Training with a DVT

[Robert Wildes]

I would be interested to hear from anyone that is still rowing after a DVT. Just general information on how you train
now versus before the DVT would be appreciated.

[DavidA]

I would be interested to hear from anyone that is still rowing after a DVT. Just general information on how you train
now versus before the DVT would be appreciated.

I have not done anything different at all.
I just row for general fitness, not to race. I row most days, but always have at least one day off a week. I usually row for a set time, e.g. 40 min.

David

[Robert Wildes]

Thanks DavidA.

[Cyclingman1]

Athletic people aren't supposed to get DVT's, but it happens. Exercise is almost always a good thing for circulation. I presume a blood thinner, like Coumadin, is being taken? My DVT resulted in a Pulmonary Embolism, so that had to be cleared up first. I don't recall how long it took for the leg blockage to go away completely. I was exercising pretty much the day I got out the hospital for the PE. I was cycling then, but have since added rowing.

[kayakr]

Young and athletic people can still get them flying. I work with one. Another guy I worked with from Australia said many people there know someone that has died from one, since the flights in and out tend to be long.

[DavidA]

Athletic people aren't supposed to get DVT's, but it happens. Exercise is almost always a good thing for circulation

I know. I am pretty much the opposite in every way to those one would think might get a DVT
My doctor made me stay off the erg for a week, to give the heparin a chance to break up the clot, before I could begin rowing again. (I think I made it 3 or 4 days )

David

[Robert Wildes]

I have a PE also cyclingman1.

I am not a young man, but I agree that I never would have thought that I would have gotten a DVT either.
Four year ago, when I was 56, I ran on or about 5,000 for the year.

[dustin]

I am new to this forum but I saw this post. FWIW, I am also a vascular surgeon; as one might imagine, we see a fair number of patients with DVTs.

I would encourage you to continue to row. There are DVTs and then there are DVTS. To clear up some misconceptions, anyone is prone to a DVT. There are several hypercoagulable states related to genetics that affect a fair number of otherwise healthy, young, athletic individuals. In fact, anywhere from 40-60% of the young patients that present to the ED with a DVT have such a state.

With that said, I have seen a fair number of athletic patients get calf DVTs. in this area, treatment is debatable though recent literature suggests treating even this with blood thinners. However, I would certainly recommend that you remain active. Coumadin stabilizes the clot and prevents further clot formation and propagation of the existing clot. It buys your body some time to dissolve the clot on its own. What I would tell you beyond this, is that, should you have residual swelling in the affected leg (and you very well may), you NEED to obtain compression stockings and wear them while exercising. PIA, yes, but, helpful nonetheless.

Let me know if you or others have anymore related questions, I can do my best to answer them or help in this regard. It would be interesting to know what symptoms you had and where the clot was located.

kind regards,

dustin

[Cyclingman1]

Dustin,

Yes, my clot was in upper, inner thigh but the swelling was in lower leg. I was told that I probably sustained some permanent damage. My left leg is always slightly swollen. I do wear compression stockings when the swelling increases. But I have never stopped any exercises that I previously did. I've also been off Coumadin for quite a while. I suppose it is all a crapshoot. It was never explained why I got the first clot. I do sit a lot at work. Secondly, dehydration may have been a problem. Those 50+ mile bike rides in the south in the summer can easily result in 6-8 lbs of water loss and that is with drinking several bottles of water. My episode occurred in Aug. Thanks for the input. Jim G.

[dustin]

Jim,

Yes, clots can lead to permanent damage - a condition known as postthrombotic syndrome. Essentially, your veins have bicuspid valves that hold blood against gravity. Clot tends to affect these valves causing reflux of venous blood down the leg (hence the swelling).

In terms of an etiology, certainly this may never be known. The workout itself could be the cause of even the bike seat itself. We have a few cases every few years of cyclists that have either arterial or venous issues. surprising to say the least, but a known entity.

Fortunately, the course afterwards tends to be benign. I would encourage you to continue your workouts as you have said and be aggressive with the stockings. One of my surgical partners wears them every day due to a hockey injury he sustained some 25+ years ago. He still gets leg swelling to this day.

Good luck!

dustin

[DavidA]

Jim,

Yes, clots can lead to permanent damage - a condition known as postthrombotic syndrome. Essentially, your veins have bicuspid valves that hold blood against gravity. Clot tends to affect these valves causing reflux of venous blood down the leg (hence the swelling).

In terms of an etiology, certainly this may never be known. The workout itself could be the cause of even the bike seat itself. We have a few cases every few years of cyclists that have either arterial or venous issues. surprising to say the least, but a known entity.

Fortunately, the course afterwards tends to be benign. I would encourage you to continue your workouts as you have said and be aggressive with the stockings. One of my surgical partners wears them every day due to a hockey injury he sustained some 25+ years ago. He still gets leg swelling to this day.

Good luck!

dustin

I usually wear my compression stockings, except when I row. I figured that I didn't need to when I was doing that sort of exercise, and didn't want to get so sweaty every time

David

[4everyoung]

Hello!

I'm not new to rowing (erg-ing) but I am new to this forum. I'm wondering if there are any active threads in this forum. ...Maybe a little group of people that support each other in rowing, exercising in general... always working toward a more healthy lifestyle.

[Cyclingman1]

4everyoung,

I'm wondering why you picked "Training with a DVT" to ask about active threads.
You may be talking about having Training Partner(s). Training partners are established on one's Profile page.
You could start a topic asking for Training Partners.

[Citroen]

Hello!

I'm not new to rowing (erg-ing) but I am new to this forum. I'm wondering if there are any active threads in this forum. ...Maybe a little group of people that support each other in rowing, exercising in general... always working toward a more healthy lifestyle.

Very odd question for this thread.

Try this: http://www.c2forum.com/search.php?search_id=unreadposts

[Tribaby100]

Hi
I am a master's cyclist doing about 350 km /week and have recently had a distal DVT episode that came totally out of the blue. I have had all of the tests and everything has come back negative. The only conclusion that the specialist and I can work out is that I only drink water when exercising whereas I should be taking hydration additives. However I have a strange condition that seemed to peak with the DVT. After a hard ride and when relaxing, I used to get minor twitching of the calf muscles that would last an hour or so. Within 6 months this then became continuous and started to worry me. I then had the DVT. One month after and it is has started to subside. Has anyone had the same condition or know what it could mean? My specialist doesn't seem to consider it relevant but it plays on my mind that it was a precursor to the DVT.

Many thanks
James