Phlebitis

Phlebitis is soreness and swelling (inflammation) of a vein.

Follow these instructions at home:

Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling

• If told, apply heat to the affected area. Do this as often as told by your doctor. Use the heat source that your doctor tells you to use. This may include a moist heat pack or a heating pad.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the heat source.
  • Leave the heat on for 20–30 minutes.
  • Take off the heat if your skin turns bright red. This is very important if you cannot feel pain, heat, or cold. You may be more likely to get burned.
• Raise (elevate) the affected area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down.

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your doctor. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if your condition gets better.
• If you take medicines to thin your blood, carry a medical alert card or wear your medical alert jewelry.

General instructions

• If you have phlebitis in your legs:
  • Do not stand or sit for a long time.
  • Keep your legs moving.
  • Get up and take short walks if you have to sit for a long time.
  • Try to avoid bed rest that lasts for a long time. Regular sleep is not bed rest.
• Wear compression stockings as told by your doctor. These stockings help:
  • To reduce swelling in your legs.
  • To prevent blood clots.
  • To stop the condition from coming back.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your doctor.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important. This may include any follow-up blood tests.

Contact a doctor if:

• You have strange bruises.
• You have bleeding problems.
• Your symptoms do not get better.
• Your symptoms get worse.
• You are taking medicine to treat swelling (anti-inflammatory medicine) and you get belly (abdominal) pain.

Get help right away if:

• You have sudden chest pain.
• You suddenly have trouble breathing.
• You have a fever and your symptoms get worse.
• You cough up blood.
• You feel dizzy or you pass out.
• You have very bad pain and swelling in the affected arm or leg.

These symptoms may be an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.). Do not drive yourself to the hospital.

Summary

• Phlebitis is soreness and swelling (inflammation) of a vein.
• Raise (elevate) the affected area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down.
• If told, apply heat to the affected area. Do this as often as told by your doctor. Use the heat source that your doctor tells you to use. This may include a moist heat pack or a heating pad.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.