Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): When Blood Stops Moving and Trouble Starts

#Caution: This is a blog based on personal/familial experiences and meant only to make readers aware about Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). It does not include medical advice or prescription.

Have you ever experienced unexplained swelling, pain, or heaviness in your leg that just wouldn’t go away?

We usually ignore them as fatigue or a simple cramp. However, we should be cautious as it could be a sign of something far more serious: Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

Let’s talk about it.

How We Came Across DVT?

A leg that Ached and Swelled

On Monday, July 4, my wife, Sonu, video-called me at about 4 PM, crying, saying that her left leg had a searing burning ache and had swollen. It had been about four weeks since her delivery, and she had been breastfeeding our little son. During her night feeding sessions, she had complained of pains on waist and thighs. Her call indicated that the pain had deepened and become serious.

I took leave from office immediately and took a bike ride. The ride, which took about 40 minutes, tested my nerves. I was imagining different scenarios, from extremely dire to relatively pleasant.

Upon reaching home, I found her smiling through the pain. Everyone in my family and my neighbourhood was relieved that she was walking around, albeit slowly, and the pain had subsided. Little did we know that the pain would keep increasing.

The Mistakes We Did

Sonu’s pain had begun in the late-night breastfeeding sessions. To soothe her pain, she asked her masseuse to relieve her of the pain. Unfortunately, the pain worsened. She could not even walk to the attached bathroom.

Thinking that the condition was caused by cramping, we applied massage, ice, and warm water on the aching leg regularly. Although they provided temporary reliefs, swelling and aching continued. Sonu also took painkillers with prescription from doctors at a nearby clinic, but they did not seem to work.

Treatment

As the condition worsened, Sonu’s feet started becoming more bluish. On Thursday, at about 8 AM, we took her to Om Hospital, Chabahil and took appointment of an orthopaedic surgeon. He quickly sent her for an ultrasound. When the report showed DVT, he referred us to the cardiovascular expert. We had two choices: 1) Wait for the cardiovascular doctor till 1 PM, or 2) Go to Manmohan Cardiovascular Centre, Maharajgunj.

We chose the latter.

The doctor (not the one the orthopaedic doctor referred to) there gave her oral medicines and said it would be alright. We were not quite satisfied with the doctor, who did not look at Sonu’s state even for 5 seconds. But we bought the medicine, and as she took medicine, the pain and swelling decreased gradually.

Now, Sonu is much better and slowly resuming her daily activities. Prolonged standing, walking, or sitting can still become painful. She is still on the drugs the doctor has prescribed for the next couple of months.

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Now that we described our experience, let’s come to a more formal definition.

What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)?

Deep Vein Thrombosis is a condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs or pelvis. These veins carry blood back to the heart, and when a clot blocks them, it can cause serious problems.

In everyday life, DVT often goes unnoticed. When the clot is dense, however, it can become potentially life-threatening if the clot travels to the lungs and causes pulmonary embolism (PE).

Why Should You Care?

DVT doesn’t always come with drama. It can begin subtly:

• A bit of pain in your calf
• A heavy feeling in one leg
• Slight swelling or bluish discoloration

People often mistake it for a muscle strain, standing too long, or even poor circulation. But when left unchecked, a clot can travel to your lungs, blocking blood flow and oxygen and leading to a medical emergency.

Who Is at Risk?

These people are at high risk of suffering from DVT:

• Women in the postpartum period (especially after C-section, like Sonu)
• Anyone who has to sit or lie down for long hours (desk jobs, long travel)
• Someone who has had a recent surgery or injury
• Smokers, obese or those undertaking certain medications, such as oral contraceptives, anticoagulants, and some neurosupressants
• Someone who has a family history of clotting disorders

It should be noted that even healthy individuals can develop DVT under the right conditions.

Symptoms That Shouldn’t Be Ignored

If you ever notice symptoms like:

• Pain that starts in the hip, thigh, or calf
• Swelling or a leg feeling “tight”
• Burning or warmth in one leg
• Discoloration: a leg appearing bluish or reddish
• Difficulty walking, even after resting

What Helps?

This is not a medical advice article, so we won’t tell you what medicine to take although there are many oral as well as intravenous medicines available. But these can be helpful

• Awareness about the symptoms of DVT
• Early diagnosis through immediate visit to the hospital and advice from medical professionals
• Regular movement during long travel or desk work
• Elevating your legs while lying down or sleeping
• Knowing your body, especially during postpartum recovery

When people act early, complications can often be avoided.

A Final Word: Be Gentle with Your Body

Your legs carry you. If something feels off, listen.
Let your legs rest, elevate them when needed, and never hesitate to ask questions or see a doctor when in doubt.

Sometimes, knowing what not to ignore is just as important as knowing what to do. Had we known about DVT earlier we might have been more cautious.

Awareness can save lives. Share this post with someone who might need it.

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>>> Read the Nepali version of this post: https://storiesofsandeept.com/2025/08/18/deep-vein-thrombosis-dvt-np/