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Suggest Remedy For Severe Calf Pain At Night
Question: Hi,
For the past few days I've been suffering from calf pain... it can be from mild to moderate, but it only really bad at night. I don't notice it much during the day. It's been going down to my ankle and foot. I have PCOS and I have been taking the birth control patch since September of 2015... previous to that I tried other birth controls, but was having horrible hormonal side effects and finally I found the patch and it doesn't cause those issues. I'm 5'4" and overweight... 165lbs... previously I was 160lbs, but gained weight... before that... I was 173lbs. I'm not athletic anymore, I use to be on a swim team and swam seven days a week for two and half hours. I'm very sedentary, but I still do walk around the house and everything like that. I've been seeing a GI doctor for gallbladder problems since October 2015. I haven't tried anything to relieve my calf pain... because I'm not sure what to do. The pain is in my right leg. My OB/GYN asked me back in February, if I was having any leg pain and I said no because I wasn't and this pain came out of nowhere, I've never had it before... my leg is somewhat tender to touch, but not horrible... I tend to get very anxious at night and shake my leg when I'm laying in bed. When I wake up in the morning... my leg is somewhat "stiff", but once I start walking around it's not bad and goes away. I suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I'm not on anything for it... I use to be on Zoloft, but stopped it and I occasionally take Xanax, if my anxiety is crippling. I had a physical back in December of 2015 and she said I was healthy and good... besides from my GI problems and reproductive issues. The pain has been going back and forth between my right and left leg, but now mostly my right leg. I sometimes get short of breath during it and my chest hurts, but I'm pretty sure it's my anxiety... because, once I start to calm myself down the chest pain and shortness of breath goes away. I usually drink water and deep breathe and step outside for fresh air when that happens. My mother doesn't think my leg pain is anything serious and I shouldn't worry to much and maybe my worrying is contributing to my pain more. She thinks I need to get moving more and maybe it's just a muscle strain of some sort or tendonitis. I'm due to get my period on Wednesday and I'm not sure, if that has anything to do with it. I'm so worried about DVT or aneurism... even though it probably isn't that. I haven't seen a doctor yet for this... like I said my brother doesn't think it's too serious... I want to believe her, but I'm just so worried about the worst. The pain goes up to my knee, too. Usually, when I take Xanax it helps calm everything down. I use to be on Metformin for my blood sugar, but since my A1C checked out normal and my blood sugars have been great. I recently had all kinds of blood work in November by my GI... CBC and things like that... they were normal, but my ultrasound showed I have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease... my gallbladder came back normal, but my GI isn't conceived it's working normally, so I have a HIDA scan coming up. I also had my hormonal levels checked by blood in February and everything was normal and where it should be on birth control. I've been having symptoms of PMS, but this leg pain is really concerning me. What should I do? Is this something serious?
