Does DVT pain come and go. What are the main symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis. How does DVT differ from other conditions with similar symptoms. What are the risk factors for developing DVT.

Deep Vein Thrombosis: An Overview of Symptoms and Causes

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition characterized by the formation of blood clots in deep veins, typically in the legs. The symptoms of DVT can be subtle and easily confused with other conditions. Understanding the nature of DVT pain and associated symptoms is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Does DVT Pain Come and Go?

DVT pain is often described as persistent rather than intermittent. However, the intensity of pain may fluctuate. Some patients report a constant ache that worsens with activity or touch. It’s important to note that about half of DVT cases may be asymptomatic, making regular check-ups crucial for those at risk.

Key Symptoms of DVT

• Unilateral swelling (one leg larger than the other)
• Pain or tenderness, especially when standing or walking
• Warmth in the affected area
• Redness or discoloration of the skin

Is DVT always painful? No, DVT is not always painful. In fact, approximately 50% of people with DVT may not experience any symptoms at all. This silent nature of DVT makes it particularly dangerous, as it can progress unnoticed until complications arise.

Risk Factors for DVT

Several factors can increase your risk of developing DVT:

1. Injury to a vein
2. Prolonged immobility (e.g., bed rest, long flights)
3. Paralysis
4. Hormonal factors (birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy)
5. Pregnancy
6. Chronic diseases (heart disease, lung disease, cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases)
7. Family history of DVT or pulmonary embolism
8. Obesity
9. Recent surgery
10. Inherited blood clotting disorders

Can DVT occur at any age? Yes, DVT can occur at any age, although the risk increases with age. Younger individuals with multiple risk factors or genetic predispositions may also develop DVT.

Recognizing Pulmonary Embolism: A Life-Threatening Complication of DVT

A critical complication of DVT is pulmonary embolism (PE), which occurs when a blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

Symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism

• Sudden shortness of breath
• Chest pain, particularly when breathing deeply
• Coughing up blood
• Rapid heartbeat
• Rapid breathing

How quickly can DVT lead to pulmonary embolism? The progression from DVT to PE can be rapid, occurring within hours or days. This underscores the importance of prompt medical attention for suspected DVT cases.

Peripheral Artery Disease: A Condition Often Confused with DVT

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a condition that shares some similarities with DVT but has distinct differences in its underlying cause and long-term implications.

Understanding PAD

PAD occurs when arteries in the legs become narrowed due to plaque buildup, restricting blood flow to the limbs. Unlike DVT, which affects veins, PAD primarily impacts arteries.

Symptoms of PAD

• Pain or numbness in legs during walking (claudication)
• Cramps in feet, legs, or buttocks
• Non-healing sores on feet or legs
• Pale or bluish skin
• Temperature difference between legs

How does PAD differ from DVT in terms of urgency? While PAD is not typically considered a medical emergency like DVT can be, it significantly increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Early diagnosis and management are crucial for preventing these serious complications.

Varicose Veins and Spider Veins: Superficial Vein Disorders

Varicose veins and spider veins are common vein disorders that can sometimes be mistaken for DVT due to their visible nature and associated discomfort.

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins occur when valves in the veins become weak or damaged, causing blood to pool and veins to enlarge. Unlike DVT, varicose veins are visible on the surface of the skin and rarely pose a serious health risk.

Symptoms of Varicose Veins

• Swollen ankles and feet
• Throbbing or cramping in legs
• Itchy lower legs or ankles
• Aching, painful legs
• Feeling of heaviness in legs

Can varicose veins lead to DVT? While varicose veins themselves don’t typically lead to DVT, they can increase the risk of superficial thrombophlebitis, a less serious form of blood clot in surface veins.

Spider Veins

Spider veins are smaller versions of varicose veins that affect capillaries. They appear as web-like patterns on the skin, usually on the legs or face.

Are spider veins a sign of underlying vein problems? While spider veins are generally cosmetic and don’t indicate serious vein issues, they can sometimes be an early sign of venous insufficiency. A vascular specialist can determine if further evaluation is necessary.

