Hi everyone,

I'm sad, but relieved to hear about everyone's issues with blood clotting. Relieved isn't the right word, I'm sorry if that sounds awful. I should say, I don't feel so alone knowing that others have had the same, if not worse problems. I feel for everyone!

I had my first DVT almost 17 years ago, it was massive. My whole left leg was affected as well as my pelvic area (my IVC) and the top part of my right leg. I was in the hospital for a little over a month. I went on coumadin for about 3 years then self-stopped. I had another smaller clot in the same leg about 8 years ago, short hospital stay and then another clot 3 years ago that involved an 8 day stay. I have been on and off coumadin over the years.

I gave birth last fall, took lovenox throughout the pregnancy. Once I stopped, I didn't follow up with any DR, stupid denial. I am still clot free, but I suffer extreme swelling and pain in my leg. It has been very bad lately, so I decided that it was time to see a DR. He prescribed Celebrex for the pain and I have issues with this. I have one kidney and everything I read about this drug says that it can cause kidney problems. And cardiovascular problems. Is this the best drug for my pain or is there something that would be safer? I can't take Ibuprofen because of coumadin and because of my single kidney and tylenol, which seems to be first on every DRs lips, doesn't do anything for me at all.

Can anyone tell me what they do for the pain of a swollen post-clotty leg? ]

thanks

If you're still suffering extreme pain and swelling after all this time, you may not be clot free. Or you may be experiencing phlebitis, which is inflammation around the veins, minus the clot. Clots do not always present with redness and/or swelling. My DVT's in my calf never did. I only knew from the specific type of pain present with DVT's in that area. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I thought Celebrex was normally prescribed for pain related to arthritis? If you had a severe DVT, you may always have some degree of swelling. I still do after many many years. But once my clot was gone and area healed, I had no more pain, except achiness when I would over-exert. If you haven't already done so, you might want to ask for a consult with a hematologist, an expert in the field of blood issues.

Regarding the Ibuprofen, I take it regularly for back pain. And as long as I take it on a regular schedule and monitor my PT/INR regularly, I have had no problems with it. But random use without close montoring is a big no no. I agree with you about the Tylenol... useless.

Have you had a recent ultra sound done on your leg? I would suggest getting one if you haven't. Also if your not comfortable taking the new medication then I would recommend getting a second opinion and find out if you have any other options.

I'm on Coumadin for life and find myself in constant leg pain the only thing that seems to help is making sure that I'm getting enough exercise, eating right and popping the occasional Tylenol. Good Luck

Hi everyone,

I'm sad, but relieved to hear about everyone's issues with blood clotting. Relieved isn't the right word, I'm sorry if that sounds awful. I should say, I don't feel so alone knowing that others have had the same, if not worse problems. I feel for everyone!

I had my first DVT almost 17 years ago, it was massive. My whole left leg was affected as well as my pelvic area (my IVC) and the top part of my right leg. I was in the hospital for a little over a month. I went on coumadin for about 3 years then self-stopped. I had another smaller clot in the same leg about 8 years ago, short hospital stay and then another clot 3 years ago that involved an 8 day stay. I have been on and off coumadin over the years.

I gave birth last fall, took lovenox throughout the pregnancy. Once I stopped, I didn't follow up with any DR, stupid denial. I am still clot free, but I suffer extreme swelling and pain in my leg. It has been very bad lately, so I decided that it was time to see a DR. He prescribed Celebrex for the pain and I have issues with this. I have one kidney and everything I read about this drug says that it can cause kidney problems. And cardiovascular problems. Is this the best drug for my pain or is there something that would be safer? I can't take Ibuprofen because of coumadin and because of my single kidney and tylenol, which seems to be first on every DRs lips, doesn't do anything for me at all.

Can anyone tell me what they do for the pain of a swollen post-clotty leg? ]

thanks

Im sorry if i say this to you, but you have been non-compliant about what was the doctors prescription was and to tell you honestly your not clot free because of your non compliance. If you are clot free, im gonna ask you this.. why are your legs swelling?and why do you have pain on that leg? Its because their is still a blockage in your in your circulation. See when your heart pumps out oxgenated blood through your artery and distributes it to your body and then it comes back through your veins for more oxygen. However since you have DVT (deep Vein thrombosis) you dont have venous return which means your blood pools up in your extremety causing it to swell up (edema) and since blood is pooling up on that extremity pressure builds up and causing pain. Pain is also caused by hypoxic tissue cells (unoxygenated cells) since you dont have any venous return to get more oxygen for your body.
So if you have only been compliant with your therapy you would have these complications. Pain is not the main problem here its the DVT. YOu have to think deeper, DVT causes these pain and swelling in your extremity, so therefore eliminating DVT would eliminate swelling and pain.

However im not blaming this all to you. These damn doctors should also teach their patient. Doctors these days are just pretty much drug pushers, im not saying all of them but most of them. They do not teach you healthy lifestyle and what to do when you take these drugs, they just give it to you and let you figure it all out by yourself.

Hope you the best, and keep us updated.

I am on a couple listservs for people with clotting disorders. Based on what I have learned from these groups, you may have a clot or you may have pain and swelling from the damage done to your veins from the previous clot(s). I think you need to go back to your doctor (or to a new doctor, maybe a hematologist) that will do some testing to see if you have a new clot. You should also discuss other things that may help- compression stockings, activity level, and the possibility of starting coumadin again. I must say that, based on everything I've learned since being diagnosed with my own clotting disorder, I'm surprised that you're not a coumadin "lifer" based on your multiple clotting episodes. Have you had any testing done to find out if you have an actual clotting disorder? That would also be something to discuss with a hematologist...

Good luck!