Leg pain - help!

[LuckyAmy1986]

I’ve been having pains in my lower leg for four weeks. Shooting pain right down my shin, aching in my ankle and mild cramping pains in my calf. The mild cramp is there when walking and resting and I sometimes get a sharp electric pain in my calf too. Gp said it was muscular and will go on its own but I’m really not sure. Pain is now radiating up my thigh to my hip. Has anyone had anything like this? Many thanks.

I’m not saying it sounds just like a dvt, but having had several, I’d be at A&E having it checked out. They can do a blood test which can indicate the presence of a clot (or at least rule one out).

@sn0tnose I don’t have any swelling or redness or anything like that, the First thing the GP said was it’s not a DVT so don’t worry about that. I feel like I have been dismissed though

My husband had similar symptoms, no redness or swelling. GP said it wasn't a DVT - it was! He had pulmonary embolisms too. Please get it checked out.

Measure your calves and compare.
Inspect the top surface of both your feet. Do they look identical or are there any prominent veins on the sore side?
Are you pregnant or on the pill?
Have you been immobile recently?
Any family history of dvt or pe?
Are you overweight or a smoker?
What has been happening to you in the last few weeks in terms of health or travel?

The biggest dvt I ever saw was missed by a gp. They are not always obvious.

@endofthelinefinally

Measure your calves and compare.
Inspect the top surface of both your feet. Do they look identical or are there any prominent veins on the sore side?
Calves both same size and no prominent veins on feet.
Are you pregnant or on the pill?
No to both.
Have you been immobile recently?
No.
Any family history of dvt or
Mum had one which gave her a heart attack and she died but she was 8 months pregnant at the time.

Are you overweight or a smoker?
A couple of stone overweight, not a smoker.
What has been happening to you in the last few weeks in terms of health or travel. Nothing untoward that I can think of!

Sorry, I hope that’s readable!

Does it sound like it could be sciatica or anything like that?

I would want to rule out sciatica.

Any numbness or weakness? Ideally see a chiropractor or osteopath who can examine you properly and diagnose.

That all sounds good.
So yes, ruling out neurological causes would be good. Also think about any sort of injury.

I am so sorry to hear about your mum. That is dreadfully sad.

The history sounds wrong though.
Venous clots don't cause heart attacks. You should probably look into that a bit more in case it is important.

Would an osteopath be able to diagnose sciatica?

Thank you @endofthelinefinally that’s what I was told but I was fairly young at the time? I thought blood clots could cause heart attacks? Or are they different things? Do you think it sounds less likely to be a DVT?

@moreismore little bit of numbness a couple of times s day, a bit pins and needles but doesn’t last long. Pain is right in my hip at the moment

I would hope an osteopath could! It is one of the most common things they and chiropractors treat Get yourself along to one if you can or if it’s not an option cost wise then go back to your GP querying sciatica and see about a physio referral. In the meantime ice your low back and do gentle stretches like child’s pose. Avoid lifting and twisting movements.

It is not possible to know, but the most likely thing would be pregnancy related venous thromboembolism. This used to be the leading cause of maternal death until until proper screening and thromboprophylaxis was introduced. So it is important for your own health that you remember to tell any hcp looking after you for anything about this family history.
The other, rarer, possibility is that your poor mum had a heart problem that didn't cause any problems prior to pregnancy.

Ps your presenting symptoms are classic for lumbar nerve root irritation (commonly called sciatica).

I'm wondering if it's actually your back. I'd had 3 months of thinking I'd pulled my patella tendons and hip flexors, occasional pins and needles in the sole of my feet, driving was the worst thing for it but it would keep me awake at night sometimes. Turned out I've got a couple of prolapsed disks in my back, affecting the siatic nerve.

@moreismore thank you! I might try and get an appointment tomorrow. Hoping I get some sleep tonight.

@endofthelinefinally thank you I am going to look into this. You are right, its important I have all the facts.

@Indecisivelurcher did you also have mild cramping in your calf? The leg pain has been on an off for the past few weeks and it’s only past few days it’s been going up my thigh and now into my hip. Oh and how did your issues get diagnosed? Many thanks

Hi OP, no I didn't get calf cramping. I wouldnt claim to know what I'm on about, just putting it out there. If you rule out really worrying things like dvt then it may be worth asking the question! ... After months of trying to sort myself at home, I saw a physio, thinking I was going about my leg. Within 3mins she told me it's not my leg its my back. I was sceptical, but she was bang on. She did explain properly, but basically the clue was different parts of the leg being effected and not being able to put my finger on a specific place and say that place hurts, plus the pins and needles.

Thank you @Indecisivelurcher I have another gp appointment and going to push for a blood test. If all clear then I’m going to look into it further via osteo/physio.

Sounds like tendinitis to me. Excruciating sometimes and just an ache other times but nearly always there.