Cellulitis: A Skin Infection with Similar Symptoms to DVT

Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that can mimic some symptoms of DVT, making differentiation crucial for proper treatment.

Understanding Cellulitis

Cellulitis occurs when bacteria enter through a break in the skin, causing infection in the deeper layers of skin and subcutaneous tissues.

Symptoms of Cellulitis

• Red, swollen, warm skin
• Pain or tenderness in the affected area
• Fever and chills
• Nausea and drowsiness
• Red streaks or bumps on the skin

How can cellulitis be distinguished from DVT? While both conditions can cause redness, swelling, and warmth in the affected area, cellulitis typically affects the skin’s surface and may be accompanied by fever and other systemic symptoms. DVT, on the other hand, usually occurs deeper in the leg and may not cause visible skin changes.

Vasculitis: Inflammation of Blood Vessels

Vasculitis is a group of disorders characterized by inflammation of blood vessels, which can sometimes present with symptoms similar to DVT.

Understanding Vasculitis

Vasculitis occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks blood vessels, causing inflammation that can restrict blood flow to organs and tissues.

Types and Symptoms of Vasculitis

There are nearly 20 different types of vasculitis, each with its own set of symptoms. Common symptoms across various forms include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Joint pain
• Skin rashes
• Numbness or weakness in limbs

How is vasculitis diagnosed and differentiated from DVT? Diagnosis of vasculitis often requires a combination of blood tests, imaging studies, and sometimes tissue biopsies. Unlike DVT, vasculitis typically affects multiple areas of the body and may cause systemic symptoms.

Other Conditions with Similar Symptoms to DVT

Several other conditions can present with symptoms similar to DVT, highlighting the importance of thorough medical evaluation for accurate diagnosis.

Acute Arterial Occlusion

This condition occurs when an artery is suddenly blocked, typically by a blood clot. Symptoms include sudden, severe pain, paleness, and coolness in the affected limb.

Necrotizing Fasciitis

A rare but serious bacterial infection that spreads rapidly and destroys soft tissue. Early symptoms may include severe pain, swelling, and redness in the affected area.

Nephrotic Syndrome

A kidney disorder that can cause swelling in the legs and feet due to fluid retention. Other symptoms include foamy urine and fatigue.

Congestive Heart Failure

This condition can cause swelling in the legs and feet due to fluid buildup. Other symptoms include shortness of breath and fatigue.

Lymphedema

A condition characterized by swelling due to a blockage in the lymphatic system. It typically affects one limb and may cause a feeling of heaviness or tightness.

Venous Stasis

A condition where blood pools in the veins, causing swelling and discoloration of the skin. It’s often associated with chronic venous insufficiency.

Acute Compartment Syndrome

A painful condition caused by increased pressure within a muscle compartment. It typically occurs after an injury and requires immediate medical attention.

Superficial Thrombophlebitis

Inflammation of a superficial vein, often associated with a blood clot. It causes redness, warmth, and tenderness along the affected vein.

Why is accurate diagnosis crucial when symptoms mimic DVT? Accurate diagnosis is essential because treatment approaches vary significantly among these conditions. Misdiagnosis could lead to inappropriate treatment and potential complications. For instance, anticoagulation therapy used for DVT could be harmful in certain other conditions.

In conclusion, while DVT shares symptoms with various other conditions, its potential for serious complications makes prompt and accurate diagnosis crucial. If you experience symptoms suggestive of DVT or any of the conditions discussed, seek medical attention immediately. Remember, early intervention can often prevent more serious health issues and lead to better outcomes.

4 Conditions With Similar Symptoms to DVT

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Deep Vein Thrombosis
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
• Varicose Veins
• Spider Veins
• Cellulitis
• Vasculitis
• Acute Arterial Occlusion
• Necrotizing Fasciitis
• Nephrotic Syndrome
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Lymphedema
• Venous Stasis
• Acute Compartment Syndrome
• Superficial Thrombophlebitis
• More

You may have DVT, deep vein thrombosis, if you notice that one limb is swollen, painful, warm, and red. But many other things can cause similar symptoms. Some of them, like minor cuts, fractures, or sprains, are relatively harmless, and others are more serious. You’ll need to see a doctor to find out what’s going on and what treatment is needed. Learn about some of these conditions below.

