Found this info at the following web address

http://veincenter.com/phlebitis.html

PHLEBITIS AND THROMBOSIS
Basically it means a clot in the vein. As the venous system is
divided in deep veins and superficial veins one can have clot in each
of the systems. Only very rarely clotting can occur in both of the
systems in the same time.
Superficial vein thrombosis or SVT is also called superficial
thrombophlebitis/phlebitis. The "itis" denotes that the vein is
engulfed in an inflamatory process: the skin around the vein is read
and painful. Swelling can be present as well. Unfortunately, many
physicians treat this condition with antibiotics. This is completely
unnecessary as in most of cases there is no bacterial infection. The
main cause for the condition are varicose veins. Blood stagnates in
those venous pools and will clot easily especially during inactivity.
Injecting varicose veins can lead to superficial phlebitis as well.
In the absence of varicose veins one should look for other reasons
such as malignancy elsewhere in the body, gout, Buerger's disease. or
an inherited tendency to clot. (See FAQ)
The treatment of the condition is simple: evacuation of clot if the
patient comes early to the physician, local compression with ace
bandages or surgical stockings, and ambulation. The only medication
to be given is ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) 5-7 days that will ease the
pain and calm the inflamatory reaction. Occasionally SVT can be
associated with DVT. Only in these cases is anticoagulation treatment
necessary. If the underling condition for the superficial phlebitis
was varicose veins after the inflamatory process has cooled off,
surgery for the varicose veins is indicated.
Deep vein thrombosis (abbreviated as DVT) is ussually localized in
the deep veins of the calf but it can extend into the deep veins of
the thigh and even beyond. The more extensive the clot the more
dangerous the condition is. Among the clinical signs are calf pain
and swelling (edema) of the ankle and possibly calf. It is
potentially a dangerous conditions as a piece of the clot can "fly"
through the venous circulation and lodge in the lungs occluding the
pulmonary circulation. This is called pulmonary emboli or PE. It can
be fatal if it is massive.
Once DVT is suspected clinically it should be verified with a duplex
imager. If not found with this non invasive ultrasonic device, though
highly suspected on clinical grounds, an X-ray should be done (called
ascending phlebogram). A newer method is the magnetic resonance
phlebogram (MR phlebogram). Once diagnosed, the patient has to be
anticoagulated i.e. the blood has to be thinned out. In the begining
this is obtained with Heparin injections followed by Coumadin tablets
for aproximately 6 months. To adjust the proper dose hospitalization
for a few days up to a week is recommended. Compression treatment of
the calf is a must. If embolization does occur in spite of thinned
blood, filters have to be introduced in the main vein of the abdomen
(vena cava) to prevent PE. Damage to the deep vein valves by the
retracting clot in the ensuing months could leed in a few years to
venous circulatory problems in the leg that if not treated with
compression can evolve even into skin ulceration. This is chronic
venous insufficiency and venous ulceration repectivly.
The main question the physician has to find out why did DVT occur in
the first place? There is always a 25% DVT risk even in healthy
people who undergo surgery under general anesthesia.
After 40 years of age, and/or in surgery fo cancer, hip, urological
procedures , brain and gynecological surgery the incidence of post
operative DVT is even higher. Prevention is the best treatment. One
should always ask the surgeon and the anesthetist what are the
methods they will use to prevent DVT to occur during surgery. Usually
they are mechanical (compressive devices) and pharmacological (low
dose of subcutaneous injections of Heparin). If they do not intend to
use any of these, change both surgeon and anesthetist!
Long distance travel by car and be airplane can induce DVT as well
just by calf inactivity. In debilitating diseases with lengthy bed
rest the mechanism is identical: calf pump inactivity and blood
stagnation. Cancer in a distant organ can manifest itself with a calf
DVT! Once with DVT a person is prone to develop an other one. If it
is a recurring condition without obvious reason, the blood should be
checked ( blood tests) to rule out rare congenital hypercoagulability
states such as seen in defficiency in factor S, protein C,
antithrombin III, or presence of lupus anticoagulant. For additional
DVT information, please visit
http://www.pharminfo.com/disease/thrombo and
http://www.bu.edu/cohis/cardvasc/vessel/vein/dvt.htm.

  Ya know- I was reading all this below- and have had the same problems but some of the remedies listed here have really
  done a lot more damage to me- such as the coumadin- blood thinner- and the Ibuprophin ( to this day, if I take Ibuprophin- I bruise instantly)-
  I was never given antibiotics for it . Definite on the swelling, dang near 3 x the size of normal leg......  They
  (drs) never removed them or even tried....... I did wear surgical stockings ever since baby #1 so that would be 1984- faithfully- not a day
  Have I went without those- even though they are hard to put on/off- its to the point now that I've worn them for so many days- to go without is weirrrrrd----- almost can't stand it....  I hate anything except nylons touching my legs- I rarely cover them at night - if ever.  But that was one of the reasons I was surprised that I ended up with these problems so many times, because I did wear the hose daily..... and not the wrong compression either...... dr ordered the compression......
  Was far from inactive, very hyperactive, worked 2 jobs at the time- took my kids with me- ran parts on machines- did paperwork, walked down town to get things off and on....... basically so hyper that it made my mother dizzy ( as she so said back then- she said " slow down " )  So none of that makes any sense to me.
  Also had the calf pain, swelling and even drs would note small blood clots and then have me elevate legs above head - which thank God- I knew better than to do- everytime the nurse left the room- I raised my head again, which made them angry and that hospital told me they would never accept me as a patient again because I didn't listen to the rules- had I, I could have died........ 

  I don't know- but like someone said yesterday- everyone is different - and the below is definitely what I've went through more than once- ( deep vein )- and any of those remedies tried there except for the stockings only created more problems for me- in fact- had I been left on coumadin , she said I would have bled to death....... I was only on it a week , when she realized that it was doing this and took me off it and put me on one asprin a day- and told me to stay away from Ibuprophin and any type of blood thinning medicines.

  I guess you could say, I'm baffled that all the remedies listed are the ones that nearly killed me.
  Hugs- TJ