What is the Treatment of Superficial Thrombophlebitis?

Thrombophlebitis is a cause of blood clot blocks in one or more veins, typically in the legs. It can also occur in arms or neck but, that is a rare condition.
The vein being affected can be near the surface of the skin which causes superficial thrombophlebitis or deep in the muscle causing deep vein thrombophlebitis. People suffering from varicose veins usually have superficial thrombophlebitis.

What are the Symptoms?

The symptoms of superficial thrombophlebitis may include:
Feeling of warmth or tenderness in the affected area.
Redness and swelling in the area.
When a person is suffering from superficial thrombophlebitis, a red, hard, and tender cord can be seen under the surface of the skin.  When a deep vein in the leg is affected, the leg may become swollen, tender, and painful.

What are the Causes?

A clot formation in the blood leads to thrombophlebitis. The reason behind clot formation in the blood can be many. Some of the causes of blood clotting which leads to thrombophlebitis can be:

• An injury to the vein
• A family history of blood clotting
• Staying at one place for long time.

How to Treat thrombophlebitis?

When thrombophlebitis occurs in the vein which just under the skin, some treatment will be advised by the doctor to be done at home. It may include applying heat to the affected are, elevating the affected leg, and the use of over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. In such a condition, no hospitalization is required and it takes a month’s time get cured.

• Some of the other treatments may include:
• Blood-thinning medications
• Clot-dissolving medications
• Compression stockings
• Filter
• Varicose vein stripping.

Some changes in the lifestyle and taking some precautionary measures can treat thrombophlebitis.

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