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A hard, red cord usually heals by itself — near the groin or the back of the knee it belongs in an ultrasound.
Also known as: superficial vein thrombosis · thrombophlebitis
Open in the tool — with search and all the links →This compilation is for information and replaces neither medical diagnosis nor treatment. If you have symptoms, see a doctor.
In a superficial vein inflammation a clot sits in a surface vein, usually in the leg, and the vein becomes inflamed around it. A hard cord can be felt just under the skin; the spot is red, warm and tender. That separates it from deep vein thrombosis, in which the whole leg becomes heavy and swells without anything hard being felt. Mostly the superficial form runs a benign course: it heals over one to two weeks and leaves a palpable cord and a brownish streak behind for a while. Two things nevertheless make it serious. First the position — if the cord reaches up the thigh close to the groin, or behind the knee close to the deep vein, the clot can grow through into it; ultrasound is then used and usually a blood-thinning drug is given for some weeks. Second the extent — if the cord keeps growing despite treatment, the same applies. And the question of a cause counts: on a varicose vein, after a drip or after long sitting it is clear. Without a cause, repeatedly or in an unusual place, it belongs looked into why the blood clots so readily.
Draw the ends of the cord on the skin and write the date next to it. The next day one sees without discussion whether it is growing — and so does the doctor.
Movement keeps the blood flowing and prevents deep thrombosis. Bed rest is exactly the wrong thing here; the leg may and should be used.
Cool, damp compresses and the leg raised now and then — that eases pain and tension without the movement suffering.
A well-fitting compression stocking takes away pain and swelling and is the treatment one holds in one’s own hands. It belongs measured, not bought by guess.
At the thigh and behind the knee it is checked how far the clot reaches. Whether a blood-thinning drug is needed for some weeks depends on that.
Several episodes, a family history of thrombosis or unusual sites are reasons to look at the clotting itself — and to review one’s own medication.
In superficial vein inflammation, cooling, compression and movement work; anti-inflammatories take the pain. An antibiotic belongs only if there really is an infection — the inflammation itself usually is not one. If the affected stretch is longer than five centimetres or close to the junction with the deep vein, six weeks of anticoagulation is given, because a deep thrombosis can develop from it.
About three to eleven in a hundred people have one in their lifetime. The reddened, hard cord is palpable and painful — unlike deep thrombosis, which cannot be seen from outside. A stretch longer than five centimetres or closer than three centimetres to the junction with the deep vein is anticoagulated for six weeks, because in about one in four cases a deep thrombosis is present at the same time. The redness recedes over one to two weeks, the cord stays palpable for weeks to months.
That is the key distinction. If instead the whole leg becomes heavy, thick and warm with no palpable cord, it is about the deep vein and not about this inflammation.
In widened veins the blood flows more slowly, so they become inflamed more easily. The cause is then clear, and the varicose veins themselves deserve a look afterwards.
A reddened, hard vein at the puncture site is common and heals with cooling and time. If fever, pus or a rapidly spreading red area is added, it is an infection and belongs shown at once.
Spread towards the groin or the back of the knee is the reason the border is marked with a pen. If it grows beyond, that changes the treatment.
Repeated vein inflammations without varicose veins, in changing places or on the trunk are a reason to look for a tendency to clot and for other causes.
Slightly to moderately raised. The value does not make the diagnosis but helps to separate a bacterial skin infection, which climbs distinctly higher.
Of little help here, because it also rises in the harmless superficial form. The question of deep thrombosis is answered by ultrasound, not by this value.
Belongs alongside when episodes come repeatedly or without a cause — and before any blood thinning, because of the platelets.
They lower the blood fats and act on the excitability of the heart muscle. Oily sea fish twice a week is the best-supported route; very high doses from capsules are not a harmless more.
Keeps the rhythm steady and lowers blood pressure. Water tablets drive it down, certain blood pressure drugs and a weak kidney drive it up — which is why it is checked under treatment.
A lack favours extra beats and at the same time keeps a potassium deficiency going. Anyone replacing only the potassium sees no success while the magnesium is missing.
Less salt lowers blood pressure measurably, and most of it is not in the salt cellar but in bread, cheese, cured meat and ready meals. With very low blood pressure the opposite applies.
Studied for vein complaints and swelling — 100–200 mg a day over 8 weeks; the studies mostly come from the same supplier. The compression stocking has better and more independent numbers for veins.
Long used in Europe for vein weakness and haemorrhoids — 500–1000 mg a day over 8–12 weeks. They do not act on a vein clot that has already formed.
Effects on inflammation and triglycerides established; cardiovascular prevention is mixed. Watch quality and freshness.
Effective when deficient; effects on sleep and stress plausible but moderate. Too much causes loose stool.
The combined pill, pregnancy and the weeks after birth raise the readiness to clot — for superficial vein inflammation too. If it reaches close to the deep vein, it is treated like a thrombosis.
This hormone relaxes the vein wall — which is why varicose veins and vein inflammations occur more often in pregnancy. Progestogen-only preparations, by contrast, do not raise clotting appreciably.
With long sitting or bed rest, low fluid and lack of movement raise the risk. 1.5–2 litres a day and standing up hourly are the simple measures.
Cool compresses ease the pain over the inflamed vein. Movement stays allowed and wanted — elevating and immobilising are outdated here.