The clot then goes to the heart and other parts of the body. The condition can become dangerous if the clot within the vein breaks off and moves. It usually occurs in the legs, where the clogged veins block circulation. When thrombophlebitis happens in one of the larger deep veins, the condition is called deep vein thrombosis or DVT. Severe cases of superficial thrombophlebitis may require the need for blood thinners to avoid progression to deep vein thrombosis. You can also elevate your legs and use a cold compress to alleviate symptoms. To treat isolated superficial thrombophlebitis, you need to take anti-inflammatory medications and very rarely blood thinners.

It's usually a temporary condition that can be treated in a couple of weeks. Superficial thrombophlebitis is less dangerous than conditions in the deep veins because clot within our superficial veins is much less likely to break off and travel through the heart.

Clot may develop in either or both of them.

Our legs have superficial and deep veins. Treatments for superficial thrombophlebitis and deep vein thrombosis differ because the latter is a more severe condition and may have life threatening consequences. Thrombophlebitis typically affects the veins in the lower legs, but it can also affect the veins in the arms and other parts of the body. The two differ because the latter is a severe condition that often requires immediate medical attention. Superficial thrombophlebitis and deep vein thrombosis are types of thrombophlebitis, a condition where a vein becomes inflamed because of the presence of a blood clot.

Deep vein thrombosis vs varicose veins