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What Causes Dark Discolouration On The Legs When Diagnosed With DVT?
Question: Please read every sentence as i think i am a complicated case.
I have had DVT thrice - 2005, 2006, and 2013. First time on left leg, second time on both legs and third time on left leg. After the second time, around 2007 I got varicose veins in both legs. in Feb 2011, I did radio frequency ablation in both legs after confirming the DVT clot wasn't still there. The legs used to hurt for a couple of years if I walked for long. Then gradually it became very rare - only if i do too much effort. Then, in 2016 I joined a gym and started treadmill, and lifting some light weights. I was on a stationary cycle one day and I did try to push myself. A few days later a small circular light brown color appeard on the outer left side of my calf. Also, after this, when I get up from toilet in the morning, I started noticing that there is numbness on the outer "right" calf (only the mid area between ankle and knee). This did not happen every day. Then I stopped going t gym and this numbness also disappeared. I forgot about the dark spot on my left outer calf.
Two weeks back I joined a yoga (PLEASE DO watch - the yoga I'm doing although it does not include the entire steps . This includes various processes while standing, squatting on heals, sitting with legs flat on ground and lying down. It also includes a kind of burpees and just one round of pushups. I enjoy this exercise a lot. However, I noticed that the numbness on the outer calf of my right leg started manifesting again but not everyday, only once or twice abuot a week into the session. Then I noticed the outer side of my left calf a few had patches of dark color up to hte mid of my calf region...I don't think all of this started just two weeks back but I think some of it may have. I also have some pain (although not uncomfortable) on the outer side of my calf of both legs - mid way between the knee and ankle - where the big muscle in the calf ends.
My question is regarding the exercise - Can I continue doing this exercise? I visited a doctor today and he said I have prophlebetic syndrome and can do angioplasty. From his behaviour i thought he was interested in getting money out of me no matter what. When I asked him whether can do exercises he said you can do whatever you want but this problem won't go away. When I repeatedly asked about the effect of exercise on this problem, he said, your skin discoloration may increase. I again asked what if I leave it untreated, he repeated the same, but added, it is not a problem or anything but if you do what i say you can at least get some releif (He also said doing Radio Frequency Ablation after having DVT was stupid).
So basically my question is - whether I can continue my exercise; looks like my legs are becoming more flexible, especially my hamstrings. Also, can I do swimming?
In addition to veins in the legs, there are veins below my liver area - on the right side of the abdomen. Another doctor whom I visited for constipation did some test and said there was a block in one of the veins that is going to the liver and has given me Ciplar 40 mg for 4 months. In my pubic area too, just above my penis, the veins are swollen although there is no pain or anything and I noticed this only when shaving.
NOTE: WHILE TRYING TO TAKE PICS OF MY LEFT ABDOMEN WHERE VEINS AREA SHOWING, I NOTICED SOME RED COLORED LINES THAT LOOK LIKE VEINS OR SRTETCH MARKS - I AM SEEING THIS ONLY NOW, WHEN WRITING THIS QUESTION! WHAT ARE THESE? RE
I have had DVT thrice - 2005, 2006, and 2013. First time on left leg, second time on both legs and third time on left leg. After the second time, around 2007 I got varicose veins in both legs. in Feb 2011, I did radio frequency ablation in both legs after confirming the DVT clot wasn't still there. The legs used to hurt for a couple of years if I walked for long. Then gradually it became very rare - only if i do too much effort. Then, in 2016 I joined a gym and started treadmill, and lifting some light weights. I was on a stationary cycle one day and I did try to push myself. A few days later a small circular light brown color appeard on the outer left side of my calf. Also, after this, when I get up from toilet in the morning, I started noticing that there is numbness on the outer "right" calf (only the mid area between ankle and knee). This did not happen every day. Then I stopped going t gym and this numbness also disappeared. I forgot about the dark spot on my left outer calf.
Two weeks back I joined a yoga (PLEASE DO watch - the yoga I'm doing although it does not include the entire steps . This includes various processes while standing, squatting on heals, sitting with legs flat on ground and lying down. It also includes a kind of burpees and just one round of pushups. I enjoy this exercise a lot. However, I noticed that the numbness on the outer calf of my right leg started manifesting again but not everyday, only once or twice abuot a week into the session. Then I noticed the outer side of my left calf a few had patches of dark color up to hte mid of my calf region...I don't think all of this started just two weeks back but I think some of it may have. I also have some pain (although not uncomfortable) on the outer side of my calf of both legs - mid way between the knee and ankle - where the big muscle in the calf ends.
