Re: Blood clots

lloyd471 via MedKB.com wrote:
I was wondering with being treated for a blood clot is it was ok to take
trips or to ride my motorcycle? I have been on treatment for about 2 months
now. I have been out of the hospital for about a month. I'm still trying to
get a good balance on my inr . I'm still a litle hihg but have been dropping
the doses a mg at a time. Tks
--
Message posted via http://www.medkb.com

Hi lloyd471 (or anyone else that found this post),
As one of the other people said, this is definitely something you'll want to discuss carefully with your doctor, but I can share some important considerations based on current understanding of anticoagulation therapy.
Since you're currently adjusting your INR levels, this is actually the most crucial time to be cautious. The fact that your INR is still fluctuating means your blood thinning medication hasn't yet reached a stable therapeutic range. This puts you at higher risk for either clotting problems if the INR is too low or bleeding complications if it's too high - both of which could become serious during travel or physical activity.
Regarding motorcycle riding specifically, there are several concerns your doctor would likely mention: First, the increased risk of bleeding if you were to have an accident while on blood thinners. Even minor spills could lead to more significant bleeding than normal. Second, the vibration and posture of riding might affect circulation in your legs, which could potentially influence clot risk. And third, depending on where your original clot was located (whether it was a deep vein thrombosis in the legs or a pulmonary embolism), certain positions or activities might need to be modified.
For general travel, whether by car, plane, or other means, the duration matters greatly. Current recommendations suggest taking precautions for any trip where you'll be sitting for more than 4 hours continuously. This includes getting up to walk periodically (when possible), doing seated leg exercises, wearing compression stockings if recommended by your doctor, and staying well hydrated. If you're traveling to areas where medical care might be harder to access, that's another factor to consider.
Since you posted this in 2006 and it's now 2025, I should mention that anticoagulation management has advanced significantly.
Many patients now have access to:
Home INR testing devices that give more immediate results
Newer anticoagulant medications that don't require INR monitoring
Better risk assessment tools that can help personalize activity recommendations
That said, the core advice remains the same - work closely with your healthcare provider until your INR stabilizes consistently within the target range they've set for you. They can best assess when it's safe to resume activities like motorcycle riding or extended travel based on your specific medical history, current condition, and treatment progress. This is a response to the post seen at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=8829871#8829871