I have a deep pain in my left calf, it feels like its the bone?? Had it about 6 months, hurts at night, lying down or standing for a long time, doctor felt the pulse in the ankle and thigh and doesn't think it's a DVT , anyone had similar?? Should I be concerned?
Many thanks
Carol
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CarolBSL
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Yes - I agree with the advice above, due to the tricky nature of APS, things need to be more than checked! Best of luck, let us know how you get on. Mary F x
Hi Carol. I have a deep left calf pain to the bone that has lasted over 6 months. (Look it up in the archives) It concerned me so much (fear of DVT) that I posed the question to the forum just as you have. I'll never forget one answer in particular; it said something to the effect of, "If I were you, Canary, I'd fly to the emergency room and get it tested". The other answers all came back similar. As worried as I was, it was perfectly injected humor and enough to scare me right over to the ER for an ultrasound. These fellow patients had all had similar experience. I was fortunate that the hospital did not find anything, but something is still up. I would recommend the same thing for you. Speak with your General Practitioner and ask him/her to test the left leg as the duration of pain is unusual and you strongly suspect there is a reason. Like APsnotFab stated, polite but firm usually get's the job done. A little persistence as well.
Don't procrastinate any longer. You'll feel so much better once you've eliminated the DVT possibility. The testing may not provide much more than eliminating a DVT, but at least you are that far. I started CoQ10 about 6 weeks ago at 400 mg soft gel/day. If one is on a statin for a lengthy amount of time (I was on Zyban for years) there has been evidence collected of the muscle departing from the bone causing pain. An administrator named Paddy from this site, can give you good documentation links on statins and their harms and complications. He's a quiet guy most of the time, but he knows his statin stuff!
Anyway, it is very difficult to tell if it is helping. My GP said if it hasn't worked by now it probably won't help the pain we are trying to target. I want to give it another month or two. I just can't tell one way or the other if it is helping. It's very difficult to separate the kinds of pain that go with the right illness if you have several diagnoses. Don't guess or wonder. You're too important. Make that call to your GP and get some difinitive answers. I think you'll rest easier.
Oh, aquatherapy lessens this pain. A long hot bath will temporarily lessen pain. Move in the water and try to stretch the whole leg from thigh to toe, but if it hurts - STOP. Just soak. Even that helps temporarily.
Thanks for your reassurances, I really do appreciate it I will do as you say and have it checked out again, I see the rheumatologist for my yearly check in two weeks, but he makes me feel like I am over concerned about things that he considers benign, but I will be firm and ask for it to checked out. I will let you know what the outcome is.
Bravery in the face of adversity! Some famous Brittish person said that. I should think you'll have a more receptive ear with your rheumotologist as they seem to be more familiar with APS than a general practitioner. During your appointment ask him/her if she has any patient information that would help you to understand the full disease and it's possible implications for YOUR particular case. Written patient information is so important~ One just doesn't have time in the office for a thorough question answer period, particularly under stress.
That's why you need to be prepared and proud of it! Bring a prewritten list of questions and write his answers down right then and there and explain that you are sure he is aware of the memory problems APS presents and you use this as an aide for both of you. One certainly doesn't need a Rheumatologist with a "God" complex whom is positive he is up on this disease. If you don't completely understand HE HAS NOT DONE HIS JOB. His job dictates that he communicates with all levels of education as well as various types of individuals. He is supposed to be trained in sensitivity to pain, compassion and empathy for those that come to him for help. If he isn't doing his job....FIRE HIM! Get another rheumotologist. Or, don't fire him, but get a second opinion. You may find two completely different styles of doctoring. I sure wouldn't stand for belittling of any sort. If it is important enough for you to ask, it is important enough to get a civilized answer. That's what you are paying him for. Best of luck, Carol. I hate the waiting game too, but we are at the mercy of overburdened healthcare no matter where on earth one lives.
Having had an extensive DVT in the leg i can also only encourage you to have it checked out ASAP. it is a simple non invasive procedure using ultrasound and takes only a few minutes to either confirm or clear a clot. If you are not currently on an anti-coagulant like Warfarin (Coumadin) or Clexane then all the more reason to chase this up straight away.
Having had an extensive DVT in the leg i can also only encourage you to have it checked out ASAP. it is a simple non invasive procedure using ultrasound and takes only a few minutes to either confirm or clear a clot. If you are not currently on an anti-coagulant like Warfarin (Coumadin) or Clexane then all the more reason to chase this up straight away.
I have had a lot of grief from docs who belittle my complaints. Let me give you some advice that I myself struggle to follow: you are not responsible for, nor can you change, someone else's attitude and behavior. You can only change your own. Too many docs want to play god and expect you, the patient, to blindly agree and worship.
Yes, they have a lot more knowledge then we. But no, you don't have to ignore what your own body is telling you just so you can follow the scripted role of " good patient." You are in pain. It may or may not be serious or treatable. But you deserve a diagnosis and, at least, a clearly explained plan which leads to a diagnosis.
( you know, a circulation problem within a bone would probably cause pain but would not register as a weak pulse. Again. You deserve answers! Politely, but firmly ask for a plan.)
Gina
( I think I'll print out this reply and read it before my next appointment.)
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