The topic of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been discussed in some detail above by several people including Innes and Curious who both appear to have expert knowledge of this field. Since I have worn thigh bands fairly continuously for the past couple of years and also have some expertise in the medical field, I though some who know me (waves at Angelina - smiles) might be interested in my own feelings on this subject.
As stated, I have been wearing my thigh bands almost continuously for two years and currently have no plans to discontinue this practice in the foreseeable future, though of course a change in conditions such as my health may also change our plans.
About three months ago, I suffered a small infected sebaceous cyst that occurred directly underneath my right thigh band. My partner immediately removed my bands and monitored me for a week, and she treated it with a lancing (sterile conditions - though she forgot the local anaesthetic - she can be such a meanie at times!) and triple antibiotic ointment. It resolved in about a week and I was back in thigh bands a week later.
I have never shown any symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (swelling in (usually) one leg, warm skin around a painful area, red or darkened skin around a painful area, or dark, hard and swollen and painful veins). DVT’s can occur in legs or thighs or any limbs and even inside the gut and womb etc. and the information presented in Curious’s detailed post on the subject is essentially correct. (Are you a physician Curious?)
Innes, as I remember was in medical school or is perhaps by now a physician and her warnings are reasonable and should be considered. I believe it is prudent to be very careful about all health issues and it is important to consider all risk factors when engaging in non-standard behaviour, such as bondage, wearing of chastity belts and thigh bands etc. For instance, it should be noted that birth control pills increase one's risk of DVT’s – I actually find this ironic since (for the most part at least) the indications for birth control pills is negated by chastity belts! Smiles.
Smoking, cancer, heart failure, being overweight (and sadly for me) being over sixty are also risk factors. As are staying in hospital, being confined to bed, long journeys especially by airplane (so called economy class syndrome) pregnancy or having had a baby in the previous six weeks and being dehydrated, also increase your risks
Perhaps I should mention here that I am a retired physician myself and though I am probably a couple of years out of date, I have long been aware of the risks of the behaviours that could get me into trouble.
Innes is also right to be concerned about the risk of some movements causing clots to break off, ascend through the vena cava to the right side of the heart where they could pass into the pulmonary artery and block the vascular tree of the lungs. In severe cases this can be fatal – so called pulmonary embolus and was a leading cause of death following surgery in the 1920’s and 30’s caused by the medical ignorance of surgeons who insisted on long bed rest following surgery. Prevention of DVT’s post-surgery is a major part of post-surgical care these days and is a major reason for returning patients home as soon as possible.
However, Curious is also correct that it is the movement of blood cells that prevents clots forming in the first place. Pooled blood causes clots to form. Muscle activation (contraction and relaxation) causes the squeezing of veins, and as Curious says, it is this action working in consort with the valves in the veinous system that forces blood to move back to the heart. This all makes me think that my own risks are pretty low. But as others have said, there have been no studies of DVT’s on people wearing thigh bands! Lol. (Good luck getting that one past an IRB! Lol)
Finally, I will note here that in the two years I have worn thigh bands, I have never noticed any abnormal atrophy. Yes, I am gradually losing muscle mass though I am pretty sure its age related since sadly I have now past my mid-sixties. However, my partner and I exercise frequently, and we are both careful. If I suffered any signs of DVT my partner would have me out of them in a flash! With both of us being retired medical professionals (she a nurse and me a surgeon) I suppose we do have a leg up on monitoring and protecting our own health,
Since I started writing this post, both Innes and Curious have had some more discussion. To which I really don’t have much to add. I only know that during the time that I have been in thigh bands they really haven’t caused me any problems. My stride is near normal during the day and at night my stride is shortened since my partner locks my bands together with a padlock through the two “D” rings. This doesn’t really cause me any problems since I am in bed, and I can still move my legs anyway. In case it isn’t already obvious, I happened to love bondage anyway – lol. In the morning my partner unlocks the connecting padlock and I do a serious of stretching exercises before the connecting cable is re-locked.
In the two years I have been wearing thigh bands, I haven’t noticed any significant loss of strength though it is also true I exercise regularly including walking, jogging and cycling (connecting chain … sorry connecting cable unlocked) and as previously mentioned we hike at least once each week.
Hope all this information is helpful.
