Home Treatment

Home treatment for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) focuses on:

• Taking anticoagulants (blood thinners) safely.
• Relieving symptoms.
• Wearing compression stockings.

Taking anticoagulants safely

If you take an anticoagulant medicine, also called a blood thinner, you need to take extra steps to avoid bleeding problems. These steps include:

• Preventing falls and injuries.
• Telling your doctors about all other medicines, supplements, and vitamins that you take.
• Getting regular blood tests, if your doctor tells you to.

For more information, see:

Warfarin: Taking Your Medicine Safely.

Blood Thinners Other Than Warfarin: Taking Them Safely

Relieving symptoms

To relieve symptoms like pain and swelling, your doctor might recommend:

• Walking 5 or 6 times a day, if possible.
• Elevating your leg.

If you are not taking an anticoagulant, your doctor might suggest that you take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, to relieve pain. Do not take an NSAID unless your doctor tells you that it's safe for you.

Wearing compression stockings

Compression stockings are specially fitted stockings that are designed to treat or help prevent deep vein thrombosis.

If you have had deep vein thrombosis, these stockings might help:

• Prevent a complication called postthrombotic syndrome.
• Relieve symptoms like pain and swelling.

See a slideshow about how to put on compression stockings.