[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/03\/what-do-blood-clots-feel-like\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/03\/what-do-blood-clots-feel-like\/","headline":"What Do Blood Clots Feel Like? Warning Signs of DVT","name":"What Do Blood Clots Feel Like? Warning Signs of DVT","description":"Signs of deep vein thrombosis start with tenderness and swelling in the leg. Know the symptoms and talk with your doctor quickly to avoid complications.","datePublished":"2015-03-03","dateModified":"2023-06-14","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/deep-vein-thrombosis.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/deep-vein-thrombosis.jpg","height":324,"width":751},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/03\/what-do-blood-clots-feel-like\/","about":["Heart and Vascular Health"],"wordCount":1050,"keywords":["blood clot signs","deep vein thrombosis","deep vein thrombosis symptoms","dvt","DVT symptoms","medical mondays","pulmonary embolism","signs"],"articleBody":"Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot deep in the body, usually in the veins in the lower leg. To avoid complications or greater health risks, it\u2019s important to get checked by a doctor if you have any blood clot symptoms. DVT can be dangerous if left unchecked. But what does a blood clot feel like?\u00a0Fortunately, there are some very recognizable warning signs of DVT that can alert you to a problem. If there\u2019s even the slightest chance you have DVT, please see a doctor immediately.\u00a0Learn more about deep vein thrombosis and what you should watch for.\u00a0Can You Feel a Blood Clot? Early-Stage Blood Clot Symptoms\u00a0The answer is: Yes. You often can feel the effects of a blood clot in the leg.\u00a0What are the first signs of a blood clot?\u00a0Initial signs of a blood clot include:\u00a0Pain. As the clot gets worse, you may feel a sensation ranging from a dull ache to intense pain. The pain may throb in your leg, belly, or even arm.\u00a0Swelling in the spot where the blood clot has formed or throughout your entire arm or leg.\u00a0Change in color. Your arm or leg may take on a red or blue tinge or may become itchy.\u00a0Warmer skin in the area around the blood clot.\u00a0Lower leg cramp or charley horse if the blood clot is in your calf.\u00a0Fluid build-up or pitting\u00a0edema. A blood clot can cause fluid to build up in the arms or legs quickly. When you press on the swollen area, it can cause a dimple or \u201cpit\u201d that remains for a few seconds.\u00a0Swollen veins with pain that increases when touched.Trouble breathing. Difficulty breathing could be a sign of a blood clot in your lungs. You may experience a bad cough and even cough up some blood. You may get chest pain or feel dizzy. Call 911 to get medical help right away.\u00a0Does blood clot pain come and go?\u00a0Unlike the pain from a charley horse that usually goes away after stretching or with rest, the pain from a blood clot does not go away and usually gets worse with time.\u00a0Can blood clots go away on their own?\u00a0While it is possible for smaller blood clots to be absorbed by your body and resolve on their own, it is critical to talk with your health care provider if you think you may have symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).\u00a0What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?\u00a0DVT is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep inside your body, usually within a leg.\u00a0Warning signs of DVT\u00a0Early symptoms of DVT include:\u00a0Swelling.\u00a0Tightness in the leg.\u00a0Persistent, throbbing, cramp-like feeling in the leg.\u00a0Pain or tenderness when standing or walking.\u00a0As the blood clot worsens, the skin around it often becomes red or discolored and feels warm to the touch.\u00a0Even if your DVT symptoms seem mild and you\u2019re unsure if you have a clot, you should call your doctor, especially if you are at increased risk of DVT.\u00a0Avoid Complications with Treatment\u00a0Waiting to get treatment can lead to varicose veins, pain, and ulcers in the leg from prolonged swelling. Vascular surgeons may treat acute or chronic DVT with:\u00a0Interventional procedures\u00a0Thrombolysis: A catheter delivers medication to break up a blood clot. Doctors perform thrombolysis in the hospital under careful monitoring.\u00a0Vena cava (IVC) filters: Small metal devices are positioned in the vena cava \u2014 near the renal (kidney) veins \u2014 to stop blood clots in the legs before they can travel to the heart and lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism.\u00a0Venous stenting: Thin tubes called stents are placed in the vena cava or pelvic veins to open a thrombosed vein and help relieve or prevent leg swelling. Vascular surgeons often perform venous stenting with thrombolysis \u2014 either right away or years after DVT is causing symptoms.\u00a0Surgery\u00a0Venous bypass: Very rarely, you may need surgery to restore normal vein circulation. This procedure often is needed after years of large deep vein clots.\u00a0Pulmonary embolism symptoms\u00a0Although most clots dissolve on their own, sometimes a clot will break apart. When a clot breaks apart and travels to the lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism (PE)\u2014a potentially fatal complication.\u00a0Symptoms of a PE include:\u00a0Unexplained shortness of breath.\u00a0Pain when you take deep breaths.\u00a0Coughing up blood.\u00a0According to the American Lung Association, PE affects about 1 in every 1,000 people in the U.S. each year. The majority of PEs are caused by clots breaking loose from DVT in the legs or arms.\u00a0What can be mistaken for a blood clot?\u00a0Other conditions have similar symptoms to DVT and PE.\u00a0 For example, muscle injury, cellulitis (a bacterial skin infection), and inflammation (swelling) of veins that are just under the skin can be mistaken for DVT. That is why it is important to call your doctor so they can run specific tests that look for blood clots.\u00a0Diagnosis: What Happens Next?\u00a0DVT is always diagnosed by a physician who will review your symptoms and risk factors and rule out any other conditions.\u00a0How Is DVT detected?\u00a0If your doctor suspects you have a blood clot, he or she will likely order more tests. The two main tests used to confirm DVT are:\u00a0D-dimer test is a blood test for a specific protein called D-dimer. D-dimer is produced when a blood clot dissolves inside the body. High levels of it may signify DVT. This test can be done in your doctor\u2019s office or lab.\u00a0Ultrasound is the imaging technique most often used to diagnose DVT. It uses sound waves to make images of the inside of your body and can reveal any clots in the veins. If your doctor thinks you may be high risk for DVT, they may skip the D-dimer test and go right to the ultrasound.\u00a0DVT is treatable, so don\u2019t wait for your symptoms to worsen before getting in touch with your doctor.\u00a0If you think you may have deep vein thrombosis, visit the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute online to learn more or to schedule an appointment with an expert.\u00a0   Editor's Note: This gallery was originally published on March 3, 2015, and was last reviewed on April 20, 2022. Updated per Merkle's recommendations."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2015","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Do Blood Clots Feel Like? 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