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Right leg & foot - Advice

Posted , 6 users are following.

Anxious_Nick
Anxious_Nick

About 4 days ago, seemingly out of nowhere, I started getting some pain in my right calf. I have a little anxiety about medical stuff, so I got scared thinking it might be a blood clot (even though it clearly wasn't). Well, the pain shifted to more of a burning sensation, mainly in the calf. The upper thigh also sometimes feels sore, and the middle of my right glute (butt) is also sometimes sensitive. My ankle and foot are now tingly (pins and needles), but only really when I'm in bed at night. 

Could this just be nerve related? As in, sciatica or something like that? I'm quite young, but I have a weird history of nerve pains -- shooting pains down arms, radiating pain from lower back down legs, pins and needles in hands and face, etc. I had an MRI of my brain about 2 months ago for different reasons, and the results came back clear. 

Any advice? I'm trying not to let my anxiety kick in, but I also wonder if I should see my GP before the weekend...

Thanks

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Peonygirl1
    Peonygirl1 Anxious_Nick

    Posted

    Hi Nick, I think it is a good idea to continue to understand what is going on with what your body is experiencing. If you feel it, it is! You have every right to understand your health issues so that you can make informed decisions as to how proceed. I would seek a neurologist as they are better informed regarding nerve issues and pain management. You mention you have health anxiety and I encourage you not to let that restrict you from seeking answers, answers are your friends, they quide you to make the best choices for your health. Seeking knowledge is the smart thing to do Nick and my best wishes are with you.
    • Anxious_Nick
      Anxious_Nick Peonygirl1

      Posted

      Thanks for your help. The calf still hurts and burns, but I'm trying not to freak out. In the past I've let medical concerns consume my life - unable to do anything but worry. This time, though, I'm trying to be rational. It hurts and so I'll make a trip tomorrow afternoon, after work, to the walk in clinic. Maybe they'll give me advice or rule some stuff out. 

      I'll update after tomorrow, or sometime this weekend. If this was going to kill me, it probably already would have...

      Thanks smile

  • becazican
    becazican Anxious_Nick

    Posted

    nick you most likely have a pinched nerve in your back, see if you can get an mri of the back . usually if its minor alittle physical therapy will help. 
    • Anxious_Nick
      Anxious_Nick becazican

      Posted

      Thanks. You might be correct. Tomorrow I will go to the walk in and see what they say. I'm guessing they'll do some tests to rule out anything sinister. 

      I'll update this weekend. Much appreciated for the help! 

  • acydgod
    acydgod Anxious_Nick

    Posted

    I had essentially the same symptoms Nick, right calf muscle ache, numb /cold foot, and these symptoms seemed to change over time. I had two MRIs and they showed some problems in my cervical spine but, surprisingly my doctors (several) all seemed convinced neck issues could not lead to leg problems, only arm.

    If you're told that, don't believe it. I have since found many people with similar issues and doctors who understand how neck problems can have very wide ranging impacts on all sorts of systems causing fatigue, depression, you name it.

    As for treatment, I would really pay attention to your posture especially if you have a desk job or look down at your phone a lot.

    • Anxious_Nick
      Anxious_Nick acydgod

      Posted

      Thanks for your message. I'm planning to go to clinic tomorrow afternoon after work. It's more my anxiety than anything else, as I'm convinced that this is a sign of something terminal (clot or maybe cancer). I really try to avoid this negative thinking and be rational. And so I'll suck it up, be an adult, and go to see a doctor. They can rule out the bad stuff and let me know what the problem is. 

      I do have a history of back problems. I was overweight as a kid (still sort of am), and my upper spine is pretty badly curved (kyphosis). I've never done chiropractic work, but I've reached the point where my neck and head are bent forward at least 2 inches from where they should be. And so perhaps that it contributing to the numb feelings I often get throughout my body, the headaches, and the constant soreness. 

      I'm still young enough to hopefully fix many of these problems, or at least help make them better. I just need to get out of the mindset that I'm going to die of some rare disease or clot before I even make it to 30! 

      I'll update this weekend. Thanks again... 

    • acydgod
      acydgod Anxious_Nick

      Posted

      I totally can relate Nick. Nothing worse than searching the internet to find matching symptoms of deadly diseases. But mine went away eventually and all I can suggest is work on the weight (I did also, low carb works wonders), exercise, and treat yourself to a deep tissue massage (helps).

      Search YouTube for neck and posture exercises, tons out there.

  • Anxious_Nick
    Anxious_Nick

    Posted

    Update: I went to the clinic because the pains weren't going away. Honestly, I'm pretty anxious about it even now. But they did an ultrasound (Doppler) and it came back clear. They also tested bloods and said my sugar was excellent, so no sign of diabetes. I was discharged and told to follow up with my GP this coming week. 

    The thing is, the pain in the calf is still there (possibly slightly worse) and the burning sensations throughout the leg are driving me crazy. Now that they introduced me to the idea of a blood clot, even though it tested negative and I have no swelling, I'm convinced I'll die from this. Can't control my anxiety and I think the anxiety makes it feel even worse. 

    Doctor basically said she didn't know what the issue was, but wrote "peripheral neruopathy, idiopathic" on the discharge forms. So...pain without a known cause. Ugh...so much frustration.

    • acydgod
      acydgod Anxious_Nick

      Posted

      I know it's hard Nick but be patient.  Measure changes only in months, not days or weeks and I suggest keeping a journal.  I am not a doctor but since I had the same symptoms I as you I am convinced it is caused by neck/nerve issues and will subside for you as it did for me.  Consider seeing a chiropractor as well.  They seem to see these things so often.  

    • shannon93482
      shannon93482 Anxious_Nick

      Posted

      Hello Anxious Nick - you might try removing gluten, dairy and soy from your diet for two weeks and see if the pain goes away.  It sounds like symptoms I had.  Once I removed gluten, dairy and soy from my diet it went away.  Good Luck.
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