I read a post today concerning leg bruises. Funny this should be mentioned. I have 2 bruises in a row of each ohther about 3 inches apart. I do not remember bumping my leg. I am in my 40's and usually in excellent health. I may be getting worried for nothing, but I worry its blood clots. Are superficial blood clots characterized by just bruisng? I have no pain, tenderness or swelling. Thanks, Dr. Stoll and I plan on purchasing a book, a friend on the west coast has it and has read it several times along with using it as a reference.
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Re: Leg Bruises
Posted by Walt Stoll on March 11, 1999 at 11:36:29:
In Reply to: Leg Bruises posted by Michelle K. Perry on March 10, 1999 at 19:05:19:
Hi, Michelle.
Bruises in a row like that are almost always due to broken varicosities. Varicosities are always a risk for clots but this brusing is not likely an indication of that.
If you have not been examined by a professional perhaps you should do that. Let us know what you learn.
Walt
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Re: Leg Bruises
Posted by Michelle on March 11, 1999 at 12:49:11:
In Reply to: Re: Leg Bruises posted by Walt Stoll on March 11, 1999 at 11:36:29:
Thank you for getting back to me so quickly on this. What would cause these varicosites to occur? And are they dangerous? Can anything be done for this? Thanx
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Re: Leg Bruises
Posted by Walt Stoll on March 12, 1999 at 10:51:47:
In Reply to: Re: Leg Bruises posted by Michelle on March 11, 1999 at 12:49:11:
Dear Michelle,
It would be good for you to go to your library and have the reference librarian find you the textbook that describes varicose veins for you. The explanation you are looking for is long & involved.
Are you overweight? Do you spend many hours sitting? Do your wear constricting stockings or undergarments? How much vitamin E do you take? Do you have a family history? ETC., ETC.
THEN, if you still have questions, write again.
Walt
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Re: Leg Bruises
Posted by Michelle on March 12, 1999 at 23:07:39:
In Reply to: Re: Leg Bruises posted by Walt Stoll on March 12, 1999 at 10:51:47:
Thanks Dr. Stoll for getting back to me. The leg bruises I described seem to be diminishing. In my family there are no varicose vein problems, etc etc. I am in excellent health, thank the Lord, and so is my family. My dad had high BP. I have only taken prescription medication twice in my 45 years for bronchitis at age 18. I am 5'6" and weigh 139, I am not overweight, I do have a desk job. I own a business from home and I am at the desk a lot. I very seldom wear panty hose, mainly sneekers and ankle socks. I dont smoke, quit when I was 29, and I never drank alcohol. The pain is very mild and brief. I have no pain upon walking or doing aerobics. The other medication I took was Tenormin 25 mg last Dec. for a 94 pulse rate. I'm always nervous at the dr. but they gave it to me anyway. Shortly after I started it I had very cold extremeties, and awoke one day with severe leg cramping, which I did research online and found muscle cramps to be a side effect of this medication. I have been off it 4 weeks now, but the leg pain continues, mostly when I am relaxing. Can you shed some light on this?
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Re: Leg Bruises
Posted by Walt Stoll on March 13, 1999 at 11:15:57:
In Reply to: Re: Leg Bruises posted by Michelle on March 12, 1999 at 23:07:39:
Hi, Michelle.
With the bruises lining up like you described, about the only thing that could cause this is leakage from a vein and varicosities are the most llkely cause of that although normal veins can leak too.
To take pressure off the veins, your first option is to be SURE to get up & flex your legs for a few minutes every 10 minutes while you are working sitting down. If you were willing to elevate your legs above the rest of your body for 30 seconds, while flexing your legs, you could do it in 30 seconds rather than having to take several minutes as described above.
It may be that these leaky veins are just an early warning of varicosities to come since I cannot imagine any other mechanism of lined up bruises than leaky veins (varicose or not).
