A Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in one of the deep veins of the leg or arm. If untreated, it can dislodge and move to the lungs where it becomes a Pulmonary Embolism (PE). A Pulmonary Embolism can be fatal and is sometimes called the silent killer (as it may be present without any symptoms).
Who is at risk for getting a DVT?
Sedentary individuals (as this causes decreased circulation)
Traveling individuals (for example, driving or flying for many hours at a time)
Hospitalized individuals (higher risk if they are mostly lying in bed)
Side effect of certain medications (for example, some birth control pills)
Individuals with recent surgery (blood thinners are usually prescribed for DVT prevention)
Elderly individuals (especially if they are not very mobile)
Individuals with prior blood clot(s)
Dehydrated individuals
Individuals with cancer
Individuals with a recent injury to the arm or leg
Individuals with varicose veins
Women who are pregnant
Individuals with congestive heart failure (CHF)
Obese individuals
Individuals with sickle cell anemia
Individuals with an infection in the abdomen
What are the symptoms of a blood clot (DVT)?
Small area of pain in the calf, thigh, forearm or upper arm (ache or throb)
If DVT is in the leg, pain may increase with walking
Pain increases with putting pressure on that body part
Swelling in the affected body part
The skin of that area feels warm or hot
The skin of that area may look blue
May have no symptoms
What are the symptoms of a Pulmonary Embolism (PE)?
Unexplained shortness of breath, even without exercise or movement
Recent, unexplained pain in the leg or arm (possible undiagnosed DVT)
Fast breathing and fast heart beat
Unexplained fever
Worsening lung or heart conditions
May have no symptoms
What is the treatment for blood clots?
Blood thinners (medication)
Bed Rest for a few days (in the hospital)
Compression Stockings, leg/foot pumps (in hospital) or ace wrap
Elevate the affected body part higher than the heart
Surgery
How is a blood clot diagnosed?
Ultrasound/Doppler test of the affected body part
What should you do if you think you have a blood clot?
Go to the emergency room immediately!
Reference: Price, Sylvia & Wilson, Lorraine. Pathophysiology: Clinical Concepts of Disease Processes, 6th ed. 2003: Mosby. Pages 529-531, 603-605.
Showing posts with label pelvic pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pelvic pain. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Back Pain Referred From Other Medical Conditions
If you have back pain without a known cause, it may be referred from another body part or medical problem. Here are some medical conditions that can cause pain in the back in addition to their other symptoms.
Metabolic-related:
Cancer or malignant tumor: Your back pain is worse at night, it wakes you up, no position decreases the pain, you may have had cancer before, you are likely over age 50, you may have rapid, unexplained weight loss.
Osteoporosis: You are likely an older woman, may have sharp pain in the mid-back or pelvis, may have dull pain which decreases when you lie down, you may have fallen recently.
Blood-related:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: You are likely over 50 years old, have abdominal pain in addition to back pain, and you can feel a lump in your abdomen.
Stomach-intestine:
Pancreatitis or cancer: You have stomach pain which spreads to the back, you have fever, nausea/vomitting, have lost weight and notice fat in your stool.
Penetrating or perforated duodenal ulcer: You have stomach pain which spreads around to your back.
Rhematologic:
Fibromyalgia: You are likely a young or middle-aged woman, you have pain throughout your body, you have difficulty sleeping, you feel continually tired.
Scoliosis: Your spine curves toward one side, you may feel like one shoulder is much lower, your back does not look symmetrical.
Urinary:
Nephrolithiasis: You may have abdominal pain which spreads around to your back, you may have groin pain, you have bloody urine.
Pyelonephritis: You have pain to the touch on one side of your low back, you have a fever, and you have difficulty urinating.
Men's Issues:
Prostatitis: You are likely over age 30, you have difficulty urinating, you have back pain and perineal pain.
Women's Issues:
Endometriosis: You are a young or middle-aged woman, you have pain in the pelvis and back.
Pelvic inflammatory disease: You are a young woman, you are sexually active, you have a fever and difficulty urinating.
Ectopic pregnancy: You have pain in your back and abdomen, you had a positive pregnancy test.
Reference:
Brotzman SB, Wilk KE. Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, 2nd ed. Mosby: 2003. Page 562. Table 9-2: "Conditions That May Mimic Musculoskeletal or Mechanical Back Pain."
Cancer or malignant tumor: Your back pain is worse at night, it wakes you up, no position decreases the pain, you may have had cancer before, you are likely over age 50, you may have rapid, unexplained weight loss.
Osteoporosis: You are likely an older woman, may have sharp pain in the mid-back or pelvis, may have dull pain which decreases when you lie down, you may have fallen recently.
Blood-related:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: You are likely over 50 years old, have abdominal pain in addition to back pain, and you can feel a lump in your abdomen.
Stomach-intestine:
Pancreatitis or cancer: You have stomach pain which spreads to the back, you have fever, nausea/vomitting, have lost weight and notice fat in your stool.
Penetrating or perforated duodenal ulcer: You have stomach pain which spreads around to your back.
Rhematologic:
Fibromyalgia: You are likely a young or middle-aged woman, you have pain throughout your body, you have difficulty sleeping, you feel continually tired.
Scoliosis: Your spine curves toward one side, you may feel like one shoulder is much lower, your back does not look symmetrical.
Urinary:
Nephrolithiasis: You may have abdominal pain which spreads around to your back, you may have groin pain, you have bloody urine.
Pyelonephritis: You have pain to the touch on one side of your low back, you have a fever, and you have difficulty urinating.
Men's Issues:
Prostatitis: You are likely over age 30, you have difficulty urinating, you have back pain and perineal pain.
Women's Issues:
Endometriosis: You are a young or middle-aged woman, you have pain in the pelvis and back.
Pelvic inflammatory disease: You are a young woman, you are sexually active, you have a fever and difficulty urinating.
Ectopic pregnancy: You have pain in your back and abdomen, you had a positive pregnancy test.
Reference:
Brotzman SB, Wilk KE. Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, 2nd ed. Mosby: 2003. Page 562. Table 9-2: "Conditions That May Mimic Musculoskeletal or Mechanical Back Pain."
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