Nuvaring – Deep Vein Thrombosis
Nuvaring side effects involving DVT – or, deep vein thrombosis – is a condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins of your body. This commonly occurs in the legs, but can also happen in the arms or pelvis.
Nuvaring side effects involving DVT – or, deep vein thrombosis – is a condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins of your body. This commonly occurs in the legs, but can also happen in the arms or pelvis. Your doctor will use Doppler ultrasonography or duplex ultrasound to diagnose the condition before creating a treatment plan.
Blood clots (i.e. thrombi) in the deep veins can form due to several reasons. For example, past surgery can lead to venous injury, which prompts your body’s natural clotting mechanism. Diseases and inherited predispositions can likewise trigger clotting. It is believed that NuvaRing may increase the risk of blood clots because it releases a continuous supply of estrogen and etonogestrel (a derivative of desogestrel) into your bloodstream. These hormones can cause thrombi to form in your leg veins. This sets the stage for post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) and other medical problems.
What Is Post-Thrombotic Syndrome?
According to Blood, a publication from the Journal of the American Society of Hemotology, one in three patients who suffer from DVT will develop post-thrombotic syndrome. This is a chronic condition, though symptoms may appear and subside over time.
Valves in your veins ensure blood flows in one direction (toward your heart). Clots and inflammation can damage these valves and impair their ability to regulate blood flow. This allows blood to accumulate within your veins; the damaged valves are incapable of preventing it from happening. The pooling not only causes severe circulation issues, but leads to further clotting.
These issues eventually cause pain, swelling, itching, and a “heavy” sensation. All are symptoms of PTS and worsen when you stand or walk for long periods.
Other Dangers Of NuvaRing And Blood Clots In The Legs
The most significant danger of DVT is that clots can break away from the venous lining and migrate with your bloodstream. Because they are unattached, they can be carried along with your blood as it travels through the vena cava toward your heart and lungs.
Blood flows from your extremities into your heart’s right atrium. It moves into the right ventricle before traveling into the pulmonary arteries. These arteries supply blood to your lung tissue. Clots that have broken away from the wall of your leg veins can find their way into the right side of your heart. From there, they too, can be carried into your pulmonary arteries.
Clots that migrate into your lung arteries can form a blockage and prevent blood from reaching the underlying tissue. This is a dangerous condition called pulmonary embolism. If the blockage is left untreated for too long, it can cause extensive lung damage and in severe cases, death. For this reason, doctors will treat PTS and DVT as a preventative measure against PE.
Treating DVT And PTS
Deep vein thrombosis is treated with anticoagulant medications. These drugs help to slow the rate of your body’s clotting system. Your doctor will administer low-molecular-weight heparin by injection and warfarin (Coumadin) in pill form. Heparin starts to work immediately, but is stopped once warfarin begins to take effect (usually after several days).
The period during which you’ll be expected to take warfarin depends on the risk posed by the DVT. Unless surgery contributed to the formation of clots in your legs, your doctor will likely prescribe warfarin for several months.
Post-thrombotic syndrome cannot be treated solely with anticoagulant drugs because the condition involves damaged valves and impaired circulation. Your doctor will recommend that you wear graduated compression stockings around your lower legs. These stockings squeeze your legs and thus, encourage blood to flow toward your heart. Initially, they may be difficult or painful to wear due to inflammation and swelling. The pain will eventually subside. Nuvaring problems involving blood clots in your deep veins are dangerous. In addition to causing PTS, they can break away and trigger a pulmonary embolism. If you have suffered abnormal clotting, DVT, PTS, or other Nuvaring side effects, explore your legal rights.
Resources:
George Whitman is the author of this article on Nuvaring Lawsuit Settlements.
Find more information about Nuvaring Lawsuit 2010 here.
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