Because IVC filter fractures often produce no immediate symptoms, thousands of patients are walking around with migrated struts without knowing it. Common warning signs that may indicate filter fracture or migration include: unexplained lower back or mid-abdominal pain (struts near the spine or retroperitoneum); chest pain or pressure (struts migrating toward the heart or lungs); heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat (strut near cardiac tissue); shortness of breath (pulmonary involvement); blood in urine (ureteral perforation); and new or worsening leg swelling (filter-associated DVT). If you experience any of these symptoms and have an IVC filter, seek medical evaluation immediately and request a CT scan or chest X-ray to assess filter integrity.