Dr. ML - what's up with my leg?

[wildrice]

I've been having pain and aches in my leg on and off for almost 4 weeks now. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this issue and if you have any idea what might be causing it. I made an appointment at my doctor next week but I'm not sure what she'll be able to tell me.

It started in my calf, and felt more like pain from a sore muscle, even though I hadn't done anything that I could recall that should have caused it (it actually began hurting while I was sitting in the audience of a play). Didn't really matter if I was walking, sitting, etc, it hurt the same. Minor swelling, no redness or temperature differences. I had recently flown home from Europe, so I was worried about a DVT  (I do have a family history of that). I went to the doctor, who sent me to a vascular specialist clinic for ultrasound. It came back normal. The pain subsided within a couple of days after that, so I chalked it up to hypochondria.

Then about a week later, it started up again. Now it feels more like an ache. I still feel it in my calf, but it also radiates up and down my leg. I'd say it goes down into my ankle/top of foot and hurts up to my gluts. If I rub it I can feel soreness in the side of my calf, around the top outer side of my knee, and in my glut (which tends to get knotted up and sore anyway) but it aches all throughout my leg, not just in those specific spots. I also feel  a knot in the back of my calf, but it doesn't hurt. My leg sometimes doesn't hurt at all, but other times it is achy enough that it's uncomfortable to sit (repositioning helps a little) or sleep. Last night I was awake overnight because it hurt no matter what position I was in, and when I woke up this morning it didn't hurt at all. It started bothering me again as I was standing getting ready for work. There is no consistency for when it happens, so I wouldn't say exercise is a trigger - it hurts just as much sitting/laying as it does walking, and sometimes none of those things affect it.

I did measure my leg a few days ago and it was about 1 inch larger than my other leg. Today I did again and it was still larger, though more like 1/2 an inch. I still have no color change, temperature change, or any other visible sign of this other than the minor swelling. 

Does anyone have familiarity with something like this? 

[pooh8402]

I dont like that one bit. Not one bit.

ETA: reading comprehension fail. I see you answered those. I would want to see someone else, get a second opinion.

[Gato]

Back issues sometimes present as leg pain, even when your back doesn’t hurt at all. Back problems can also cause your leg size difference, as your body compensates for the problem. I’d see a doctor, who will prescribe physical therapy if that’s the issue. This happened to me a few years ago and PT improved my condition (sciatica) dramatically.

[TrickyBob]

I have horrible sciatica issues on both sides but more on my right and I get it in the back of my thigh and calf down to my feet. It is a constant ache that seems to never be relieved. However, I have never gotten swelling or a size difference. I agree on a 2nd opinion based on that alone.

Have someone press around your butt cheek about half way. If they hit your sciatica nerve and it hurts like a mofo, I would say that is probably the culprit. Usually, at least for me, pressing on it affects the entire length of my leg and I want to punch my husband. When I am not having an issue it just is maybe tender but no real reaction.

As long as you are 100% it isn't a clot, I would then see about a chiropractor. My right side is worse but my left hip is out of balance to make up for it and that in and of itself can be an issue and my chiro does some moves to help realign. And then I get a sport massage that works the glutes and nerve area and that majorly helps. Plus a tens unit.

[Nonny]

It's good you are going back to the doctor. Maybe ask for a referral to PT and/or muscle relaxers.

I had persistent calf pain after a 6 hour car ride in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable car, and I also went to the doc with DVT fears. They sent me for an ultrasound which found nothing, and ultimately they decided that my calf pressed against the car seat for hours had caused it to basically seize up. It took about 3 doses of as much Flexeril as you are allowed to take at any given time (and so much sleeping because it just knocked me out) for the muscle to fully relax and stop hurting.

[tarzanswife]

Have you started wearing any new shoes, standing for longer periods of time, etc? I get calf pain if I stand too long in flat shoes. Have you been stretching your calf at all? Have you tried foam rolling it?

[mountaingirl]

It could be your back. Do you have any known disk or other Back issues?

[marie]

I am surprised that they are letting you wait a week? Not to alarm you, but I called once about leg swelling (turned out to be an infected insect/spider bite, but I couldn't locate a bite) and they pretty much wanted me to go in within the hour. Not that it is anything serious, and they likely know you were already seen, but they freaked me out when I casually called for an appointment.

