Gwen, some serious conditions can happen in veins. One is called a DVT, deep vein thrombosis. It's a clot in the deep vein of an extremity. Some symptoms include pain/cramping, redness, soreness, swelling/edema, and heat arising from the afflicted area. Treatment for an acute DVT include anti-coagulation therapy such as the drug Coumadin and Heparin. They act pretty much like a blood thinner. In conjunction, the application of elastic support stockings on the knee-to-thigh areas if the DVT is in the leg. DVT's mostly develop from an injury to an extremity or is a post-surgery condition. It happens because of prolonged bed rest or if someone is bed-ridden for some time. The blood remains static in the vein, the proteins and fibrin can solidify and become a thrombus/clot. If a thrombus breaks loose from the vein and travels to the lungs, it can cause a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. Even if it stays put, however, it can jeopardize the affected limb or organ by obstructing venous blood flow. That's why it's important to diagnose a DVT early on by ultrasound or a venogram. I'm an ultrasound technologist by trade and I used to get called into the emergency room 24/7 for such cases.
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This message was edited by EffMeBoobs on 9-21-01 @ 11:55 PM