Deep vein thrombosis can get very dangerous when left untreated. Any swelling, pain, or redness in one of your legs, especially around the calves or thighs, needs to be checked out by a professional. Here are some of the treatment options for DVT that you should know about.

• Compression stockings
  If your doctor decides the clot is not going to cause serious damage, then you may just be asked to wear compression stockings to get rid of the pain and swelling and to prevent the formation of further clots. These stockings cause gentle pressure on the calf and leg and prevent the clot from growing in size. It also regulates blood flow in the leg.
• Blood thinners
  Another of the very common treatment options for DVT is using blood thinners. As the name suggests, these thinners prevent clots from growing and break them down quickly. These can also prevent new clots from forming in the body. Blood thinners are available both in the form of oral drugs and intravenous shots. Your doctor will decide whether you need pills, shots, or a combination of both.
• Thrombolytic drugs
  For people with slightly bigger clots that the blood thinners cannot handle, doctors prescribe thrombolytic drugs. These are also called clot busters, and these quickly break down larger clots that are causing extreme pain and discomfort. Most of the popular thrombolytic treatment options for DVT are intravenous and given through an IV line.
• Catheter-directed thrombolysis
  This is the treatment option for DVT if the clot is causing circulation issues, if it is in the arms, or if it is at the risk of getting lodged in major organs. Using an X-Ray as a guide, a specialist will insert a catheter into your vein, reach the clot, and inject the thrombolytic drug directly into the clot. This improves the chances of busting the clot faster.
• Filters
  Some people have additional health issues that may prevent them from being able to take blood thinners. In that case, doctors suggest putting filters in the largest vein that goes to the abdominal cavity, the vena cava. By doing this, the clot is prevented from reaching the lungs and causing permanent damage. Filters are used temporarily until the clots are busted or dissolved using other techniques.
• Surgery
  This is the last stage of treatment if none of the above techniques work. Here, doctors suggest surgery to remove the clot from the veins. This procedure is suggested if the clot is causing tissue damage or if the clot is really big.

All these treatment options for DVT help remove the clot successfully from the vein and prevent it from moving to the lungs. Staying active and bringing down your body weight, both reduce your risk of developing DVT. Visit the emergency room if you find abnormal swelling or pain in your arms or legs.