Walt
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Re: Leg Bruises
Posted by Michelle on March 13, 1999 at 14:11:53:
In Reply to: Re: Leg Bruises posted by Walt Stoll on March 13, 1999 at 11:15:57:
Thank you Dr. Stoll. It looks like they may be diminishing a little. I know the larger bruise at the bottom is a bruise, it is sore to the touch. But the others are very tiny red blotch type marks directly under the skin. The 2nd one up from the bruise looked like a small bruise, but has also turned reddish. Thank you for your time. Any other suggestions? Would there be minor leg ache with this? Michelle
Re: Leg Bruises-Please read Dr. Stoll
Posted by Michelle on March 13, 1999 at 21:20:52:
In Reply to: Re: Leg Bruises posted by Walt Stoll on March 13, 1999 at 11:15:57:
Dr. Stoll, I was thinking today.....Almost everyday I wear stretch leggings that have inside seams on them. When I take them off, there is always a line/indentation in my leg from this seam that goes form ankle to the top of my leg. I had them on today and this line runs right where these bruises are. There are none on my left leg, just the right. Could this be an explanation? I kno wearing tight articles of clothing isnt good. Thank you.
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Re: Leg Bruises-Please read Dr. Stoll
Posted by Walt Stoll on March 14, 1999 at 10:35:08:
In Reply to: Re: Leg Bruises-Please read Dr. Stoll posted by Michelle on March 13, 1999 at 21:20:52:
Dear Michelle,
Ah! Ha! You didn't tell me about the stretch leggings. How far up your leg do they go? If they are panty hose like things they are pretty safe. However if they stop at the top of your leg, they are common causes of varicosities in the leg. Certainly, something like this could have caused this problem locally either way.
Walt
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Re: Leg Bruises-Please read Dr. Stoll
Posted by Michelle on March 14, 1999 at 19:54:59:
In Reply to: Re: Leg Bruises-Please read Dr. Stoll posted by Walt Stoll on March 14, 1999 at 10:35:08:
Sorry I forgot to mention them Dr Stoll. The leggings I wear everyday are cotton/spandex. They have about a 1/4 " seam that runs down the inside of the leg. They are snug fitting and the seam indents into my legs. But I did notice these marks the other day, today they are now a light pink color and have gone away a bit. They do run right along where the seam indentation always is when I take them off. make sense??? Thanks Dr Stoll
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Re: Leg Bruises-Please read Dr. Stoll
Posted by Walt Stoll on March 15, 1999 at 11:14:17:
In Reply to: Re: Leg Bruises-Please read Dr. Stoll posted by Michelle on March 14, 1999 at 19:54:59:
Hi, Michelle.
"Leggings" say to me that these are NOT pantyhose type things. If they are not, how do they stay up? If there is any elastic at the top of the leggings, it will cause stuff like this.
Walt
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Re: Walt - description of leggings
Posted by Deb on March 15, 1999 at 15:39:41:
In Reply to: Re: Leg Bruises-Please read Dr. Stoll posted by Walt Stoll on March 15, 1999 at 11:14:17:
Walt,
If Michelle's leggings are like mine - they are like tights without feet. They are made of stretchy lycra/cotton mix, start at the ankles and finish at the waist.
Deb
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Re: Walt - description of leggings
Posted by Walt Stoll on March 16, 1999 at 13:43:51:
In Reply to: Re: Walt - description of leggings posted by Deb on March 15, 1999 at 15:39:41:
Thanks, Deb.
These are a lot less dangerous than those that do not go to the waist.
Walt
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Re: Walt - description of leggings
Posted by Michelle on March 16, 1999 at 22:59:24:
In Reply to: Re: Walt - description of leggings posted by Walt Stoll on March 16, 1999 at 13:43:51:
Dr Stoll and I am pleased to report that all 4 bruise type markings have disappeared. What could that have been, all in a row like that?
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Re: Walt - description of leggings
Posted by Walt Stoll on March 17, 1999 at 10:07:18:
In Reply to: Re: Walt - description of leggings posted by Michelle on March 16, 1999 at 22:59:24:
Hi, Michelle.
About the only thing would be a broken vein.
Walt