You can get DVT at any age, and several things can cause it. Some of them are:

• Injury to a vein
• Anything that immobilizes you, such as bed rest, hospitalization, recovery from an injury
• Paralysis
• Birth control pills
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Pregnancy
• Chronic diseases like heart disease, lung disease, cancer, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis
• Family history of DVT or pulmonary embolism
• Obesity
• Surgery
• A blood clotting disease that you inherit

DVT normally affects just one leg. Symptoms include:

• Unequal swelling, where one leg is larger than the other
• Pain or tenderness when you stand or walk
• Warmth
• Red or discolored skin

About half of people who get DVT won’t have any signs. You may not know you have a clot unless a piece of it breaks off and travels to your lung. That’s a medical emergency called a pulmonary embolism. Call 911 right away if you have:

• Shortness of breath
• Pain when you take a deep breath
• Coughing up blood
• Racing heart rate
• Rapid breathing

You get this when the arteries in your legs become hard and narrow. In PAD, plaque builds up in the arteries. Over time, it can block blood flow to your arms and legs. When this condition affects veins instead of arteries, it’s called peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

Some of the symptoms are:

• Pain, numbness, aching, or heaviness in your legs when you walk
• Cramps in your feet, leg, or butt
• Sores or wounds on your feet or legs that don’t get better
• Pale or bluish-colored skin
• One leg feels cooler than the other.

PAD isn’t a medical emergency, but lack of blood flow to your legs can cause serious problems like gangrene. That’s when the tissue in your leg dies.

You’ll also have a greater risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. But when you make changes to manage your condition, you’ll lower your chances of getting those, too. The same risks that lead to heart attacks and strokes also cause PAD. They include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Unlike DVT, these appear just beneath the surface of your skin. You get them when the valves inside your veins become weak or damaged. Normally, the valves help blood flow to your heart. When they don’t work right, blood pools inside your veins. They swell and become large and rope-like. That’s another difference from DVT — the surface-level clots that come with varicose veins are uncommon and don’t usually break free and travel to your lungs. When DVTs do this, it’s called a pulmonary embolism, and it can be fatal.

If you have varicose veins, you’ll notice:

• Swollen ankles and feet
• Throbbing or cramping in your legs
• Itchy lower legs or ankles
• Achy, painful legs
• Heaviness in your legs

Varicose veins aren’t serious. Talk to your doctor about treatments.

These are a smaller type of varicose veins. They affect your capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in your body.

You’re most likely to get these on your legs or face. They look like a spider web or the branches on a tree. They’re usually a blue or reddish color. You may not like how they look, but they don’t cause any medical problems.

And because they’re like varicose veins, spider veins also differ from DVT because they’re close to the surface and don’t tend to break free and move into your lungs.

Here, bacteria infect the skin. The first signs can mirror DVT, with skin that’s red, swollen, warm, and sensitive to the touch. Other possible symptoms, like chills, fever, nausea, drowsiness, and trouble thinking, are less likely in DVT. The same goes for the red streaks, bumps, or sores that might appear on your skin.

Get care right away if you notice these signs, because it can be very serious if you don’t treat it.

It’s inflammation of the blood vessels. This can lessen essential blood flow to your organs and other tissue. There are almost 20 versions of the disease, but all seem to happen when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue (autoimmune disease). Doctors don’t know exactly what causes it, though possible triggers appear to include genes, medication, infection, environment, allergies, and other illnesses.