My question is regarding the exercise - Can I continue doing this exercise? I visited a doctor today and he said I have prophlebetic syndrome and can do angioplasty. From his behaviour i thought he was interested in getting money out of me no matter what. When I asked him whether can do exercises he said you can do whatever you want but this problem won't go away. When I repeatedly asked about the effect of exercise on this problem, he said, your skin discoloration may increase. I again asked what if I leave it untreated, he repeated the same, but added, it is not a problem or anything but if you do what i say you can at least get some releif (He also said doing Radio Frequency Ablation after having DVT was stupid).
So basically my question is - whether I can continue my exercise; looks like my legs are becoming more flexible, especially my hamstrings. Also, can I do swimming?
In addition to veins in the legs, there are veins below my liver area - on the right side of the abdomen. Another doctor whom I visited for constipation did some test and said there was a block in one of the veins that is going to the liver and has given me Ciplar 40 mg for 4 months. In my pubic area too, just above my penis, the veins are swollen although there is no pain or anything and I noticed this only when shaving.
NOTE: WHILE TRYING TO TAKE PICS OF MY LEFT ABDOMEN WHERE VEINS AREA SHOWING, I NOTICED SOME RED COLORED LINES THAT LOOK LIKE VEINS OR SRTETCH MARKS - I AM SEEING THIS ONLY NOW, WHEN WRITING THIS QUESTION! WHAT ARE THESE? RE
Brief Answer:
Please refer to the detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
After carefully passing through all the details mentioned by you i would like to tell you that yes its clear from the symptoms that you have DVT and when you are bit exerting yourself you are getting claudication pain in your legs.
The discolorations which you are getting are probably due to the medicines which you are taking. Kindly let me know which medications you are currently taking and in what dose. Also i would like to see the reports of your color doppler of your legs in which DVT got diagnosed.
Regarding exercises yes you can do mild exercises which do not involve much stretching and do not exert yourself. Yes Swimming will be good for you but again you should not exert yourself.
The images which you have attached are showing stretch marks which happens when a person is becoming overweight.
I hope this information will be helpful.
Kind Regards
DR Bhanu Partap
Please refer to the detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
After carefully passing through all the details mentioned by you i would like to tell you that yes its clear from the symptoms that you have DVT and when you are bit exerting yourself you are getting claudication pain in your legs.
The discolorations which you are getting are probably due to the medicines which you are taking. Kindly let me know which medications you are currently taking and in what dose. Also i would like to see the reports of your color doppler of your legs in which DVT got diagnosed.
Regarding exercises yes you can do mild exercises which do not involve much stretching and do not exert yourself. Yes Swimming will be good for you but again you should not exert yourself.
The images which you have attached are showing stretch marks which happens when a person is becoming overweight.
I hope this information will be helpful.
Kind Regards
DR Bhanu Partap
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Thank you, Doctor.
Attached doc contains two reports- One when the last time DVT happened in 2013 (I don't have the reports for the first two times) and the second from 2015 - after treatment.
Currently I am having Acitrom 4 Mg since 2015 (and for life since the doctor said my blood has a tendency to clot). I am also having Ciplar 4 mg as another doctor suggested recently - for 4 months. Ciplar was because I requested to my gastroenterologist for a CT Scan of my abdomen when I thought I had some problems. Based on the CT scan, teh doctor suspected a block in one of the veins to liver, and suggested abdomen doppler. The person doing doppler said there probably MAY have been a block but it is not there anymore. So the doctor said the medicine - Ciplar - is to put less pressure on my liver (I used to drink regularly, too). The second doc attached shows the CT Scan and abdomen doppler reports. These happened in January this year. Sorry, I thought Ihad included these in my original question. I have some more questions, please:
-You mentioned I have DVT - did yoo umean I "had" DVT earlier? Since the last report says no evidence of DVT, I don't have DVT anymore, right?
- You mentioned the stretchmark are when someone is becoming overweight, bt I have not gained weight recently. I am 6'2 and 86.5 Kgs, but my belly is bigger compared to my body - I have an average body not even fat.
- How to avoid claudication pain when exercising?
- Can exercising cause DVT again?
- Can exercise cause my skin pigmentation to move up or cause ulcers
- Do you think I need to go fro Deep Vein Angiogram/Angioplasty? Is there any other treatment for the round swollen/dark are on my left calf? and to avoid the discoloration from spreading?
Attached doc contains two reports- One when the last time DVT happened in 2013 (I don't have the reports for the first two times) and the second from 2015 - after treatment.
Currently I am having Acitrom 4 Mg since 2015 (and for life since the doctor said my blood has a tendency to clot). I am also having Ciplar 4 mg as another doctor suggested recently - for 4 months. Ciplar was because I requested to my gastroenterologist for a CT Scan of my abdomen when I thought I had some problems. Based on the CT scan, teh doctor suspected a block in one of the veins to liver, and suggested abdomen doppler. The person doing doppler said there probably MAY have been a block but it is not there anymore. So the doctor said the medicine - Ciplar - is to put less pressure on my liver (I used to drink regularly, too). The second doc attached shows the CT Scan and abdomen doppler reports. These happened in January this year. Sorry, I thought Ihad included these in my original question. I have some more questions, please:
-You mentioned I have DVT - did yoo umean I "had" DVT earlier? Since the last report says no evidence of DVT, I don't have DVT anymore, right?
