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DVT or Calf muscle strain?

Posted , 4 users are following.

JTjudas
JTjudas

Hey everyone I'm 28, male and an active drummer.

I sit typing this fearing that at any moment I will drop dead from PE as I'm convinced I have a DVT in my right leg. I had experienced muscle weakness in my legs anyway during the bout of my anxiety and it would be hard to walk up the stairs but I remember one night about 6 weeks ago, I went to play a gig with my band and I sweat a lot as we wear masks, suits and wigs and I remember my calf cramping at the end of the set. It hurt but I thought nothing of it as I had lost a lot of water. Well ever since that night I have had intermittent pain in my foot and calf every single day. The majority of the time I feel no pain but then it will come out of nowhere for a couple of minutes and then disappear again sometimes for over an hour. It doesn't hurt to walk on it, if anything the pain arises more when I lie down or sit at a desk, I can function when the pain is present as I would rate it a 4/10 at it's worst but it's there and it gets no better and no worse. It's just a horrible little reminder that something is there and I believe I have something terribly wrong.

Also since then, my right knee and foot will turn purple, blue and red now and then, and my foot especially feels ice cold even when my left foot is warm. I've been to the Doctor who examined me and told me there's no sign of anything serious and thought it could be a minor calf strain and give me some stretches to do, however none of this helped at all. So I visited another doctor about the colour discolouration in my leg and foot and she has referred me to a vascular specialist so now I'm waiting on the letter for that. But I don't want to be waiting for weeks!

Last week I felt the pain in my calf and I slightly tensed it and I gave myself a Charley Horse and it was horrific, the pain was the worst I've experienced and I couldn't move my leg at all. My partner was really concerned and got me to A&E immediately. They got me in straight away and took my blood to test for d dimer, which came back negative, the Doctor told me he was 99% sure it wasn't DVT as it doesn't present the way I had described. So they diagnosed me with a torn calf muscle and gave me crutches. You'd think I'd believe two people people telling me I have a torn calf muscle but it doesn't wash with me, I don't believe it. I still believe I have a DVT despite my bloodwork coming back negative. D dimer is present in newly formed clots but this has been going on for weeks, what happens if it's been there for a while and the test hasn't picked it up?

So I've took their advice and been using crutches for nearly two weeks, I'm not drumming, walking, lifting or any other strenuous exercises that may make it worse but it's still getting to better and no worse, just always the same. I'm at my wit's end and I don't know what to do anymore. I'm obsessed with reading symptoms on Google and everything I read points to DVT but because my bloodwork came back negative, everyone's getting frustrated because I won't believe what they're telling me and now I don't know what to do.

I guess I just posted here because I need to get it off my chest and talk to people who I don't know and get some outside perspective on it. What would you guys do if it were you? Would you trust your gut or believe what you're told? I don't know know who to turn to anymore and it sucks big time.

Thank you.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • cora06849
    cora06849 JTjudas

    Posted

    I should ask for a Duplex Ultrasound scan.  I had a DVT in March, and it was diagnosed immediately that way, it picked up clots in the calf and also mid thigh.  Successfully treated, and I'm pain free and virtually back to normal. On lifetime warfarin now though, as I had one in the other leg 27 years ago.  

    A Duplex Ultrasound scan (quick and easy to do) should put your mind at rest.  

    I hope your symptoms clear up soon.  I'm a musician too, and feel your frustration.  All the best. 

  • jane32999
    jane32999 JTjudas

    Posted

    You should ask for an ultrasound scan on your calf which would show up a dvt. Living in constant worry and stress is really bad. I've had a dvd in my calf which apart from a deep pain showed no other symptoms, no redness , no swelling but an ultrasound proved I had one. On warfarin for 6 months and compression stocking for 2 years. 

    Good luck, hope everything turns out ok for you.

  • acuteabdo
    acuteabdo JTjudas

    Posted

    Hi,

    The main symptom of a DVT is a swollen leg. if your leg isn't swollen I wouldn't worry too much, especially as you have seen doctors (who will of seen countless DVTs) who say it isn't.

    If you're still really worried see a GP.

    good luck

    J

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