Can you get a DVT in your shin?

[TheWorminLabyrinth]

I'll preface this by saying I have terrible uncontrolled anxiety and am in a particularly bad phase at the moment. I've thought I have had DVTs about 50 times throughout my life, and never have had. However, i'm spiralling and panicking and could really use reassurance.

Woke up last Sunday (so 8th December) with a sore shin. Felt like I had banged it. I had been out on a xmas do the night before so I assumed I had belted it off a table and not realised. I wasn't drunk but had had a couple of drinks and it was a very busy bar and a busy night, so I just thought I must have knocked it off a table for example and not realised how hard i'd hit if, IYSWIM. Developed into a stonking great bruise after a couple of days and was sore, but just like bruise sore. The bruise has mostly faded to yellow now but it is still really sore to touch. Directly on my shin to the left of and below the knee. No swelling. No cramping. No throbbing. Doesn't hurt to walk. Doesn't hurt to raise my foot towards my knee. No redness, just the bruise. If I touch it where it is most painful it is like a burning sensation that then goes after 2 seconds. I spent most of last night googling and panicking and now I'm in a state. Help :-(

I am not a doctor so I may be wrong but the D stands for Deep so if it's on the surface I wouldn't think it was a DVT.

Thanks for replying. I'm so embarrassed. I did think that too but the doom monger google says it can still hurt to touch the surface.

Hopefully someone with the relevant knowledge will come along soon. Meanwhile, I think you've just bruised it.

Thank you

HCP here. While unlikely, it's not impossible to be a DVT so I would get in touch with your GP surgery or call 111 for further advice.

To clarify what I mean is, don't panic at all but just seek professional advice from the right sources.

If you have health anxiety then seeking constant reassurance is making the situation worse.

You need to use the techniques you should have been given to help you manage this condition.

I know people are trying to help but this is feeding anxiety, not alleviating it - the OP needs to manage their mental health condition or seek help for it.

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/health-anxiety/

Thank you. I have emailed my doctors to ask for advice. You can only get a same-day appointment if you manage to get through on the 'phone at 8am, which I couldn't. They are pretty good at ringing back once you have submitted an email request though. I just think I am going to be dismissed as I don't have a single one of the 'red flag' symptoms. Which I suppose is good, but then my doom googling brings up thread after thread of people saying "I didn't have any of the usual symptoms and I did have a DVT".

I don't have specific health anxiety, although it (it being the big A) can cause me to focus on things like this when they crop up. I can usually manage it myself but when I am in a bad patch, as I am at the moment, I struggle to keep a lid on it.

I haven't been given any techniques or anything. I've had severe anxiety from being as young as 9 or 10. I was offered diazepam years ago but my anxiety about the side effects was too high to take it. I'm afraid of being prescribed something that it is going to make me worse before it makes me better.

" I've thought I have had DVTs about 50 times throughout my life, and never have had"

This sounds very much like your anxiety is health linked.

Yes, that's true I suppose.

Sounds like a haematoma which is a fancy name for a fat bruise which happens generally when you hit a bit of your body with no great fleshy content. Think back of hand, back of foot and shin.
From your history provided it does not sound like a clot . All sounds very isolated, hasn’t got worse etc.
but if you’re concerned, head to a walk in clinic or urgent care and get looked at, just to get your legs measured and a history taken. Even at triage they might be happy enough you’re a low or no risk for a clot . I would rather you came to be seen a hundred times over than sat at home stressing.

Also please try and avoid googling. Google always gives the worst possible outcome. Hopefully your GP gives you a ring shortly.

Yes, you are right! I know better than this. Thank you.

GP receptionist has called me back. Apparently the doctor has said that as I don't have any of the 'usual' symptoms I should just monitor for anything worsening. Said that as I described a tingling in my toes when I press on the sore bit of my shin that it sounds more like 'a nerve problem'. Not sure that makes me feel any better but hey ho.

Sounds very like a haematoma then. Wee bit of swelling pressing on a nerve. It should go down with the swelling. Please try not to worry

Thank you

I had this (and still sometimes get it) and it's due to a bit of a trapped nerve in my lower back. weirdly the pain is at the bottom of my shin.

Oh really, how weird!

I had a DVT the lower leg was very painful and swollen. No bruising.
You need to seek help with this anxiety. CBT and Prozac helped me so much. I also use mindfulness techniques.

Thanks.

I intended to try and make an appointment today but ended up having an awful nights sleep due to my new friend, bedtime anxiety, so I slept through my alarm. Hurrah. I will be trying again tomorrow.