A few times a year my foot does this:

[AWimbaWay]

A few times a year, only 2 or 3, my foot or leg develops a large unexplained bruise, occasionally much larger than the one in the photo (which is there at the moment).

I have been to seek advice twice, the first time when the bruise covered the entire lower part of my leg I decided to head to A and E, due to long waiting times the nurse recommended I went home without seeing a doctor as I'd probably just knocked it without realising. The second time I showed the GP when I was there for a contraceptive check. That time bloods were taken which came back normal.

So, I'm just curious if this happens to anybody else? If so is it just a case of bruising easily, I never have any recollection of having banged the area but I do spend lot of my time crawling around after children, or have you found an underlying issue?

[lljkk]

gout?

[AWimbaWay]

I don't think gout, it's not always on a joint, sometimes just in middle of calf, also I'm a slim 40 yr old female, very light drinker with no history of high blood pressure, so don't fit the usual at risk group for gout. Kidney problems do run in the family though so maybe I shouldn't rule it out.

[lljkk]

Is that actually painful? Gout hurts (apparently).

What tests can they do to check for gout?

Do you only seem to 'bruise easily' on your feet/legs, not arms etc?

[AWimbaWay]

Thanks lljkk, It doesn't really hurt, just feels a bit tender, like any normal bruise. I do bruise easily anyway, I just feel I should remember doing something to cause a bruise so big, sometimes they're three times that size! I think I bruise easily everywhere but I guess legs are more likely to get occidentally bashed by table legs, kneeling down on lego etc?

I'm not particularly worried, it happens, fades with no side effects, it's DH making me paranoid, he keeps telling me it's not normal so was hoping someone would come on saying it happens to them too!

[MERLYPUSSEDOFF]

Could it be particular footwear? My DMs give me bruised claves if I lace them too tightly.

[AWimbaWay]

Thanks MERLY but I had a very lazy day yesterday and didn't change out of my slippers , it also happens too high up to be footwear sometimes. It is a mystery. Think I might just start keeping photos and next time it's particularly bad head back to the GP with photographic evidence.

[McSqueezy]

Weak blood vessels in the leg perhaps?

[ImperialBlether]

I think it would be worth seeing a doctor, tbh. It's a massive bruise and you say that sometimes it's much bigger. You should surely know if you get a bruise that size, so to get it without realising it is worrying.

[fidgetywidget]

I'm afraid I can't offer any suggestions but I'm watching with interest as I have been having a similar problem with 1 of my knees. Sometimes when I kneel on (normally, eg when bathing kids - laminate floor +bath mat) I get a quick sharp pain & within a day or so the whole kneecap & surrounding area is purple. It's been happening for about the last year or so. I too am slim with low blood pressure & rarely drink.

[fidgetywidget]

*kneel on it

[lljkk]

OP has seen doctor before, though, and had tests. It just comes & goes. If it's not causing an actual problem I'd learn to ignore it.

[SameThing]

Do you have any varicose veins? I had this recently on my knee and am pretty sure it came from a superficial vein.

[SameThing]

Do you have any varicose veins? I had this recently on my knee and am pretty sure it came from a superficial vein.

[AWimbaWay]

fidgetywidget, glad to hear it's not just me! I've been thinking, it could just be the ankle, knee cap, shin etc. pressing against the hard floor causing it I guess?

No varicose veins SameThing.

[AWimbaWay]

ImperialBlether, my dh wants me to go back to the doctor, but they did bloods last time so not sure what else they could do really.

[fidgetywidget]

Yes I had wondered about a vein being too close to the surface (although none are visible) or maybe a bone chip floating around in there from a previous accident (I'm quite accident prone ).
Thinking of going to the doctors next time it happens though I too doubt they'll be able to do much , guess I'll just live with it until my knee falls apart in old age optimistic person that I am!

[FestiveRoad]

Could it be erythema nodosum?

patient.co.uk

DermNet NZ

I have no medical training at all (only Dr. Google).

[AWimbaWay]

That's interesting Road, I did have a throat infection last week but would never have linked the two. I'll keep it in mind should it happen again!

[FestiveRoad]

I've just realised that one of the links was a bit weird. Here is the UK one

patient.co.uk

It says "can appear two to three weeks after a streptococcal throat infection" so it might be linked.

However, some of the articles state that it would be accompanied by aches pains and a temperature. The rash consists of red, tender nodules.

Anyway, might be worth asking perhaps when you're next at the doctors. (I'm sure all this googling drives them mad.)

I hope this episode gets better quickly.