Symptoms vary by person and the type of disease, but may include:

• Rashes or skin lesions (more than just the swelling and darkening in DVT)
• Pain: Aches in your muscles, belly, joints, or head (uncommon in DVT except in affected limb)
• Lack of appetite and weight loss (uncommon in DVT)
• Tiredness and fever (uncommon in DVT)
• Blurry vision, eye pain, and redness (uncommon in DVT)
• Ear or sinus problems that don’t go away (uncommon in DVT)
• Shortness of breath and coughing (could cough up blood)
• Tingling, numbness, weakness, and nerve pain (neuropathy) (uncommon in DVT)
• Bloody or dark-colored urine (could be kidney problems) (uncommon in DVT)

It means a blocked artery, and it typically happens in a previously open blood vessel that shows signs of plaque (atherosclerosis) or other damage, or that doctors previously repaired with a stent or graft.

The artery becomes blocked in one of two ways:

• It slowly narrows to a close as plaque builds up
• Tiny networks of blood vessels in the plaqued walls of an artery tear, and the blood and fluid form a clot.

Symptoms include:

• Pain in the affected limb gets gradually worse and spreads slowly toward the trunk of your body. (DVT pain tends to center on thrombosis.)
• The skin of the limb is typically cool to the touch. (DVT typically warms the skin.)
• Skin looks pale and patchy because of lack of blood supply to the skin’s surface. (DVT typically reddens skin.)
• Skin can blister as the condition worsens. (uncommon in DVT)
• You and your doctor may not be able to feel a normal pulse in the affected limb. (uncommon in DVT)
• Burning or prickling sensation, typically in the legs, feet, hand or arms (possible, but uncommon, in DVT)

Also known as “flesh-eating disease,” it’s a life-threatening infection that spreads quickly and kills the body’s soft tissue (muscle, fat, and tissue connecting muscle to bone). Injury or surgery can create a break in the skin that may lead to infection if the right bacteria are around.

If you’re healthy, have a strong immune system you’re unlikely to get it. It’s treated with antibiotics through a vein, along with surgical removal of infected tissue. Early symptoms can include:

• An area of skin where redness, warmth, or swelling spreads quickly
• Serious pain, including beyond the skin obviously affected
• Fever (uncommon in DVT)

Later symptoms might include:

• Changes in skin color
• Blisters or black spots on skin (uncommon in DVT)
• Liquid or pus oozing from sores (uncommon in DVT)
• Tiredness, dizziness, diarrhea, or nausea

It’s a kidney illness that causes your body to pass too much protein when you pee. It’s typically due to damage to the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys (glomeruli) that filter waste and extra fluid from your blood. A number of conditions can cause this damage, including diabetic kidney disease, amyloidosis, glomerulosclerosis, and lupus. Typical symptoms include:

• Swelling from fluid buildup (edema), especially around ankles, feet, and eyes, often on both sides (instead of just one in DVT)
• Foamy urine, a result of excess protein in your urine (uncommon in DVT)
• Weight gain due to fluid retention (uncommon in DVT)
• Tiredness (uncommon in DVT)
• Loss of appetite (uncommon in DVT)

Heart failure means the heart doesn’t pump as well as it should. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a type that happens when blood flows too slowly out of the heart. This causes a backup of the blood trying to return to the heart and lungs for more oxygen.

The pressure causes a buildup of fluid (edema) that can collect, most often in the legs and ankles, but other areas as well. CHF also could increase the work of your kidneys, which often leads to edema. The swelling could mirror DVT, but it typically happens in both legs instead of just one as in DVT.

Fluid that collects in the lungs (pulmonary edema) can cause shortness of breath that mirrors the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism that can happen with DVT. Symptoms typically worsen when you lie down.

It typically happens when doctors remove or damage one or more of your lymph nodes — small glands that help get rid of fluid, waste, and germs — as part of cancer treatment. This stops fluid from draining, and that causes arms, legs, feet, and other areas to swell. There’s no cure, but your doctor can help you manage it with movement exercises, massage, and bandages that push on swollen areas.

As with DVT, lymphedema often causes swelling or tightness in all or part of an affected limb. Also like DVT, symptoms are sometimes so mild that you don’t notice. Unlike DVT, the swelling can often include your fingers or toes. Other symptoms include:

• A feeling of heaviness in affected legs (uncommon in DVT)
• A hard time moving as freely
• A general aching or discomfort (DVT pain tends to center on a specific area)
• Infections that repeat (uncommon in DVT)
• Skin that hardens and thickens (fibrosis)

It’s when blood pools in the veins. It happens when the valves in your veins stop working properly, so the blood moves backward and collects. This pushes fluid into nearby tissue, which can cause swelling and irritation that looks like DVT. Over time, this inflammation can start to break down tissue and lead to sores or “ulcers” on the surface of the skin (uncommon in DVT).

