Considerations:

  • Blood Clots

    Venous thromboembolism (VTE's) effect 300,000-600,000 Americans every year, causing 60,000-100,000 deaths per year. Some symptoms include swelling, usually in one leg, leg pain or tenderness, reddish or bluish skin discoloration, and the leg might be warm to the touch. These symptoms of blood clots may feel similar to a pulled muscle or a Charlie horse, but may differ in that the leg swells, is discolored, and feverish. One should contact a doctor if experiencing these symptoms. Immediate treatment may be required. Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a clot breaks off from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and travels to the lung, which can be fatal. Signs of clots relating to PE include sudden shortness of breath, sharp, stabbing chest pain that may get worse with each breath, rapid heart rate and unexplained cough that can be accompanied with bloody mucus. If one is experiencing any of these symptoms, he or she should seek emergency help immediately for treatment in the emergency room. More general symptoms of blood clots include pain extending to the shoulder, arm, back, teeth or jaw, numbness in the face, arm or leg, aphasia or sudden blurred double vision.

 

  • Some Risk Factors
    • Use of birth control or Hormone
    • Age
    • Overweight or obese
    • Genetic Factors
    • Previoous history with DVT
    • Smoking
    • Vericose Veins
    • Length of surgery
    • Type of surgery
    • Broken hip, pelvis or leg in last month
    • Required bed rest or immobility
    • Joint replacement
    • Arthroscopic knee surgery
    • Major surgery lasting over 45 minutes
    • Pregnant or had baby in last month
    • Legs are currently swollen

 

  • Some Contraindications
    • Presumptive evidence of congestive heart
            failure
    • Suspected/observed DVT or PE
    • Suspected/observed VTE
    • Suspected/observed phlebitis
    • Suspected/observed pulmonary edema
    • Suspected/observed deep acute venal
            thrombosis
    • Suspected/observed decompensated cardiac
            insufficiency
    • Suspected/observed arterial dysregulation
    • Suspected/observed erysipelas
    • Suspected/observed hypersensitivity to cold
    • Suspected/observed poor peripheral
            circulation
    • Suspected/observed arterial occlusive
            disease