Deep vein thrombosis rarely results from traumatic injuries. However, it can occur during treatment and recovery from serious bodily injuries. If you are suffering from deep vein thrombosis, you can experience a range of symptoms, including swelling, pain, tightness, and warmth in the affected limb.
In most situations, doctors can treat deep vein thrombosis with blood-thinning drugs. These drugs prevent the clot from growing and start to dissolve it. But in rare circumstances, a piece of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs, potentially causing permanent injuries or death without treatment. Read more about this kind of injury in this blog written by experienced personal injury lawyers in Lancaster, SC.
The Functioning of the Circulatory System
Your circulatory system delivers oxygen and nutrients to all the cells of your body. Without oxygen, your cells cannot engage in cell metabolism. In this process, cells consume oxygen to generate energy and produce proteins to grow new cells and repair old ones. They release carbon dioxide as a waste product.
Oxygen molecules enter your lungs when you inhale. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin. This chemical attaches to oxygen molecules as blood circulates through the lungs. The oxygenated blood flows back to the heart, where it gets pumped through your arteries across your body.
The blood flows easily into your arms and legs because gravity pulls it downward. As it reaches the cells, your blood releases oxygen molecules and picks up carbon dioxide molecules. The oxygen-depleted blood flows back to the heart through the veins.
On the venous side of your circulatory system, the pressure from your heart is not enough to push the blood back to your chest. Instead, the heart creates a mild vacuum to pull the blood.
This works on the blood in your head and abdomen. But the deep veins of your legs and arms are far from your heart. Worse yet, the blood has to fight against gravity to return to your heart. These veins have valves to stop blood from flowing backward between heartbeats.
The heart pulls the blood, then the valves shut to hold the blood in place for the next beat. The blood in the deep veins returns to the heart, flowing upward step by step. The heart pushes oxygen-depleted blood to the lungs, where the cells can give up carbon dioxide and pick up oxygen, repeating the cycle.
What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis happens when blood coagulates in the deep veins of your arms or legs. Coagulation happens when blood cells called platelets stick together. This sticky mass forms a blood clot. In the deep veins, these clots often form against the valves where the blood temporarily rests between heartbeats.
The clot blocks the veins. As a result, the clot prevents blood from flowing back to the heart. Fluid accumulates below the clot.
Several conditions can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis, including:
Immobility
A lack of movement can cause your blood to pool. For example, suppose that a doctor prescribes bed rest. Laying in your bed on your back can cause the blood to pool in the back of your calves and thighs. This pooled blood can coagulate into a clot.
Pressure on your body also contributes to the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Pressure from your body weight pressing on your seat or mattress can squeeze your veins. Your blood flow can slow down to the point that clots form.
For example, if you tear the cartilage in your knee during a pedestrian accident, your cartilage may take several months to heal. If you spend several days in bed immediately after the accident, you could develop deep vein thrombosis.
Broken Bones
When you break a bone, a blood clot forms over the fracture. This clot stops the bleeding and holds the cells that repair the bone in the injured area. If a piece of the clot breaks off, it can lodge in your deep veins.
Car accidents are a common cause of fractured bones. Regardless of the location of the fracture, a clot can break off and get caught in the valves of the deep veins.
Surgery
When you suffer trauma, your body releases chemicals that cause your blood to clot. These chemicals prevent you from bleeding to death, in a serious case of wrongful death, but can also produce clots that clog your veins.
You are particularly vulnerable to blood clots from surgery when you require substantial bed rest after your operation. Between the increase in clotting factors in your blood and the lack of movement during your bed rest, you face a significant risk of deep vein thrombosis.
In many situations, doctors will prescribe compression socks or pressure sleeves on your legs to push the blood out of your deep veins and reduce your risk of developing blood clots.
What Are the Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Clots in your legs prevent the blood from circulating out of your feet and legs. As a result, fluids accumulate in your lower limbs, causing your legs, feet, and ankles to swell.
The swelling can cause your skin to feel tight and hot due to the accumulation of fluids. Your swollen tissues can press on the nerves, causing pain.
While not common, deep vein thrombosis can lead to a pulmonary embolism. This complication happens when a piece of the blood clot breaks off and embeds in the veins of your lungs. There, it blocks the oxygen-deprived blood from reaching your lungs and picking up oxygen.
As a result, you will experience chest pain, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. Without emergency treatment to eliminate the blood clot, you could suffer permanent lung damage or even death.
What Compensation Can You Seek for Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Even though DVT does not result directly from your accident, you can prove that it was caused by your injuries. By proving that your accident was the proximate cause and cause-in-fact of your deep vein thrombosis, you can pursue personal injury compensation for its effects.
The compensation you can pursue will include your economic and non-economic losses. As a result, you can recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Deep vein thrombosis can cause serious symptoms or even death. To discuss compensation options, contact Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys at (803) 324-7574 for a free consultation
