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Original poster

tight feeling in calf

35 replies

jetcat32 · 24/06/2009 21:41

i have convinced myself it is a blood clot, as i am a lot a little overweight an know that that is a contributing factor.

I have had it for a couple of days now, really uncomfortable - i thought it was cramp at first, but now it is really feeling tight and very painful!

I have just taken some profen, but that hasnt seemed to have made a difference. The only time is stops hurting as much is if i curl my leg round under me IYSWIM, but even then, the pain comes back.

Not really sure of what info i need to post, but does anyone know of anything that will help?

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 24/06/2009 21:46

Can you find a tape measure and measure each calf, at the same place, to see if one is bigger?

Are you:

pregnant
on the pill
a smoker
been on a longish journey recently

Do you have a family history of blood clots?

If the answer to any of the above is yes, you need to get medical advice asap - whether that is the out of hours service, walk in, NHS direct or A&E.

But think carefully - could you have strained or pulled a muscle? Worn an ill fitting pair of shoes that you had to curl your toes to keep on?

3littlefrogs · 24/06/2009 21:48

Other signs to look for:

redness
swollen visible veins on the affected leg
swelling of the foot and ankle (puffyness) on the affected leg.

Original poster
jetcat32 · 24/06/2009 21:51

thanks 3...

it is about 1cm bigger - but that could be my size normal??

not pregnant, not on pill, non-smoker, no long journeys. No idea of family history as childhood in care.

No different shoes to normal. I think i am nervous of phoning NHS direct or out of hours in case it is just a strained muscle - will look like such an idiot!

OP posts:
Original poster
jetcat32 · 24/06/2009 21:55

no redness or veins. A little pins and needles type feeling, but am guessing thats as s result of continually having to sit with leg curled round.

Just put foot flat on floor, and it feels like i need to flex my foot/ankle - but that actually doesnt do anything IYSWIM

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 24/06/2009 22:14

The difference in size may be significant. However, apart from pain, there aren't any other signs.

options:

  • call nhs direct

or

Take a couple of aspirin, elevate the legs and see doctor urgently first thing tomorrow

or

walk in or A&E tonight

If it was me, I would do the aspirin and see doc first thing - unless I developed any other signs/symptoms as described.

BUT - I can't see you, or your leg, so maybe calling NHS direct will help you make the decision.

3littlefrogs · 24/06/2009 22:15

(Aspirin stops the platelets sticking together and making any existing clot bigger).

Original poster
jetcat32 · 25/06/2009 07:20

thanks 3, sorry - DD2 woke last night and wouldnt settle. Still really painful so will call GP this morning.

Many thanks

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 25/06/2009 17:14

How are you today?

Original poster
jetcat32 · 25/06/2009 21:26

still really sore! couldnt get into docs this morning - will try again tomorrow. I am just feeling very sorry for myself! DD2 - 2 keeps rubbing my leg and saying "aww, dont worry darlin..."

I took your advice though and took some aspirin, and been measuring my legs all day lol! I am seriously thinking of phoning NHS direct now though, as it is worse when i am lying flat, and cant go through another night like last night! I am anxious if they suggest hospital though, as got DD1 and DD2 in bed - with no-one to call on to watch them for me!

OP posts:
Original poster
jetcat32 · 25/06/2009 21:28

rang NHS - they are only dealing with urgent cases. I dont think this is

My GP out of hours doesnt make house calls - they send you to a out of hours centre, which again, is really difficult due to childcare!

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 25/06/2009 21:48

You poor thing - how old are your dc?

If it is still really sore, you must see a doctor tomorrow - do you have a walk in centre?

Do you have to get the dc anywhere in the morning? A&E is often pretty quiet before 8 o clock - at least the one where I work is.

Where abouts are you?

Original poster
jetcat32 · 25/06/2009 21:52

DD1 is 12, DD2 is 2. We have a walk in centre somewhere - the place i thought it was which is where we went when DD1 collapsed is only for registered patients!

Am in teeside, DD2 at nursery tomorrow, so if it still bad, i think i am going to have to go. I thought it would have gone by now it it was a strained muscle IYSWIM, but it seems to be getting worse not better!

