Blood clotting is the body’s natural response when the skin has been broken or a muscle has been injured. A clot is essentially blood that takes on a semi-solid or solid state and is not as fluid as usual. In the case of broken skin, the blood will congeal on the surface of the cut to protect the bloodstream from infection from outside sources. Dark bruises occur when the blood clots around internal tissues that have been injured.
Usually a clot will dissipate on its own as the injury heals. Problems occur when blood clots do not fully liquefy and begin to travel through the veins and arteries. If a clot is large enough, it can become lodged in a smaller vein or artery and cause a blockage that will not allow blood to travel through that part of the cardiovascular system. The result is that any organs or bodily systems on the other side of the blockage are starved for the oxygen and nutrients they usually receive from the bloodstream.
1. Leg pain
The most common type of blood clots happen in the deeper veins of the legs, known as deep vein thrombosis. These clots are not readily apparent on the surface of your skin, but they can cause unexpected leg pain if they are present long enough. The pain people experience is not always the same. Some clots can cause sharp, stabbing pain. Others can cause a throbbing ache. The pain is often described as similar to a muscle cramp or a charley horse that does not go away after a few minutes. The leg may also become tender and hurt when it is touched.
Because it is more likely you will have a blood clot in just one leg rather than in both legs, pain that is localized in one leg is a good indication that a clot might be present. If the pain persists after treating the area with ice or elevating your leg to reduce swelling, you should visit a doctor to make sure there are no clots present. The danger with deep vein thrombosis is that larger blood clots might break up into smaller pieces and travel through the bloodstream where they could lodge in the heart, brain, or lungs and cause serious damage or even death.
2. Redness in legs
When the blood flow in your legs becomes constricted due to clotting, the area might become red and irritated. Blood will pool behind the clot, which can cause the smaller blood vessels just under the surface of the skin to burst or swell. The area can become hot to the touch, as well. If you notice an unexpected redness accompanied by pain in one leg it could be a sign that there is a blood clot causing a blockage in a deeper layer of the bloodstream. If ice or elevation do not alleviate the redness, visit a doctor to make sure there are no clots.
3. Swelling in the legs
While most blood clots do not show any outward symptoms, some can cause your leg to swell below the clot. If deep vein thrombosis has blocked the blood flow back to the heart, the blood will pool on the opposite side of the clot and begin to cause the leg to look swollen. The swelling can cause the skin to look red, tight, and shiny, and the leg and foot could look unusually puffy. The area will also probably become sensitive to touch. Swelling alone does not indicate a clot, but swelling accompanied by other symptoms could be a sign of deep vein thrombosis.
4. Itching
Clots that occur closer to the surface of the skin can cause a sensation that feels like itching. Itching is a sign that something is wrong, and the body receives itching through the pain pathways of the nervous system. If the blood clot causes a blockage close enough to the skin’s pain receptors, the result will feel more like an itch than like normal pain. The affected vein might also be swollen and visible through the skin. The area may also become red and irritated. As with most of these symptoms, itching alone is not enough to indicate that a clot is present.
5. Cramping
Deep vein thrombosis that shows any signs of its presence is usually accompanied by sharp pain in the area of the blockage. The pain may feel like an intense cramp deep in a leg or arm muscle that will not ease as quickly as a normal cramp would. The cramping will remain localized to the spot where the blood clot is causing a blood flow problem, so it will feel a little different than a traditional muscle cramp. Deep vein thrombosis is also different from normal cramps because the pain persists but the muscle does not become hard and tense.
6. Charley horse
Some people experience pain that is similar to a charley horse, or a pulled muscle. This pain is a throbbing sharp pain that cycles over and over again. It usually occurs in the thigh or the calf and does not go away with steady massage or other treatments that would ease a muscle pull. The pain will probably be accompanied by other symptoms, such as redness, swelling, or tenderness. If the pain is associated with a blockage, it will continue to hurt much longer than a typical charley horse. You should seek medical help as soon as possible if the throbbing is associated with other typical blood clot symptoms.
7. Leg tenderness
If a blood clot does show any outward signs, one of the most common symptoms is tenderness in the leg near the region where the clot exists. The area may be swollen and irritated, with an increase in pain with even the lightest touch. The amount of pain or tenderness you experience will depend largely on the size of the clot. Tenderness is a common response to any form of swelling or redness, but if it is present along with several of the other blood clot symptoms it is a good idea to visit a medical professional as soon as you can.