You may feel full, achy, and tired in your legs, and it may get worse when you stand. You also might notice varicose veins on the skin of your legs.

Your muscles group together in your arm, leg, hand, or foot, along with blood vessels and nerves. Each group is enclosed in tissue (fascia), and together, they make up a “compartment.”

When the pressure builds up inside one of these compartments, it can cause swelling and tenderness that mirror symptoms of DVT. Unlike DVT, acute compartment syndrome typically happens soon after a sudden injury like a fracture. Other possible causes include a serious burn that scars skin or surgery to repair a blocked blood vessel. You may also notice:

• Tightness in affected muscle
• Intense pain, especially if you stretch muscle (more than expected for injury)
• Tingling or burning feeling
• Numbness or weakness (may be signs of permanent damage)

Acute compartment syndrome is a medical emergency and requires treatment right away.

This happens when a blood clot forms in a vein just under your skin. If you have it, you may have:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Tenderness
• Warmth
• Redness

These symptoms are much like those of DVT, but unlike a DVT, it happens close to the surface, not deep within your body.

About 20% of people who have this condition also get a blood clot in their leg. Call your doctor if you notice anything unusual. They’ll check to see what’s going on.

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4 Conditions With Similar Symptoms to DVT

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Deep Vein Thrombosis
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
• Varicose Veins
• Spider Veins
• Cellulitis
• Vasculitis
• Acute Arterial Occlusion
• Necrotizing Fasciitis
• Nephrotic Syndrome
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Lymphedema
• Venous Stasis
• Acute Compartment Syndrome
• Superficial Thrombophlebitis
• More

You may have DVT, deep vein thrombosis, if you notice that one limb is swollen, painful, warm, and red. But many other things can cause similar symptoms. Some of them, like minor cuts, fractures, or sprains, are relatively harmless, and others are more serious. You’ll need to see a doctor to find out what’s going on and what treatment is needed. Learn about some of these conditions below.

You can get DVT at any age, and several things can cause it. Some of them are:

• Injury to a vein
• Anything that immobilizes you, such as bed rest, hospitalization, recovery from an injury
• Paralysis
• Birth control pills
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Pregnancy
• Chronic diseases like heart disease, lung disease, cancer, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis
• Family history of DVT or pulmonary embolism
• Obesity
• Surgery
• A blood clotting disease that you inherit

DVT normally affects just one leg. Symptoms include:

• Unequal swelling, where one leg is larger than the other
• Pain or tenderness when you stand or walk
• Warmth
• Red or discolored skin

About half of people who get DVT won’t have any signs. You may not know you have a clot unless a piece of it breaks off and travels to your lung. That’s a medical emergency called a pulmonary embolism. Call 911 right away if you have:

• Shortness of breath
• Pain when you take a deep breath
• Coughing up blood
• Racing heart rate
• Rapid breathing

You get this when the arteries in your legs become hard and narrow. In PAD, plaque builds up in the arteries. Over time, it can block blood flow to your arms and legs. When this condition affects veins instead of arteries, it’s called peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

Some of the symptoms are:

• Pain, numbness, aching, or heaviness in your legs when you walk
• Cramps in your feet, leg, or butt
• Sores or wounds on your feet or legs that don’t get better
• Pale or bluish-colored skin
• One leg feels cooler than the other.

PAD isn’t a medical emergency, but lack of blood flow to your legs can cause serious problems like gangrene. That’s when the tissue in your leg dies.