And thanks so much for listening to me whinge - think DDs are fed up of listening to me and watching me hobble about

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 25/06/2009 21:57

Can you try and establish where the WIC is, and as soon as you drop dd at nursery, go along and get someone to look? Failing that could you get an urgent appt at GP if you phone first thing?

Sorry I am nowhere near teeside, so can't offer any advice re locations!

Original poster
jetcat32 · 25/06/2009 22:03

here's hoping 3lf. Will have to see someone!!

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 26/06/2009 15:59

How are you today?

Original poster
jetcat32 · 26/06/2009 18:18

well......

I got to see GP this morning, who rushed me straight off to hospital!

I was admitted to Emergency Assessment Unit, and by this time i had very reduced feeling in my foot. Cue a lot of blood tests and a scan - blood test was normal thank goodness, so i have been allowed home on meds. Got to go back and see GP on Monday for follow up.

Thanks so much for the push to go! I was really scared sitting in the hospital, and imagining all kinds of things. It was a nightmare trying to sort kids out in case i was going to be kept in - so i think now i will have to come up with some kind of plan in case it happens again.

And obviously a big push to lose some weight, as that should help to avoid problems in the future!

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 26/06/2009 18:26

Worth going then. Hope it all works out ok. Hope you manage to get some sort of emergency contingency plans in place. It is really hard when you don't have any family or anyone to help.

Original poster
jetcat32 · 26/06/2009 18:32

defo 3littlefrogs! Was in all day, and they said that it could have been a lot worse if i had left it!

My sister is my only family, and she lives up in scotland, so although she would be willing to come down if necessary, it would still take 7 hours!

But, my friend really helped me out today picking eldest up from school, and little one up from nursery. Thank goodness it is Friday, as today is the only day DD2 goes to nursery lol!n

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 26/06/2009 18:38

Thank goodness you went when you did! I was quite concerned TBH. It is always difficult to know whether to be restrained and calm whilst encouraging someone to go to doc's, or to jump up and down going OMG go to A&E now!!!

I am very glad you came back to update. I hate it when people don't do that, and you don't know if they are ok or not.

did they think it was a clot?

Original poster
jetcat32 · 26/06/2009 20:01

i got that you were a little concerned - it made me a little less anxious about feeling like i was wasting the docs time for cramp or something!

Yes, they thought it was a clot, though my bloods came back ok (didnt really understand all the doc speak though, as dosed up on painkillers by now

I had to stay in all day, and was then allowed home with some meds and a stocking bandage. Got to go back to GP on Monday, or back to hospital over weekend if it gets worse.

Are you a medical type person 3lf, as you seem very knowledgable

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 26/06/2009 20:20

I am a nurse - but blood clots are my area of expertise I suppose.

Original poster
jetcat32 · 27/06/2009 10:26

ahhhh, well thanks for not telling me before then - i would have well freaked out!!

OP posts:
Original poster
jetcat32 · 27/06/2009 20:09

sorry, me again

it is still really painful! I am taking the max tramadol i can, plus paracetamol, but i am still in a lot of pain.

I have no idea what is causing the pain, now i know it is not a clot. Calf doesnt feel as tight and hard as it did yesterday, but still an awful cramp like feeling.

Is there anything i should be doing to help reduce the pain? Am i right in elevating leg if it isnt a clot? Keep the tube bandage on??

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 27/06/2009 23:42

Just come in - sorry. Elevate the leg, keep thebandage on, as long as it is not too tight. If you feel it is too tight, it would be better to remove it.

Is there any numbness/dicolouration in your foot/toes?

Can you contact the hospital where you were treated?

TBH, if it is worse, you should go back to hospital - but I know that is difficult at this time of night, if you have no-one to look after dcs.

Is there anyone you can call?

Original poster
jetcat32 · 27/06/2009 23:57

My foot is ok i think - there was a lot of numbness in foot yesterday, when leg was really tight and hard to press. That seems to have gone as well now thank goodness! I wouldnt say actual pain was worse, just the same really.

Hospital were really busy yesterday, and didnt really give me any advice etc apart from see GP on monday.

If bloods came back ok, does that def rule out a clot - as i am still imagining all kinds (and i really appreciate you posting here btw)

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