I wrapped my leg around a chair while walking by it on January 16, 2025 and fell. My right leg immediately bruised and swelled, so I went to the emergency room. X-rays showed a contusion to the bone.
My leg was bandaged and I was sent on my way. As time wore on, my leg became painful and swollen and kept me up at night. On February 15, I sat in my recliner all day icing my leg off and on, trying to get some relief.
That night I couldn’t move my leg and couldn’t get out of bed. I lay in bed until I knew my parents would be awake and then called them for a ride to the hospital.
I walked in, sat in a wheelchair, and handed the front desk clerk a form that stated my leg felt warm, tingly, and very painful. I was immediately taken to triage where the nurse said, “Which le-, never mind the right is bigger than the left.”
A Doppler ultrasound was ordered. I would learn I had DVTs from my groin all the way down my leg. The surgeon called them “extensive,” and said I was close to losing my leg.
On February 24, doctors placed two catheters in my leg and ran blood thinners and clot-busting medications for three days. I was taken back to the procedure room every day to check on the progress. It was a grueling, painful process.
It’s now been two months, and I’m continuing to swell and have pain. I am limited in what I can do at work and in everyday life. I remind myself daily that I still have my leg, and my life, and the days will get better in time. Nothing can prepare you for the mental toll the journey will take on you. Take your time and know you’re not alone!
Resources
Treatment for DVT
Post-Thrombotic Syndrome
Psychological Impact of Blood Clots