You’ll also have a greater risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. But when you make changes to manage your condition, you’ll lower your chances of getting those, too. The same risks that lead to heart attacks and strokes also cause PAD. They include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Unlike DVT, these appear just beneath the surface of your skin. You get them when the valves inside your veins become weak or damaged. Normally, the valves help blood flow to your heart. When they don’t work right, blood pools inside your veins. They swell and become large and rope-like. That’s another difference from DVT — the surface-level clots that come with varicose veins are uncommon and don’t usually break free and travel to your lungs. When DVTs do this, it’s called a pulmonary embolism, and it can be fatal.

If you have varicose veins, you’ll notice:

• Swollen ankles and feet
• Throbbing or cramping in your legs
• Itchy lower legs or ankles
• Achy, painful legs
• Heaviness in your legs

Varicose veins aren’t serious. Talk to your doctor about treatments.

These are a smaller type of varicose veins. They affect your capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in your body.

You’re most likely to get these on your legs or face. They look like a spider web or the branches on a tree. They’re usually a blue or reddish color. You may not like how they look, but they don’t cause any medical problems.

And because they’re like varicose veins, spider veins also differ from DVT because they’re close to the surface and don’t tend to break free and move into your lungs.

Here, bacteria infect the skin. The first signs can mirror DVT, with skin that’s red, swollen, warm, and sensitive to the touch. Other possible symptoms, like chills, fever, nausea, drowsiness, and trouble thinking, are less likely in DVT. The same goes for the red streaks, bumps, or sores that might appear on your skin.

Get care right away if you notice these signs, because it can be very serious if you don’t treat it.

It’s inflammation of the blood vessels. This can lessen essential blood flow to your organs and other tissue. There are almost 20 versions of the disease, but all seem to happen when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue (autoimmune disease). Doctors don’t know exactly what causes it, though possible triggers appear to include genes, medication, infection, environment, allergies, and other illnesses.

Symptoms vary by person and the type of disease, but may include:

• Rashes or skin lesions (more than just the swelling and darkening in DVT)
• Pain: Aches in your muscles, belly, joints, or head (uncommon in DVT except in affected limb)
• Lack of appetite and weight loss (uncommon in DVT)
• Tiredness and fever (uncommon in DVT)
• Blurry vision, eye pain, and redness (uncommon in DVT)
• Ear or sinus problems that don’t go away (uncommon in DVT)
• Shortness of breath and coughing (could cough up blood)
• Tingling, numbness, weakness, and nerve pain (neuropathy) (uncommon in DVT)
• Bloody or dark-colored urine (could be kidney problems) (uncommon in DVT)

It means a blocked artery, and it typically happens in a previously open blood vessel that shows signs of plaque (atherosclerosis) or other damage, or that doctors previously repaired with a stent or graft.

The artery becomes blocked in one of two ways:

• It slowly narrows to a close as plaque builds up
• Tiny networks of blood vessels in the plaqued walls of an artery tear, and the blood and fluid form a clot.

Symptoms include:

• Pain in the affected limb gets gradually worse and spreads slowly toward the trunk of your body. (DVT pain tends to center on thrombosis.)
• The skin of the limb is typically cool to the touch. (DVT typically warms the skin.)
• Skin looks pale and patchy because of lack of blood supply to the skin’s surface. (DVT typically reddens skin.)
• Skin can blister as the condition worsens. (uncommon in DVT)
• You and your doctor may not be able to feel a normal pulse in the affected limb. (uncommon in DVT)
• Burning or prickling sensation, typically in the legs, feet, hand or arms (possible, but uncommon, in DVT)

Also known as “flesh-eating disease,” it’s a life-threatening infection that spreads quickly and kills the body’s soft tissue (muscle, fat, and tissue connecting muscle to bone). Injury or surgery can create a break in the skin that may lead to infection if the right bacteria are around.

