Questions about clot best answered by personal physician

May 29, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I enjoy reading your column. I have a question for you. I had a total knee replacement in December 2010. I developed a staph infection in my knee, and the surgeon also found a blood clot in the calf of my leg. I have heard different remarks about the clot and how long it will affect me. I am still having pain in my calf, and it does not ease up. How long will the blood clot cause me pain in my leg? I have a hard time doing my therapy because of it.

DEAR READER: Based on your brief note, I have more questions than I do answers. First, what medications are you taking? I am assuming that you’re on an anticoagulant to help prevent the clot from traveling or worsening, or others from forming; [Read more...]

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Hernia needs second opinion, treatment

March 7, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My husband had laparoscopic surgery in August 2008 to have one kidney removed because it had a large cancerous tumor on it.

In October 2008, a blood clot was found between his knee and ankle on the back of one of his legs. He is currently taking Coumadin to keep the blood flowing and reduce the possibility of further clotting.

In November 2008, he was found to have an incisional hernia in his abdominal area, which was the result of the August surgery. No one would operate on it until six months had passed from the discovery of the blood clot because of the risk. Every physician we spoke to said something about this being “generally accepted medical theory” regarding blood clots and surgery, etc. [Read more...]

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