Really worried about leg pain, advice needed please!

[bambi07]

Hi
I'm 12 weeks pregnant and having returned from holidaying in Cornwall I have been having increasingly painful cramp like feelings in my calf, to the point now I can hardly bear to put my foot on the ground, with or without actually putting any weight on it.
I was immediatley worried about a blood clot, as my holiday was relatively inactive as I wasnt feeling great and the pain started after the drive back which took 5 hours 45 mins, with a brief toilet stop. I went to the doctors the day after and she was certain it was a muscle tear not a blood clot. I came away relieved but after looking at the websites she advised for stretches and reading all the information I dont have the common symptoms for a muscle tear either. I have no swelling, bruising and it didnt happen suddenly while engaged in any sporting activity, it has been getting progressively worse and it is excruciating now.
I made another appointment again because my foot is always much colder than the other and when I put my foot down it feels like there is a lot of pressure and it is immediatley relieved when I elavate my leg. A different doctor again said I had no symptoms for a blood clot and again I felt covinced but as I sit at home I cant help but worry, I'm applying cold and hot compresses and doing the stretches they suggested and it just keeps getting worse. My other half keeps suggesting that I go to A&E but I think that they will say the same as GP and dont want to waste anyones time. It is driving me mad and spent last night in tears, I can often be found sobbing at the moment however, so its not that unusual.
Has anyone got any experience of tearing a muscle or alternatively DVT and can offer me any reassurance either way? It would be greatly appreciated and would make me stop stressing all to myself.
Bambi07

Oh and aparently both DVT and tearing muscles is common during pregnancy, which doesnt eleviate my worries very much. XX

On phone so sorry for brief message. I had similar after driving 5 hours to lake district. Pain did go after about 3 days but was scary. If you go to a & e that can do a blood test to rule out a clot. My sister an a & e nurse told me off for not getting it checked out. Apparently risk of dvt goes up by 85% during pregnancy. Good luck x

I am not a medical proffessional but I do have LOTS of experience with DVTs and PEs. I had very very few 'traditional' symptoms of a DVT when I had my first and subsequent clots but that didn't mean they weren't there - sadly they certainly were!

You will probably find that it isn't a clot BUT you must get it checked out by someone who takes you seriously. Any calf pain in pregnancy should be checked to rule out DVT, it makes me VERY angry that your GP has fobbed you off without doing the very simple D-dimer blood test (most surgeries can do a finger prick test)! Although you will hopefully find it is just 'one of those things' it is not something to be messed with. Please go to A&E if your GP won't be sensible about their duty of care to you.

Hope all is well xx

Unfortunately D dimers are often elevated anyway in pregnancy, so the blood test isn't usually considered appropriate as a first line investigation (although if it's negative, it's negative, IYSWIM). So your GP wasn't wrong to not do the blood test if they thought it was clinically very unlikely to be a DVT.

It is probably not a clot, but if it has persisted then that needs to be ruled out. Go back to your GP or to your local urgent care centre/A&E - there is probably a one stop scan and treat clinic you can be referred to if required. Good luck.

Thank you for all of your advice, I am finding it difficult to stand now and cant drive so it is seriously interfering with my daily plans. I think I will take your advice, I am quite certain it will be nothing to worry about but I AM worrying and after spending 12 weeks worrying anyway (after a previous 12 week MC), a simple investigation will at least give me some peace of mind in the leg department.

Thank you again just what I needed. XX

Hi all,

I thought I would try to contact my GP again as it would be quicker to be referred than waiting in A&E but they wont see me again. The pain is even worse today than ever before, I am feeling very sorry for myself and cant stop crying. I have PKU too (dont worry if you havent heard of it and have no idea about what I'm talking about) and my levels have been really high, which happened last time I was pregnant when the baby stopped developing, just to add to my stresses. I have my dating scan next Wednesday, but am now dreading it, that was where I discovered I had lost the baby last time.

I cant drive so cant get myself anywhere, anyway as I am home alone. I am feeling more and more confident that the pain is musclular but even crutches would be a relief at the moment, I'm crawling everywhere. The pain seems to have moved down a bit from just under my knee to closer to my ankle.

Feeling terrible and dont know what to do again, the blood test results certainly haven't helped my emotional state today. I am working really hard to eat sensibly and do my regular blood tests but I'm really feeling the pressure at the minute and it's really getting to me, it certainly doesnt help that I cant move.

Sorry to rant and I am aware while I type how self pittiying I must sound but sometimes I just cant help it.

Bambi07

I have emailed my consultant, as he has already been in contact with me as I my pregnancy is classed as high risk. He has booked me straight onto the early pregnancy ward and has booked a scan on my leg. He was fab and said if it relieved my worries what harm would a scan do, he also said although I only have pain, the fact it started after a period of inactivity, it is in my left leg and it is getting worse after over a week, it warrents further investigation. I already feel so much better, I am relieved to be doing something. Heading off now to be poked and prodded!!

oops!!!