For the past few days I've been suffering from calf pain... it can be from mild to moderate, but it only really bad at night. I don't notice it much during the day. It's been going down to my ankle and foot. I have PCOS and I have been taking the birth control patch since September of 2015... previous to that I tried other birth controls, but was having horrible hormonal side effects and finally I found the patch and it doesn't cause those issues. I'm 5'4" and overweight... 165lbs... previously I was 160lbs, but gained weight... before that... I was 173lbs. I'm not athletic anymore, I use to be on a swim team and swam seven days a week for two and half hours. I'm very sedentary, but I still do walk around the house and everything like that. I've been seeing a GI doctor for gallbladder problems since October 2015. I haven't tried anything to relieve my calf pain... because I'm not sure what to do. The pain is in my right leg. My OB/GYN asked me back in February, if I was having any leg pain and I said no because I wasn't and this pain came out of nowhere, I've never had it before... my leg is somewhat tender to touch, but not horrible... I tend to get very anxious at night and shake my leg when I'm laying in bed. When I wake up in the morning... my leg is somewhat "stiff", but once I start walking around it's not bad and goes away. I suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I'm not on anything for it... I use to be on Zoloft, but stopped it and I occasionally take Xanax, if my anxiety is crippling. I had a physical back in December of 2015 and she said I was healthy and good... besides from my GI problems and reproductive issues. The pain has been going back and forth between my right and left leg, but now mostly my right leg. I sometimes get short of breath during it and my chest hurts, but I'm pretty sure it's my anxiety... because, once I start to calm myself down the chest pain and shortness of breath goes away. I usually drink water and deep breathe and step outside for fresh air when that happens. My mother doesn't think my leg pain is anything serious and I shouldn't worry to much and maybe my worrying is contributing to my pain more. She thinks I need to get moving more and maybe it's just a muscle strain of some sort or tendonitis. I'm due to get my period on Wednesday and I'm not sure, if that has anything to do with it. I'm so worried about DVT or aneurism... even though it probably isn't that. I haven't seen a doctor yet for this... like I said my brother doesn't think it's too serious... I want to believe her, but I'm just so worried about the worst. The pain goes up to my knee, too. Usually, when I take Xanax it helps calm everything down. I use to be on Metformin for my blood sugar, but since my A1C checked out normal and my blood sugars have been great. I recently had all kinds of blood work in November by my GI... CBC and things like that... they were normal, but my ultrasound showed I have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease... my gallbladder came back normal, but my GI isn't conceived it's working normally, so I have a HIDA scan coming up. I also had my hormonal levels checked by blood in February and everything was normal and where it should be on birth control. I've been having symptoms of PMS, but this leg pain is really concerning me. What should I do? Is this something serious?
Brief Answer:
This leg pain can be due to DVT
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case and you have mentioned everything in detail. I think that you may have following causes of leg pain.
1.DVT- because of your life style and hormonal status there is very high chances that you may have DVT. Although it is nothing to be panic about. You need to get doppler test to confirm this diagnosis. If there is DVT then you need to take heparin injection to take care of that. Also you need to increase your activity level and control your hormonal level. Obesity, Oral contraceptive, sedentary life style are high risk factor for DVT.
2.Other cause which can lead to such pain is neuropathy due to nerve compression in spine or B 12 deficiency but I think chances of neuropathy is less common then DVT in your situation. For diagnosis you need MRI of the spine and vitamin B 12 level check up.
I hope this answer will be useful for you.Let me know if there is any other followup questions.
thanks
This leg pain can be due to DVT
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case and you have mentioned everything in detail. I think that you may have following causes of leg pain.
1.DVT- because of your life style and hormonal status there is very high chances that you may have DVT. Although it is nothing to be panic about. You need to get doppler test to confirm this diagnosis. If there is DVT then you need to take heparin injection to take care of that. Also you need to increase your activity level and control your hormonal level. Obesity, Oral contraceptive, sedentary life style are high risk factor for DVT.
2.Other cause which can lead to such pain is neuropathy due to nerve compression in spine or B 12 deficiency but I think chances of neuropathy is less common then DVT in your situation. For diagnosis you need MRI of the spine and vitamin B 12 level check up.
I hope this answer will be useful for you.Let me know if there is any other followup questions.
thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Could DVT pain come out of nowhere? How should I get that test done? Go to the doctors or straight to the ER? The pain has been going up my thigh on the side and as soon as I sit down the pain gets worse.
Brief Answer:
You can go to ER
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
As I told you that you have conditions which increases chances of DVT so you can develop it suddenly. For diagnosis you need to go to ER and get ultrasound examinations. As DVT is an emergency so you should do it as soon as possible. Once you got report and your blood tests treatment can be started.
Thanks
You can go to ER
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
As I told you that you have conditions which increases chances of DVT so you can develop it suddenly. For diagnosis you need to go to ER and get ultrasound examinations. As DVT is an emergency so you should do it as soon as possible. Once you got report and your blood tests treatment can be started.
Thanks
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Joint Replacement
Practicing since :2002
Answered : 4486 Questions
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