Swollen or painful feet are often mistaken for a simple sprain. However, in some cases, these symptoms can be caused by deep vein thrombosis (DVT) , a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg or calf. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications.
How Do Blood Clots Form?
Medically, DVT occurs due to a combination of three factors known as Virchow's Triad :
- Slowed blood flow (venous stasis) for example due to prolonged sitting.
- Injury to the blood vessel wall.
- Blood clots more easily (hypercoagulability), for example after surgery, pregnancy, or use of hormonal drugs.
All three can appear together or one of them can be more dominant.
Symptoms to Watch Out For
- Swelling in one leg for no apparent reason
- Persistent or worsening calf pain
- Legs feel heavy when standing/walking
- Reddish and warm skin
It is important to note that many DVT sufferers do not experience any typical symptoms at all.
DVT vs. Sprain: What's the Difference?
|
Differentiator |
DVT |
Sprain |
|---|---|---|
|
Reason |
Blood clot in deep vein |
Muscle/ligament injury |
|
Injury history |
Generally there is none |
Usually there is |
|
Swollen |
Can appear without impact |
Appears after injury |
|
Skin |
Redness, warmth |
Bruises |
|
Development |
Fixed/worsening |
Improves with rest |
Why is DVT Dangerous?
Besides disrupting activities, DVT carries two main risks of complications:
- Pulmonary embolism , with an incidence of 5-20%, is a blood clot that breaks loose and travels to the lungs, causing sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood, and even life-threatening emergency conditions.
- Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) , a long-term condition caused by damage to the venous valves following a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is characterized by chronic leg swelling, pain, and skin discoloration. An estimated 20–40% of DVT sufferers experience PTS, especially if treatment is delayed or the DVT recurs.
The Importance of Early Diagnosis
Not all leg swelling is DVT, and not all DVTs have typical symptoms. Therefore, a medical evaluation is necessary to confirm the diagnosis, rather than waiting or self-treating. Don't wait for the swelling to worsen. If you or someone around you experiences the above symptoms in your leg, consult an internist or vascular surgeon immediately for a medical evaluation so you can receive prompt and appropriate treatment.
Article written by Dr. Londung Brisman Sitorus, Sp.B(K)V (Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Specialist, EMC Tangerang & Alam Sutera Hospital).