- You mentioned the stretchmark are when someone is becoming overweight, bt I have not gained weight recently. I am 6'2 and 86.5 Kgs, but my belly is bigger compared to my body - I have an average body not even fat.
- How to avoid claudication pain when exercising?
- Can exercising cause DVT again?
- Can exercise cause my skin pigmentation to move up or cause ulcers
- Do you think I need to go fro Deep Vein Angiogram/Angioplasty? Is there any other treatment for the round swollen/dark are on my left calf? and to avoid the discoloration from spreading?
Brief Answer:
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the feedback.
I have gone through both the reports and yes I meant to say you had DVT in the past.
Now coming to your questions one by one.
1. Your abdominal girth seems more and could be one reason for marks however that's not a point of worry for now and it can simply be taken care by applying XXXXXXX warm olive oil on daily basis for couple of months regularly.
2. Actually exercise is a simple and relatively inexpensive way of dealing with claudications. You need to join some supervised exercise program under medical supervision as it has shown to improve pain free walking distance quite significantly. You have to meet a vascular surgeon in some tertiary hospital for this. Also you can discuss with him regarding the scope of CILOSTAZOL medicine for claudication pain.
3. Exercise basically prevents DVT but supervision is better.
4. As you are on an anticoagulant like acitrom so you need to check your INR Levels regularly maintaining it in between 2 to 3. As acitrom can itself be the reason for pigmentation or dark spots due to ozzing of blood in the subcutaneous space if INR levels are raised. Also I would like to suggest you to get your liver function test done as you used to drink.
5. In my opinion you should get an angiography done at least to know about the extent of the problem.
6. For discoloration kindly get your INR checked
Also I would like to clear that discoloration is also a part of complications of varicose veins.
I hope this information will answer your query and will guide you properly.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the feedback.
I have gone through both the reports and yes I meant to say you had DVT in the past.
Now coming to your questions one by one.
1. Your abdominal girth seems more and could be one reason for marks however that's not a point of worry for now and it can simply be taken care by applying XXXXXXX warm olive oil on daily basis for couple of months regularly.
2. Actually exercise is a simple and relatively inexpensive way of dealing with claudications. You need to join some supervised exercise program under medical supervision as it has shown to improve pain free walking distance quite significantly. You have to meet a vascular surgeon in some tertiary hospital for this. Also you can discuss with him regarding the scope of CILOSTAZOL medicine for claudication pain.
3. Exercise basically prevents DVT but supervision is better.
4. As you are on an anticoagulant like acitrom so you need to check your INR Levels regularly maintaining it in between 2 to 3. As acitrom can itself be the reason for pigmentation or dark spots due to ozzing of blood in the subcutaneous space if INR levels are raised. Also I would like to suggest you to get your liver function test done as you used to drink.
5. In my opinion you should get an angiography done at least to know about the extent of the problem.
6. For discoloration kindly get your INR checked
Also I would like to clear that discoloration is also a part of complications of varicose veins.
I hope this information will answer your query and will guide you properly.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you for the detailed, point-by-point answer. Really helpful.
I have a couple of final questions.
- What exactly will the angiogram check in my case? I thougt since there is no DVT now, the veins wil be normal as it was before DVT happened.
- Will exercising cause or worsen varicose veins?
Thanks
I have a couple of final questions.
- What exactly will the angiogram check in my case? I thougt since there is no DVT now, the veins wil be normal as it was before DVT happened.
- Will exercising cause or worsen varicose veins?
Thanks
Brief Answer:
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
1. Angiography will give a clear cut picture of the channel of your veins showing any developing thrombus, aneurysmal vessels, excessive tortusities and varicosities.
2. There are some exercises which are particularly useful in case of varicose veins. Here i will give the link for you to check how these exercises can be done. carolinavascular.com/blog/best-leg-exercises-for-varicose-veins
Hope to have been helpful. Feel free to ask if you have any other queries or else close the discussion and kindly rate the answer.
Kind Regards
DR Bhanu Partap
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
1. Angiography will give a clear cut picture of the channel of your veins showing any developing thrombus, aneurysmal vessels, excessive tortusities and varicosities.
2. There are some exercises which are particularly useful in case of varicose veins. Here i will give the link for you to check how these exercises can be done. carolinavascular.com/blog/best-leg-exercises-for-varicose-veins
Hope to have been helpful. Feel free to ask if you have any other queries or else close the discussion and kindly rate the answer.
Kind Regards
DR Bhanu Partap
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Answered by
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