Blood Clot Symptoms in Legs

Blood clots in the leg are also referred to as thrombophlebitis, venous thrombosis or phlebitis, and can cause life threatening complications when left untreated. Although anyone can develop a blood clot in their leg, people who smoke, sit for long periods of time, are obese, have recently had a baby or surgical procedure or take medications such as hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills are at greater risk. The following information about the symptoms of a blood clot in the leg is derived from the Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine.

Infection

• Blood clots in the leg may lead to a staphylococcal ("staph") infection in the leg. Signs of an infection caused by a blood clot include fever, inflammation and edema of the area near the clot. Infections can be treated with pain relievers that are recommended by a doctor, and antibiotics may be necessary to eliminate the infection.

Pain

• You might experience pain in the area where the clot is located. If the clot is left untreated and grows in size, you might develop persistent pain even while at rest. People with leg pain that suddenly becomes intense or does not go away after a few days should seek medical evaluation, as they may have deep vein thrombosis.

Muscle Cramps

• You might develop sudden cramps in your leg muscles. Exercise and other strenuous or prolonged physical activities may become difficult for people with blood clots in their legs due to these cramps. Leg cramps may be severe, especially if the blood clot is in a deep vein.

Skin Changes

• You might notice that your leg feels warm in the area around the vein with the clot. The skin may also appear red around the location of the clot. If the clot is in a vein close to the skin, the skin may appear lumpy or rippled.

Swelling

• A blood clot in the leg might cause you to develop swelling around the area of the clot. The swelling may increase over a period of a few days, and the swollen area may look like a large bulge, as if there were a golf ball under the skin. The swelling may get worse in people who spend significant amounts of time standing or sitting in the same position.

Weakness

• You might feel physically weak and unable to walk even short distances. If a blood clot in the leg cuts off blood flow to the muscle, the muscle may be permanently damaged. This can lead to long term or even permanent weakness and loss of stamina.