result in a painful, tender leg, or a stabbing pain that’s similar to a Charley horse. In other cases, a patient with a DVT will report persistent itching or a throbbing pain in the leg that does not respond to over the counter (OTC) treatments or home remedies. It also  tends to get worse over time.

Reddish Or Bluish Skin Discoloration

One of the first signs of a DVT is often an area of discoloration on the skin above the site of the clot. While redness or bruising may be common after an injury, if you have redness or discoloration that won’t go away on its own, or which gets markedly worse without cause, it could be a clot.

Extremity That’s Hot To The Touch

Blood clots often trigger a temperature change as the body attempts to resolve the clot on its own. You may develop an area of skin that is hot to the touch, or you may have a feeling of persistent, uncomfortable heat coming from the area where the clot has formed. In some cases, blood clots will also trigger a fever as the body tries to fight it off.