If you’re healthy, have a strong immune system you’re unlikely to get it. It’s treated with antibiotics through a vein, along with surgical removal of infected tissue. Early symptoms can include:

• An area of skin where redness, warmth, or swelling spreads quickly
• Serious pain, including beyond the skin obviously affected
• Fever (uncommon in DVT)

Later symptoms might include:

• Changes in skin color
• Blisters or black spots on skin (uncommon in DVT)
• Liquid or pus oozing from sores (uncommon in DVT)
• Tiredness, dizziness, diarrhea, or nausea

It’s a kidney illness that causes your body to pass too much protein when you pee. It’s typically due to damage to the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys (glomeruli) that filter waste and extra fluid from your blood. A number of conditions can cause this damage, including diabetic kidney disease, amyloidosis, glomerulosclerosis, and lupus. Typical symptoms include:

• Swelling from fluid buildup (edema), especially around ankles, feet, and eyes, often on both sides (instead of just one in DVT)
• Foamy urine, a result of excess protein in your urine (uncommon in DVT)
• Weight gain due to fluid retention (uncommon in DVT)
• Tiredness (uncommon in DVT)
• Loss of appetite (uncommon in DVT)

Heart failure means the heart doesn’t pump as well as it should. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a type that happens when blood flows too slowly out of the heart. This causes a backup of the blood trying to return to the heart and lungs for more oxygen.

The pressure causes a buildup of fluid (edema) that can collect, most often in the legs and ankles, but other areas as well. CHF also could increase the work of your kidneys, which often leads to edema. The swelling could mirror DVT, but it typically happens in both legs instead of just one as in DVT.

Fluid that collects in the lungs (pulmonary edema) can cause shortness of breath that mirrors the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism that can happen with DVT. Symptoms typically worsen when you lie down.

It typically happens when doctors remove or damage one or more of your lymph nodes — small glands that help get rid of fluid, waste, and germs — as part of cancer treatment. This stops fluid from draining, and that causes arms, legs, feet, and other areas to swell. There’s no cure, but your doctor can help you manage it with movement exercises, massage, and bandages that push on swollen areas.

As with DVT, lymphedema often causes swelling or tightness in all or part of an affected limb. Also like DVT, symptoms are sometimes so mild that you don’t notice. Unlike DVT, the swelling can often include your fingers or toes. Other symptoms include:

• A feeling of heaviness in affected legs (uncommon in DVT)
• A hard time moving as freely
• A general aching or discomfort (DVT pain tends to center on a specific area)
• Infections that repeat (uncommon in DVT)
• Skin that hardens and thickens (fibrosis)

It’s when blood pools in the veins. It happens when the valves in your veins stop working properly, so the blood moves backward and collects. This pushes fluid into nearby tissue, which can cause swelling and irritation that looks like DVT. Over time, this inflammation can start to break down tissue and lead to sores or “ulcers” on the surface of the skin (uncommon in DVT).

You may feel full, achy, and tired in your legs, and it may get worse when you stand. You also might notice varicose veins on the skin of your legs.

Your muscles group together in your arm, leg, hand, or foot, along with blood vessels and nerves. Each group is enclosed in tissue (fascia), and together, they make up a “compartment.”

When the pressure builds up inside one of these compartments, it can cause swelling and tenderness that mirror symptoms of DVT. Unlike DVT, acute compartment syndrome typically happens soon after a sudden injury like a fracture. Other possible causes include a serious burn that scars skin or surgery to repair a blocked blood vessel. You may also notice:

• Tightness in affected muscle
• Intense pain, especially if you stretch muscle (more than expected for injury)
• Tingling or burning feeling
• Numbness or weakness (may be signs of permanent damage)

Acute compartment syndrome is a medical emergency and requires treatment right away.

This happens when a blood clot forms in a vein just under your skin. If you have it, you may have:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Tenderness
• Warmth
• Redness

These symptoms are much like those of DVT, but unlike a DVT, it happens close to the surface, not deep within your body.

About 20% of people who have this condition also get a blood clot in their leg. Call your doctor if you notice anything unusual. They’ll check to see what’s going on.

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The child’s legs hurt.

What to do?

What is leg pain in a child?

Leg pain can be described as any sensation of pain or discomfort in the area between the groin and ankle. Depending on the cause, leg pain can range from moderate to severe, and symptoms can be constant (continuous) or intermittent (come and go). Leg pain can be acute, meaning it comes on quickly and then goes away. Or it can take weeks or months. Then it is called chronic leg pain. For some children, chronic leg pain can last for years and affect their lives.

