Dr. Hive: Should I be worried?

[Daria]

About a week ago, I fractured my right tibial plateau, which is the top surface of the lower leg bone.  My leg is in an immobilizer and isn't supposed to bear any weight for six weeks.  

 

After a week, my knee feels fine unless I move it,  Maybe a little stiff but no pain.  But I have a spot lower on my leg, in the back, that hurts.  It's hurt for the past couple days, and I was just ignoring it, until i woke up last night worried it was a DVT.  So, now I'm worried.

 

I sometimes wake up at night with charley horses, but I didn't this time, it came on gradually.    That's what it feels like, though, like the crampy feeling in your calf after a charley horse, but I can't do any of the things I'd usually do, like walk on it or hang off a step to stretch it out, because they all involve bearing weight on the leg.  It's in the center (left to right) of my calf, but down low right above where my achilles tendon is, which Dr. Google tells me is a common place for DVT.  It's also about where the lowest strap on the leg immobilizer (which is worthless, it falls of all the time) hits, so maybe I caused it by tightening it too tight, or maybe it's just that it's tight from lack of movement? 

 

It's not excruciatingly painful, but maybe I have a high pain tolerance because I didn't think the broken leg was excruciatingly painful.  People often compare things to childbirth, but I'm an adoptive parent, so I can't do that.  It's not red or hot.  My foot is a little swollen, but that could be from not being walked on.  

 

Anyway, someone please tell me I'm overreacting, and that there's no way it's DVT.  Or tell me that it might be and I won't feel like an idiot if I go to the ER.  

[City Mouse]

When my DH had his DVT, he said it felt like a pulled muscle or a bad cramp. He came home from work telling me that it had been bothering him all day, but he was walking around without a problem. He has factor 5 mutation and a family history of clots, so I made him go to the ER that night.

[Daria]

A pulled muscle or a cramp is how I'd describe it.  Was it hot or red?  Those are the symptoms that are missing.  I don't have a family history but I think that having the leg immobilized and not walking on it is also a risk factor.

 

I suspect I could walk on it fine, if I was allowed to walk on that leg.  

[texasmama]

With the history and symptoms, I would get this medically checked out ASAP.  

[Starr]

My pain from a DVT was not hot, or red, just achey. If there is a chance you should have it checked asap.

[Daria]

My pain from a DVT was not hot, or red, just achey. If there is a chance you should have it checked asap.

 

Thanks, how did you know it needed to be checked?  

[alisoncooks]

My DH has had a few blood clots resulting from medications related to chemo.  His first was  in his arm and wasn't painful but discovered because his hand was swollen.  The second was in the leg & it had that painful, pulled muscle feeling.  He went and checked it out because (when you have cancer) they want you to come in for every strange feeling.  His second leg clot did have the redness and hot feeling (along with the pain).  

 

Hope you are able to get to the bottom of your pain (and I hope it's not a clot).

[Lang Syne Boardie]

I would go today, and if it were one of my children, they'd be taken to the ER today. (ER because you'll need an ultrasound.)

 

My son has a history of DVT. Once it was the classic hot, very painful, calf cramp. Another time it was a hint of an annoying tugging feeling. He wasn't even sure if the feeling was an ingrown hair, or inside his leg. It was just "there." But his hematologist had said to rush to the ER for any change at all in his leg, no matter how small, so we went in. It was another DVT.

 

I went to the ER once for myself, unable to tell the difference between a pulled muscle and a DVT. It turned out to be a pulled muscle, but not one person there had anything to say other than, "You were right to come in. Always check out a possible clot."

 

This is many hours after you posted, so I hope you took yourself to the hospital and I really, really hope that all is well.

[Catherine]

Another voice echoing-get it checked out right away.  Since you have a recent fracture\immobilization, you are at high risk.  There is no harm whatsoever in an ultrasound-totaly risk-free.  There is the cost, though, if you have to pay something out of pocket.  

[lmrich]

I think it is worth getting looked at it. Sorry. Hope all is well.

[Daria]

I did not go in.  I took a hot shower and got up and into my wheelchair, and that seemed to be better.  The footplate in my chair holds my foot at an angle that seems more comfortable.  I figure it wouldn't get better like that if it was really DVT?  At least that's what I was hoping. 

 

I think my radar is up about DVT, because my son's birthmother died of it.  She was in the waiting room of an E.R. for an unrelated condition and they still couldn't save her.  That's how fast she went.

[Lang Syne Boardie]

I did not go in.  I took a hot shower and got up and into my wheelchair, and that seemed to be better.  The footplate in my chair holds my foot at an angle that seems more comfortable.  I figure it wouldn't get better like that if it was really DVT?  At least that's what I was hoping. 

 

I think my radar is up about DVT, because my son's birthmother died of it.  She was in the waiting room of an E.R. for an unrelated condition and they still couldn't save her.  That's how fast she went.

 

I have to say I can't understand your thinking at all, but I'm glad you are more comfortable. Hope everything's fine.

[chaya]

I hope by now its all resolved.

but if not, I sorry to say I'm with the 'go to the ER now' camp.

DVT's, as you know, are serious business. this from a very 'wait it out' kind of mama.

my dh had a similar story a few years back, went to the GP who met him immediately in the ER. in his case it turned out to be  a cellulitis, which is also something you'd want to treat rather quickly. because they caught it early, he did not need to be admitted for IV antibiotics and thankfully all was well.

 

[Laurie4b]

Please call your doctor and let him or her make the decision. It sounds like you are worried that you are overreacting b/c of your son's birth mother. However, you had plenty of affirmation here that it could be DVT based on your symptoms .  You are higher risk b/c of the immobilization.  I would worry that the hot water opened up the vein just enough to let it move. Please at least call your doctor.

[mysticmomma]

Another vote for call and or go.