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Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic staff

In addition to medical treatments, there are some self-care measures you can take to help improve thrombophlebitis.

If you have superficial thrombophlebitis:

  • Use a warm washcloth to apply heat to the involved area several times daily
  • Elevate your leg
  • Use a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or naproxen (Aleve, others), if recommended by your doctor

If you have deep vein thrombosis:

  • Take prescription anticoagulant medications as directed to prevent complications
  • Elevate your leg if it's swollen
  • Wear your prescription support stockings daily
References
  1. Deep vein thrombosis. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Dvt/DVT_All.html. Accessed Dec. 29, 2008.
  2. Torpy JM, et al. Thrombophlebitis. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2008;300:1718.
  3. Rodriguez-Peralto JL, et al. Superficial thrombophlebitis. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine & Surgery. 2007;26:71.
  4. Di Nisio M, et al. Treatment for superficial thrombophlebitis of the leg. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007:CD004982.
  5. Bauer KA, et al. Overview of the causes of venous thrombosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 29, 2008.
  6. Landaw SA, et al. Approach to the diagnosis and therapy of deep vein thrombosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 29, 2008.

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Jan. 30, 2009

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