--- title: "Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatment and Recovery | Sutter Health" description: "I was recently diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I am being treated with Xarelto. What else can I do to promote healing during next six months of treatment? I'm physically active and I wear a compression stocking on the leg with DVT." url: "/ask-an-expert/answers/deep-vein-thrombosis-treatment-recovery-1051061495" --- 1. Home / 2. Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatment and Recovery # Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatment and Recovery * * * Medically reviewed by - Modern Weng, DO ## Question I was recently diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I am being treated with Xarelto. What else can I do to promote healing during next six months of treatment? I'm physically active and I wear a compression stocking on the leg with DVT. ## Answer I'm sorry to hear that you recently suffered from a deep venous thrombosis (DVT), but I'm glad to you have been treated with anti-coagulation medications and are recovering nicely. There is a condition called post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) which can be a long-term complication of DVTs, but with proper management, this syndrome can be avoided. PTS can affect anywhere between 20-60 percent of patients two years following a DVT. The symptoms of PTS consist of leg aching, cramping, or pain; leg itchiness, tingling, or heaviness; swelling of the leg; varicose veins or a brownish discoloration of the skin; and even a skin ulcer. PTS symptoms typically are worse with prolonged walking. You are already doing many of the things that prevent long-term complications of DVTs: anti-coagulation medication, compression stockings - 30 mmHg of pressure or "tightness" - and early ambulation. If you are overweight, weight loss is also beneficial. Another suggestion is to elevate your leg above heart level three or more times a day for 5-10 minutes. Lastly, if you're a smoker, I strongly recommend you quit. ## Explore related topics Heart health ## Related questions View all questions - Health Q&A ### "Broken Heart Syndrome" - Stress Cardiomyopathy I've been through some bad loses this year (relationship, foreclosure) and have had chest pain and shortness of breath. My doctor said I had stress cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). What are the other symptoms, is it dangerous, will I get it again? - Health Q&A ### Abnormal Heart Rhythm Tests My primary care doctor detected an abnormal heart rhythm and wants me to see a cardiologist for an EP study. 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View all questions ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/deep-vein-thrombosis-treatment-recovery-1051061495#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatment and Recovery"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/deep-vein-thrombosis-treatment-recovery-1051061495#medicalwebpage","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/deep-vein-thrombosis-treatment-recovery-1051061495","name":"Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatment and Recovery","description":"I'm sorry to hear that you recently suffered from a deep venous thrombosis (DVT), but I'm glad to you have been treated with anti-coagulation medications and are recovering nicely.","inLanguage":"en-US","medicalAudience":{"@type":"MedicalAudience","audienceType":"Patient"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/deep-vein-thrombosis-treatment-recovery-1051061495#breadcrumblist"},"mainEntity":{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/deep-vein-thrombosis-treatment-recovery-1051061495#question","name":"Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatment and Recovery","text":"I was recently diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I am being treated with Xarelto. What else can I do to promote healing during next six months of treatment? I'm physically active and I wear a compression stocking on the leg with DVT.","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/deep-vein-thrombosis-treatment-recovery-1051061495#answer","text":"I'm sorry to hear that you recently suffered from a deep venous thrombosis (DVT), but I'm glad to you have been treated with anti-coagulation medications and are recovering nicely. There is a condition called post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) which can be a long-term complication of DVTs, but with proper management, this syndrome can be avoided. PTS can affect anywhere between 20-60 percent of patients two years following a DVT. The symptoms of PTS consist of leg aching, cramping, or pain; leg itchiness, tingling, or heaviness; swelling of the leg; varicose veins or a brownish discoloration of the skin; and even a skin ulcer. PTS symptoms typically are worse with prolonged walking. You are already doing many of the things that prevent long-term complications of DVTs: anti-coagulation medication, compression stockings - 30 mmHg of pressure or \"tightness\" - and early ambulation. If you are overweight, weight loss is also beneficial. Another suggestion is to elevate your leg above heart level three or more times a day for 5-10 minutes. Lastly, if you're a smoker, I strongly recommend you quit.","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/deep-vein-thrombosis-treatment-recovery-1051061495","author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/deep-vein-thrombosis-treatment-recovery-1051061495#expert"}}},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"reviewedBy":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/deep-vein-thrombosis-treatment-recovery-1051061495#expert"}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/deep-vein-thrombosis-treatment-recovery-1051061495#expert","name":"Modern Weng","honorificSuffix":"DO"} ```