Calf muscle

[ChrisinNam]

My left calf muscle has suddenly become stuff and painful, over the past week or so. Can this be related to Polymyalgia? Was diagnosed in October 2020, now at 5mg, and going to stay there at least until I get back to UK in February. Many thanks for your help.

[123-go]

It’s difficult to say what is causing your calf pain. Is their any swelling or redness? Have you had a knock to the calf? Inactivity can cause symptoms and I see from an earlier post that you have something of a problem with walking. There are a number of reasons for calf pain and I hesitate to say that yours is a symptom of PMR: personally I would seek a professional opinion especially if there is nothing that accounts for your discomfort. The experts will be able to comment further.

I’ve just read the detailed reply from Pixix where there was some discussion about your planned air balloon ride in the new year: if I were you I would give this ride a great deal of thought…perhaps you have.

[SnazzyD]

Do get it checked, especially if it’s just the one calf and the rest of you is ok. When did you fly there? I’d want to rule out a clot.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SnazzyD]

Agree with that….

[PMRpro Ambassador]

All the time? Is it swollen or is your foot swollen? Is it hot or red? Is it certain actions, like stepping off a kerb, or after walking a short distance and then starts to ache and goes away when you stop?

There are so many things it could be so it really needs to be examined by a doctor. You've had a relatively recent long distance flight so a DVT is a possibility that must be ruled out.

[ChrisinNam in reply to PMRpro]

Have just come back from one of the private hospitals. Saw a doctor, who examined my calf, and requested blood samples. Unfortunately the blood samples hadn't even made it to the private laboratory over an hour later. But we were told that the result would be emailed to us. It's New Year's Eve, and everywhere is on skeleton staff! Saw the doctor again before we left, an he seemed quite confident that it isn't a DVT

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ChrisinNam]

In the UK you pobably wouldn't have made it to triage in the hour!!!! Do hope he's right,

[ChrisinNam in reply to PMRpro]

No. Apparently the blood test showed evidence of a clot! They wanted to keep me in, @ £750/ night. We persuaded them it wasn't necessary!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ChrisinNam]

But they did give you a clot-busting drug I hope? I have horror stories about missed clots that didn't end well. At £750 a night I can understand your reluctance! Have you not got insurance?

[ChrisinNam in reply to PMRpro]

I never get health insurance, preferring to carry my own risk.Have had one Clexane injection, must return just now for a sonar, and another injection. Will ask about tablets, if clot is discovered. I had a clot in my lung several years ago, and was given tablets then, I'm sure.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ChrisinNam]

Hmm, yes. But I do prefer to have cover - having had a badly broken leg while on holiday. Daily hospital costs soon rack up even if it isn't a private hospital - in Germany 40 years ago a day in a public hospital, all treatments and medications included, was 450 D'marks which wasn't cheap at the time, about £100 maybe. And repatriation costs megabucks ...

[ChrisinNam in reply to PMRpro]

I inquired about health insurance some years ago. Nobody wanted to cover me for two or three months, only for two or three weeks or a year. So I gave up. Didn't enquire this time.

[HeronNS]

It's a bad time for health care everywhere. I hope that you do get the all-clear, but if not, that you get prompt and effective treatment.