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Original poster

Ouch! I have had cramp in my left calf for about 6 days now

65 replies

KatyMac · 13/04/2025 19:12

And nothing is shifting it

Massage, hot baths, cold baths, shaking, standing on it bending my ties back

Just ow!

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 13/04/2025 19:58

my dad gets awful cramps but the gp advice was to drink a glass of tonic water (not light) every evening and it’s totally stopped them. There’s something in it that he’s deficient of (sorry, I can’t remember what).

Crunchymum · 13/04/2025 19:59

I had something similar recently and GP sent me to A&E to rule out DVT (my crampy leg was more swollen than my other leg). A&E did a blood test and as this didn't rule DVT out I was sent for a full leg doppler scan. Turns out I had a burst Bakers cyst.

Painful as fuck but thankfully healed after a few weeks.

IWonderWhereMySharkPantsWent · 13/04/2025 20:00

TeenLifeMum · 13/04/2025 19:58

my dad gets awful cramps but the gp advice was to drink a glass of tonic water (not light) every evening and it’s totally stopped them. There’s something in it that he’s deficient of (sorry, I can’t remember what).

Quinine?
Seem to remember similar with my late grandfather.

OP I’d just go to A&E. A cramp lasting several days should be checked out, and as a pp said do not have a massage until you’ve had the all clear.

Hollyhobbi · 13/04/2025 20:00

I’ve had two Dvts or blood clots in my calves. It was like I had pulled a muscle so not what people think of as the type of pain you’d have with one. Do not massage your calf and get to A and E now. And don’t take any potassium either. There is a special blood test they can do and also scans of your calf to diagnose a clot.

Original poster
KatyMac · 13/04/2025 20:01

@Crunchymum glad it's all fixed

I'm now wondering if it might be related to my hypothyroid

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 13/04/2025 20:02

IWonderWhereMySharkPantsWent · 13/04/2025 20:00

Quinine?
Seem to remember similar with my late grandfather.

OP I’d just go to A&E. A cramp lasting several days should be checked out, and as a pp said do not have a massage until you’ve had the all clear.

Show quote history

Yes, that’s it! Thank you.

Hollyhobbi · 13/04/2025 20:02

Forgot to say I also get sciatica but that pain goes down your thigh not your calf and it’s extremely painful!

Letterasaurus · 13/04/2025 20:09

Go to A&E now. Not a doctor but work in a field that means I'm knowledgeable enough to tell you it could well be a clot.

Crunchymum · 13/04/2025 20:09

Hollyhobbi · 13/04/2025 20:00

I’ve had two Dvts or blood clots in my calves. It was like I had pulled a muscle so not what people think of as the type of pain you’d have with one. Do not massage your calf and get to A and E now. And don’t take any potassium either. There is a special blood test they can do and also scans of your calf to diagnose a clot.

They'll do a D-dimer blood test in the first instance, along with a checklist of risk factors. If the D-dimer is at a normal level then it's unlikely to be DVT and you're all good. However the blood test can show high results if there is other inflammation going on and then they'll proceed to a full leg doppler scan.

The blood test can rule out DVT but if it doesn't then they'll offer further diagnostic tests to confirm. Blood test alone cannot confirm DVT but can rule it out.

Original poster
KatyMac · 13/04/2025 20:39

Out of hours will see me just waiting for a phone call

OP posts:
gamerchick · 13/04/2025 20:44

Might just need some magnesium in you. But my kid died from getting a DVT so I probably would get it checked out.

Ineffable23 · 13/04/2025 20:48

Stand on the bottom step of the stairs with the front of your foot and dip your heel off the back of it so all your weight is going through the stretch.

(And get it checked for a blood clot!)

Sunshineandoranges · 13/04/2025 20:51

Could it be a trapped nerve? Then you get sudden shock like pains. I had it in my calf one and it lasted a few weeks. Eventually go gave me low does antidepressants which helped the pain.

Sunshineandoranges · 13/04/2025 20:51

Gp

stayathomegardener · 13/04/2025 20:55

Yes definitely don’t have a massage with a potential clot.

Hope you get the all clear tonight.

WickWood · 13/04/2025 21:03

I'm glad youre being seen!

Shakethedisease · 13/04/2025 21:05

gamerchick · 13/04/2025 20:44

Might just need some magnesium in you. But my kid died from getting a DVT so I probably would get it checked out.

@gamerchick I am so sorry 💐 It is a serious condition.

gamerchick · 13/04/2025 21:27

Shakethedisease · 13/04/2025 21:05

@gamerchick I am so sorry 💐 It is a serious condition.

Show quote history

Thankyou. It's a brutal way to die. Not worth taking the risk.

PregnantAndKnackered1 · 13/04/2025 21:30

Glad you’re getting checked

murasaki · 13/04/2025 21:31

Definitely check for dvt. I ignored for too long and ended up with 3 in my leg and one in my lung.

So sorry, @gamerchick. No words can make it better. But if i had them, I'd send them all to you.

SparklingMetre · 13/04/2025 22:02

Another vote for cancelling the massage until medics have ruled out a DVT. It could dislodge it and transfer it to your lung. On they thought, if you feel short of breath at all go straight to a+e

Original poster
KatyMac · 13/04/2025 23:02

@gamerchick thank you for thinking of me despite your loss xxx

The out of hours was very careful checking me out, I don't have a dvt, I probably have a soft tissue injury presenting as cramp and I'm to use heat and massage

I was right to come to out of hours and if it happens again or if my leg swells over the next few days im to see someone again to be sure

Thanks everyone, sorry for whinging

OP posts:
rosemarble · 13/04/2025 23:17

This isn’t what I call cramp.
For me cramp is when I can feel my muscle tighten and shorten and is incredibly painful. I get calf cramp quite a bit, usually the night after a long run, indicating I haven’t drunk enough. Once I can stretch it out it eases, it can still return. It’s usually then sore and achy in the morning. 6 days would have me screaming my head off!

Glad you’re been seen OP and it’s nothing sinister.

Hollyhobbi · 14/04/2025 00:48

Did they do the blood test?

Codlingmoths · 14/04/2025 00:49

I’m relieved it’s not a clot!! That was my first thought too