How long to get swelling down from a blood clot in leg

[mkh9]

I fell and hurt my knee. It was only a contusion on the left side of the knee. There was not break or ligament tear. I can't put my full weight on it due to the swelling and pain. I then took a plane flight 13 hours plus 6 more hours of sitting in the airport. The next day I had severe calf pain and the day after my foot swelled up. I went to the doctor and they did an ultrasound and found a blood clot. They put me on Coumadin/warfarin and Lovenox injections until I get to the right dose of coumadin (which should be by this weekend).  I was told that coumadin does not remove or breakup the clot it just prevents it from going to the lung/heart. But my question is when does the swelling from the clot go down and how does the body break it up or remove it on its own? And, how long will this take (approximately). I am in pain and am taking high dose Tylenol and can't take that forever. I do have tramadol but don't know if that is easier on the liver or not. I also don't want to get on that too much as I was on it before and went through withdrawal from it. I want to get mobilized and walking as soon as I can. Right now the pain is too high in the leg and knee to walk. But if the fluid goes out of the leg and knee from the clot then the pain will go down. Any thoughts and suggestions. I have been trying to elevate the leg when I can but I can't lay down all the time. My doctor surprising didn't want a compression stocking. This doctor is a new graduate. My regular GP was out. I think this doctor is good. But I am frustrated and just want to know when this swelling will go down.
thanks,
mkh9

[mkh9]

Hi Gymdandee,
I'm so sorry you had a brain tumor. My husband brother had one too.  He also got a blood clot but luckily his didn't go to his lung. I'm sorry you went through all that. I am trying to walk more each.
Thanks,
mkh9

[gymdandee]

Walk whenever you can! It's important!! After I had my brain tumor removed I went home and it was just 2 weeks after the surgery I couldn't eat or sleep and couldn't touch my left breast as it hurt. My wife called our family Dr. I went to see him and he said it's just your muscle that's tender. The next day everything was still the same no sleeping or eating. My wife called the Dr. again but he wasn't in his brother was in and said To get me to the ER.
I had 3 clots in my left lung and 2 in the right. Blood tests show that I have 2 genetic factors for having clots.  

[mkh9]

Thanks for responding. I saw an orthopedic surgeon and a family practice doctor. They said that because my clot was due to the injury of falling and airplane incident they weren't worried about having to use warfarin for life. I would only need it for 3-6 months. But the Ortho doc had my leg in a compression stocking for the knee for the first 10 days (before I had the blood clot) this was in Spain. Then I got the blood clot after the plane flight. I am walking now with a walker several times a day. Before it was too painful but now I can. Is it ok even though the leg is swollen to walk? Does this help the fluids move up the leg?  I know about the diet issues. I am dealing with a coumadin clinic on a daily basis and they are monitoring my meds, diet etc. I am sleeping with the leg elevated. I try to keep it elevated during the day as much as I can stand it. The doctor didn't seem think I needed compression stockings. He is a new grad. I think I will take your advice on the vascular doc. Just to make sure. My knee hurts a little but the swelling hurts more. I have my warfarin level at the correct INR level now. So, that is good. I will try to walk more often. How often is necessary? I was told to start with pain tolerance. But, I was also worried that the swelling would get worse as I walk too much. Is it the opposite? Oh, yes I had the ultrasound and that is how they found the clot. I had leg pain so I went in right away because it was the day after the long flight so I knew it wasn't right. He put me on warfarin and Lovenox the same day.
thanks,
mkh9