how will I know if DVT or just very achy leg??

[lifeinthesun]

For the last 3 days had a very achy calf. Is not limited to calf, sometimes in foot but is really uncomfortable and am starting to worry could be DVT. I have had lots of back pain, speading down into my bum and thigh. Could it be this? How will I know if DVT? Oh, am 37 weeks!!

Things to watch for wrt to DVT is heat or swelling in your calf/leg, where the other leg isn't swollen

Sounds more like sciatica to me though

I've been panicing about dvt for a couple of days nowdue to pain in my calf. Dh reckons it's cramp cos I woke in the night ' squealing like a pig' I'm also getting it in my foot but am going to mention it at hospital today just in case. So if I get any tips I'll put it on here!

If you are worrying about it, let the professionals decide. Give your GP a ring to speak to them.

I've been like nymphadora - bad cramp in my feet over night, I scream out with the pain but don't wake up - it's just my husband who wakes up with a fright, and then sore calves for the rest of the day.

I've been wondering this too as I get cramps in my calves.

Back pain, spreading down, sounds more like myofascial pain thought TBH. That where you get tension or "knots" on your muscles - they can then refer pain elsewhere and that sets off more tension in the new area. Physiotherapy or specialist massage (myofascial release) can help - some physios can do the massage, but usually only know basic techniques. I have this anyway, so know quite a lot about it. It's very common.

My aunt had a DVT in her calf aged 23, and she said the pain was worse when she bent her knee joint - and also, she couldnt put her heel flat on the floor without a lot of pain

I had a DVT a couple of years ago. The pain was intense and unbearable when standing. There was a visible difference in the size of each leg and the area was red and hot.

It's always worth checking out, but having also had restless legs and cramp in pregnancy - it sounds more like that to me.

With my DVTs the pain just got worse and worse. Didn't have the hot and red stuff either time, but the first time (when I was pg) it did gradually swell up over 5 days (and then stayed swollen for about 8 months).
In your position I'd be in A&E. In my experience the maternity team had v little experience of DVTs so wouldn't rely on them for a dx either way.

I went to the nhs walk-in centre a couple of weekends ago because I had very bad pain in my calf (I am 34 weeks) because of similar worries (the dr said it looked fine). I have horrendous varicose veins so have been told to keep an eye on the following symptoms

Swelling in calf
Hotness/coldness in leg
pain inside leg
tender to touch
redness

If you are in any way worried, call your MW, gp or local walk-in centre. They usually take dvt worries seriously, because it can come on quite quickly. They usually rule it out with an ultrasound on your leg, and if they can't arrange a scan they may give you a fragmin (blood thinner) injection in your thigh, just in case. I had this when pg with dd2, as had a similar scare at the weekend, when scanners closed.

Thanks everyone. No swelling or redness or pain when flex foot but is very uncomfortable. Would sciatica spread all down leg. Bad pain in bum when walk and can't decide if this pain is spreading down leg. Has been 3 days and not getting worse so guess that is good sign no? If still bad later will pop into a&e.

I'd get off to A&E now if you are concerned. You need to get there early to be in with a chance of getting a scan done. I had a similar experience to hazyjane and was told I would have to come back to A&E each night over the weekend for injections because they wouldn't scan me until Monday morning . Bearing in mind I had a week-old breastfed baby in tow it was truly unbelievable.

I agree with others that getting it professionally checked out is important. But yes, sciatica spreads all the way down your leg in many cases, and the pain in the bum when walking is definitely symptomatic. It's also a typical thing to happen during pg when your pelvis is changing and the sciatic nerve gets hit. After a diagnosis, I'd really recommend a good physiotherapist or Bowen technique practitioner who can manipulate it out. Hope you get a good diagnosis

My pain with dd2 did turn out to be sciatica, and I saw a physio, who gave me some exercises, but tbh the only thing that really helped was having the baby! (It did come back, but I found Pilates made a big difference).

I agree with others to get it checked out straight away. It could be nothing, but IME it is something that they always treat quite seriously, so best to get it checked sooner rather than later.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Sciatica is a very specific thing when pressure is put on the sciatic nerve. It causes shooting pain down your leg.

The myofascial pain I menioned causes similar symptoms if the sciatic nerve is involved, but can affect any nerve that runs through an affected muscle. A good physio or massage therapist should be able to release the tension.

thanks hazeyjane. Haven't gone to A&E yet as going to wait to see how it goes today. As the pain is in my bum when I walk, in my thigh abit and my calf as well as now having numb toes I am pretty sure is just sciatica but I am a complete hyperchondriac and get very nervous about things so if it continues I will go check it out.

Get yourself checked out now. DVT can be fatal. There has just been a piece on it on This Morning.

hey. just to update. went to hospital today to have leg checked out as pain was not going away. Had ultrasound done on leg and no sign of clots. very relieved. Doctor says is sciatica, which can spread all the way down leg to your toes. very glad I went though as they were very understanding and now at least have 1 less thing to worry about about! thank you all for advice and support

Glad it was good news. Although you are still uncomfortable, DVT's are a right pain in the arse (well leg ).