Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Diagnosing a blood clot
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests
Diagnosing a blood clot
by D. Fialkow, Aug 19, 1999 12:00AM
Hi. A few months back I injured my leg in a pretty bad fall. During my treatment, the subject has come up as to whether or not I may have developed a blood clot in the leg as a result. There was a slight bruise at the time it happened that soon disappeared, but in the time since I have experienced off and on pain in both the upper leg where I landed and in the lower leg. There was some intial numbness which has since abated, attributed to a pinched nerve. The physical therapist who I have been working with has expressed repeated concern that I may have a clot in the leg. I went to my doctor, who checked the pulses in my feet and pelvic area and decided that there was no danger of a clot. Just for my own edification, would I be experiencing other symptoms if there was a clot and is it so simple to check for it as my doctor did? I otherwise feel fine.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD JMF, Aug 19, 1999 12:00AM
Dear D.
It is often difficult to determine whether people have venous clots in their legs. This is best determined by the performance of a Homans test inwhich your leg is pressed behind the calf with your foot flexed. This test may be negative and the easiest test to determine one way or another is a doppler ultrasound study of your lower extremity.
Arterial clots present with leg pain, with exertion and cooler temperature in the affected limb. A pulse will check arterial clots but will not rule out the presence of venous clots.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own
doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call
1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart
Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to
address your cardiac problem.
It is often difficult to determine whether people have venous clots in their legs. This is best determined by the performance of a Homans test inwhich your leg is pressed behind the calf with your foot flexed. This test may be negative and the easiest test to determine one way or another is a doppler ultrasound study of your lower extremity.
Arterial clots present with leg pain, with exertion and cooler temperature in the affected limb. A pulse will check arterial clots but will not rule out the presence of venous clots.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own
doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call
1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart
Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to
address your cardiac problem.