What symptoms are associated with leg pain?

Pain in the leg may affect only a small part of the leg, or may cover most or even the entire leg. The pain may be dull or sharp, burning, tingling or dull. The child may experience pain in the buttocks, lower back, spine, or foot.

Other signs and symptoms that may occur with leg pain include:

• swelling
• varicose veins 9What causes pain in the legs of children?

  Here are some common causes of leg pain:

  • Cramp: This is when the muscles suddenly contract. The pain is usually felt in the lower leg and goes away on its own fairly quickly.
  • Muscle strains and strains. The leg may be very sensitive, and there may be muscle spasm, swelling, or difficulty moving the leg.
  • Minor injury such as a blow, blow, or bruise: There may be redness, swelling, or discoloration of the skin at the site of the injury.
  • Fracture: A broken or cracked bone can also cause swelling, deformity, bruising, and loss of strength or movement in the leg.
  • Infection: Ulcers, infected wounds, or blisters may also cause redness, swelling, and fever in the affected area. The child may have a fever and general malaise.
  • Injury to nearby joints, bones, or muscles: Very painful nodules can form in surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Pain in the back of the leg can be caused by back joint problems or sciatica. Ankle, knee, or hip problems can also cause leg pain.
  • Too little use of the leg: The child may also have tingling or muscle stiffness.
  • Blood vessel problems such as blood clots (deep vein thrombosis) or poor circulation: The child may also have swelling, pressure, tenderness, or paleness in the legs.
  • Varicose veins: the pain may be aching, throbbing or burning. The child may also have heaviness, cramps or restlessness in the legs, swelling of the ankles, darkening of the skin over the veins, and an itchy rash.
  • Nerve problems such as diabetic neuropathy: The child may also have weakness, numbness or tingling.
  • Compartment Syndrome: The pain will be intense and worse when the child pulls the leg and the skin feels tingling, burning or numb. The skin may look pale and feel cold.
  • Leg pain can also be part of chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
  • Growing pains: The child may have a sore or burning sensation in the muscles of the thighs, calves, or feet, usually at night.

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  When should I see a doctor?

  Seek immediate medical attention if the child has pain in the legs and:

  • the leg is swollen
  • the leg is deformed or unusable
  • the leg is unusually cool or pale
  • the leg is numb and weak
  • leg reddened and hot
  • both legs are swollen and have trouble breathing
  • the pain is getting worse

  Seek medical attention as soon as possible if the child has signs of infection such as fever, calf pain after a long journey, or any serious symptoms that occur Without explaning the reason.

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  Growing pains in children

  Pain in the legs is very common in children, especially at primary school age. Most often, such pains are “growing pains”. It is not known what causes growing pains. In most children examined by doctors with growing pains, there is no objective reason for their appearance. One theory is that pain is related to exercise, but this is not always the case. Some children with growing pains in their legs may also experience abdominal pain and headaches. In these children, growing pains may be associated with stress or anxiety and may be psychosomatic.

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  Symptoms of growing pains in the legs

  If your child has growing pains, he may say that he has aching or burning sensations in both legs – in the muscles of the thighs, calves or feet. Pain can also occur in the arms or other parts of the body, although this is much less common. Pain in the legs usually occurs at night and can sometimes even wake the child. They are also common during the daytime, but are rarely dangerous enough to interfere with daily activities. For most children, leg pain or discomfort tends to come and go. It is difficult to say when such pains will begin and when they will pass. A child with growing pains in the legs usually starts on their own or allows the parents to massage the painful area. This can help tell the difference between growing pains and a more serious condition. Children who have leg pain due to a more serious cause usually do not allow anyone to touch the painful area.

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  Should I see a doctor about my child’s leg pain?

  You should take your child to a GP if you think something more serious is going on with their legs. For example:

  • The pain is very severe and does not go away.
  • Your child is lame.
  • Painful part of the body is sensitive, hot or swollen to the touch.

  Sometimes your GP may order an x-ray or blood test to make sure there is no other cause of pain, such as a fracture or inflammation.