Is it allowed to do a lymphatic drainage in case of a pelvic vein thrombosis?
Many patients who suffer from water retention in the connective tissue (so-called oedema) can benefit from lymphatic drainage. This is a specific massage of the affected body region by physiotherapists, which causes excessive fluid to be removed via the venous vascular system. If you are suffering from an acute thrombosis, lymph drainage of the legs should be avoided.
The irritation caused by the massage and the supply of fluid to the venous vascular system could lead to a loosening of the clot and ultimately to a pulmonary embolism. Lymphatic drainage should only be resumed when the thrombus has grown firmly into the vessel wall. This can take varying lengths of time, but as a rule 12 weeks should be expected.
In any case, you should obtain a doctor’s permission before starting a lymphatic drainage again. You can find out more about the “lymphatic drainage” form of therapy at
- What is lymphatic drainage? – When is manual lymphatic drainage useful?
What can be the late effects of pelvic vein thrombosis?
Pelvic vein thrombosis can also lead to late effects or complications. A dreaded complication is pulmonary embolism, in which the blood clot is washed out from the leg into the pulmonary vessels. This can lead to shortness of breath and circulatory failure.
The most common late complication of pelvic vein thrombosis is the so-called postthrombotic syndrome. This is a chronic change in the affected vein, which can lead to various problems such as leg swelling, varicose veins, skin changes and itching. Another frequent late consequence is a renewed pelvic or leg vein thrombosis, especially if a genetic disease is responsible for the increased blood clotting. It is therefore always useful to determine the cause of pelvic vein thrombosis.
