What is pelvic vein thrombosis?
A pelvic vein thrombosis is a narrowing or occlusion of one of the pelvic veins due to a blood clot. Blood clots are caused by a change in blood composition or flow rate and are typically located in the deep veins of the leg and pelvis. Pelvic vein thrombosis can cause pain, swelling and a bluish discoloration of the skin on the leg. A dreaded complication of pelvic vein thrombosis is pulmonary embolism. Here the blood clot is released from the leg and remains in the pulmonary vessels, causing breathing difficulties.
These are the symptoms I recognize from pelvic vein thrombosis
Pelvic vein thrombosis can be very asymptomatic and is often overlooked for a long time. Symptoms that can occur are shown on the leg of the affected pelvic vein. Here, the skin may feel very tight and heavy.
The leg may be swollen and the skin may appear shiny. Pain in the leg is typical, especially under stress, and patients often report pain when pressure is applied to the calf muscles. However, pelvic vein thrombosis can also only become apparent when the dreaded complication of pulmonary embolism has occurred.
In this case, the clot is released from the pelvic vein and is transported along the bloodstream into the blood vessels of the lung, where it remains stuck. This leads to shortness of breath and chest pain. Without therapy, a pulmonary embolism can be fatal.
So if you notice changes and pain in your leg, especially after a long flight or a long period in bed, e.g. after an operation, or if you suddenly find that you have difficulty breathing, you should urgently consult a doctor. A thrombosis in the body can lead to a pulmonary embolism, a condition that can quickly become fatal. For this reason it is all the more important to detect a thrombosis quickly enough to take the necessary measures.
If a thrombosis is already suspected, you can confirm it by reading the following article: How to recognise a thrombosis Since, anatomically speaking, the pelvic veins are located in the groin, it can initially be assumed that the occlusion of a pelvic vein leads to groin pain. This is quite possible, but by no means typical. A pelvic vein thrombosis often has very few symptoms and is more likely to be characterised by swelling and a feeling of tension in the leg.
However, pain can occur anywhere on the leg, from the sole of the foot to the groin, but this is by no means essential. Typical causes of pain in the groin are, for example, inguinal hernias, tendon or muscle injuries or joint diseases (e.g. hip arthrosis). However, if groin pain occurs as part of an increased risk of thrombosis (e.g. after operations, long-haul flights or as part of cancer), this symptom should be urgently clarified by a doctor in good time. Groin pain is rather untypical for pelvic vein thrombosis. Find out what could actually be behind the groin pain: Pain in the groin – these are the most common causes
