CALF PAIN... DVT?

[NoonarAgain]

Hi. I am probably being overly anxious about this but have an appt to see my GP later.

A bit of background... I had laser eye surgery 2 days ago ( see my other thread:) ). I had to travel by car for several hours and was very inactive whilst there. The op itself was carried out in a lying down/ knees bent up position. I then had 3 more hours in the car the following day for a follow up.

Last night I had severe cramp type pains ( not regular cramp) that kicked in whenever I bent my knee. It's still the same today and I am in pain when walking/ weight bearing, making me Limp slightly. I have a slight dull ache when siting normally, but no actual pain. No redness or swelling.

Any advice? How could I have injured myself without even really walking anywhere? Worried its DVT. I'm 42, slim, non smoker. Am I being silly?

I reckon you are right to have it checked out but i remember my sister ( who is nearly a doctor after loads of work!) telling me when i had a similar question that redness, swelling and also it feeling hot to touch are big symptoms (not sure what i'd done but ache just went away in the end).

I bet you've done it just by lying in an awkward position for a while during the surgery. Not sure if nhs direct service is still going but could try going through their online symptom checker thing? I'd say if you do get redness, swelling, heat etc then def doctor or a and e just to be sure. Good luck at the doctors

Oh and, not to alarm you but making sure you have the info, definitely a and e if you were to start feeling wheezy or anything like that. Still think you've pulled it or something though :)

I have had two DVTs in the past 9 years. As it turns out I DO have a hereditary blood disorder which increases clotting - but this is not tested for routinely.

My first DVT was not that painful. I just thought I had 'pulled' my calf muscle when swimming. As it hadn't abated after a few days I visited the GP who sent me straight off for a scan. it was a DVT and I was treated with the anti-coaggulants and monitored on daily visits.

My second one occurred last summer. I had been quite inactive as was ill with something else - so sat around a lot, laying down a lot. This was in my knee - and I had trouble bending it. I just knew there was something wrong. Took myself to the (new) GP who didn't seem very knowledgable. Just measured my calves and compared them. T She said if I was worried enough I should present myself at A & E. As it was the same the following day I did so - and they kept me in ALL day - and wanted me to stay in overnight too.

There was no redness or swelling in either case.

Fingers crossed that it's nothing - just a bit of stiffness from being in one position - but it is always better to be checked out.

In that case, in all honesty if it was me I'd now get down to a and e mainly because there's history of dvt. And because it sounds like your other clots didn't show the symptoms etc either and because the gp said 'go if you're worried' also. I'm definitely not a doc but i would do that if it was me. Can you go down there yourself do you think?

Sorry i don't mean to worry you - but as you say, better to get checked out x

Ah thanks folks. I've just got back from the dr. The first dr I saw said that they do a blood test and then give warfarin and then the scan, in that order! Seems crazy to offer drugs potentially unnecessarily.

She asked for a second opinion...they both concluded it was muscular.

It's possibly they are mistaken I suppose, but I'll have to wait and see how it mends. It's one of those situations where you just have to try to trust the dr's judgment and hope they're right.

Glad you saw them and that it sounds like you've just pulled it - an can still always head to a and e if any other symptoms crop up anyway. Just keep an eye i guess as you say! Take care x

Thanks felix x