Great Saphenous Vein Thrombophlebitis

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hello Jordan and Austin,

This is my first post but I’ve been following you guys since the old SS forums years ago, before BBM. I really appreciate your work.

So two weeks ago I hit the medial aspect of my knee with a wooden dowel. Didn’t hurt too much so on the next day I deadlifted as usual, no pain during the exercise only a minor discomfort where I got hit. On the morning following deadlift day I could barely walk and there was a local bruise plus redness over the GSV around the knee.

Guess the wooden dowel hit precisely my great saphenous vein.

Ultrasound was done and I was diagnosed with GSV thrombophlebitis >5cm, so I’m currently on rivaroxaban for 45 days.

I’m a MD myself but I had no prior experience on traumatic thrombophlebitis, so I’d like to know how would you guys manage it specially regarding return to strength training during or after anticoagulation therapy and about prevention of recurrence/PE.

Thanks,

Lucas

2

I’m not sure this would change much of my management with respect to training, to be honest.

And unless the clot extended to be in close proximity to a deep vein, I wouldn’t be too concerned about PE risk either, especially given that you’re on appropriate therapy.

3

For what it’s worth, last year I trained while taking rivaroxiban for a superficial thrombophlebitis in my arm. The only real issue was I pinched my hand between a couple plates, and what would have been annoying but invisible turned into a nice little bruise.

basically, the guidance I got was “try not to start bleeding,” which is something I already was trying not to do. (And still am!)

good luck. Sorry about your leg. I guess the good news is you didn’t really need that vein anyway.