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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Any Suggestion For Swelling In Calf, Lump/bump In Calf/knee/thighs?

About three weeks ago, my calf was swollen, red, and itchy after a 7 hour car ride from SF to LA. I also noticed there was a lump/bump beneath my skin at the location of the swelling and a noticeable warmth at the site. I waited a couple of days to see if the swelling would go away but when my condition stayed the same, I went to an urgent care center. They ruled out DVT based on my symptoms and they suggested it was an infection of some sort and prescribed me an antibiotic, which I never took. I wasn t 100% confident with their prognosis since there was no open wound/bite mark of any sort and the itch felt like it was beneath the skin and not topical as scratching did not alleviate the discomfort. Over the next few days, my lower leg became increasingly swollen and the bump moved to my inner calf/leg. When I noticed my ankle started to swell, I went to the ER to get an ultrasound and it too came back negative for DVT. Long story short, over the next two weeks, the lump/bump, which is now more of a mass the size of a child s fist, has migrated. What started as swelling from my lower calf has migrated to my inner calf, up to my knee, up to inner thigh, front of the thigh, and now, at the three week mark, it is on my hip. The mass is still warm to the touch, itchy, and has also left slight bruising and small residual bumps along it s path. I have been to my family doctor twice since going to the ER and he has no idea what it is or what could have caused it. He has referred me to a rheumatologist and am now waiting for my HMO insurance to approve it before I can see her. I have been stressing about this for weeks without any answers. Please help!
Fri, 14 Mar 2014
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General Surgeon 's  Response
Hi.
The first mistake you did was NO TO TAKE antibiotics.
This can be due to inflamation of the lymphatic channels = Lymphangitis.
or multiple abscess with skip areas
or Thrombophebitis.
This does not occur in DVT.
If sonography is showing a collection of pus, you need to get it operated / drained.
If no pus, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines for a longer duration of time/ elevation of the limb above heart level.
Fine needle aspiration to see the aspirate and subject to analysis, culture and sensitivity.
I hope you are not a diabetic.
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Any Suggestion For Swelling In Calf, Lump/bump In Calf/knee/thighs?

Hi. The first mistake you did was NO TO TAKE antibiotics. This can be due to inflamation of the lymphatic channels = Lymphangitis. or multiple abscess with skip areas or Thrombophebitis. This does not occur in DVT. If sonography is showing a collection of pus, you need to get it operated / drained. If no pus, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines for a longer duration of time/ elevation of the limb above heart level. Fine needle aspiration to see the aspirate and subject to analysis, culture and sensitivity. I hope you are not a diabetic.