I am not sure what it could be with muscle pain and something that lasts for that long?

[wildrice]

Feb 19, 2020 14:51:10 GMT -5 tarzanswife said:

Have you started wearing any new shoes, standing for longer periods of time, etc? I get calf pain if I stand too long in flat shoes. Have you been stretching your calf at all? Have you tried foam rolling it?

Nope, I haven't changed anything. I guess I did wear new shoes when I was in Italy and did a ton of walking/standing, but it didn't start hurting until almost a week after we stopped doing all that. I would guess that the pain would have started while we were there if that was the issue, but IDK?

I haven't done much stretching because it really doesn't feel like a sore muscle. I could try that though.

[wildrice]

Feb 19, 2020 15:00:54 GMT -5 mountaingirl said:

It could be your back. Do you have any known disk or other Back issues?

Not really? I did have some lower back pain last year from a Zumba related injury (lol) but it was on the other side of my back and was causing a different type of pain in my other leg (that one did feel like a strained muscle and PT helped that). This leg feels different, though I guess that doesn't necessarily mean anything!

The more people are suggesting back, though, I do wonder if that's accurate. Maybe a chiropractor would be worth checking into. 

[wildrice]

Feb 19, 2020 15:19:20 GMT -5 marie said:

I am surprised that they are letting you wait a week? Not to alarm you, but I called once about leg swelling (turned out to be an infected insect/spider bite, but I couldn't locate a bite) and they pretty much wanted me to go in within the hour. Not that it is anything serious, and they likely know you were already seen, but they freaked me out when I casually called for an appointment.

I am not sure what it could be with muscle pain and something that lasts for that long?

I don't know. I talked to the front desk person so I kind of doubt the doctor even knows about it. They did say to call if it gets any worse, at least. I'm thinking about switching doctors, at least in part because her whole staff seems uninterested and disengaged whenever I've interacted with them. So I don't know if their response means there is nothing to worry about, or if they just don't worry in general.

I do assume that since it's not necessarily getting worse, it's probably not urgent. Crossing my fingers, at least!

[katebeckett]

Do you have varicose veins or a history of that in your family? I will get an achiness in my veins when they’re bugging me. If I forget to wear compression stockings when sitting for an hour plus, they’ll bug me for a few days or more afterwards. You could try wearing compression stockings and see if that helps at all - particularly when sitting or standing for any extended amount of time.

[wildrice]

Feb 19, 2020 15:42:06 GMT -5 katebeckett said:

Do you have varicose veins or a history of that in your family? I will get an achiness in my veins when they’re bugging me. If I forget to wear compression stockings when sitting for an hour plus, they’ll bug me for a few days or more afterwards. You could try wearing compression stockings and see if that helps at all - particularly when sitting or standing for any extended amount of time.

I don't, but I do have a decent amount of spider veins. Do you feel like the vein pain is localized to the spots where you can actually see the veins? 

[katebeckett]

Unfortunately, the vein has varicosed all the way up my leg, so the ache and vein do overlap. I can feel the achiness all up my leg - it's usually worse in the calf area, but when it's bugging me the whole length of my leg will be sore. When I was younger, I did have times where I had a very "heavy" feeling in my calves and you couldn't really see veins yet, so I don't think you necessarily have to see the vein for it to bug you.

[wanderingback]

If you feel a lump behind your knee it could be a popliteal cyst. They’re not dangerous. Sometimes they burst and sometimes they can be symptomatic like you’re describing. Off the top of my head other causes could include superficial phlebitis, varicose vein, venous insufficiency (less likely), or lumbar back problem. Doesn’t sound like a lumbar back problem if your leg is swelling. Glad you have a doctor’s appointment and hopefully they can give you piece of mind.

As I’ve gotten older 1 leg has started to swelling more than the other. Sometimes it aches. I wear compression socks or tights more these days.

[lilac05]

I had a similar sounding ache/pain in my calf about 10 years ago. I never did figure out what caused it, but it went away for good eventually.

A friend of mine wasn’t so lucky. Hers ended up being a cancerous tumor that required radiation and removal. (She’s doing well now.)

So...it could be nothing, or it could be something worrisome (or anything in between). I’m glad you’re going to the doctor. Don’t hesitate to get a second opinion.

[wildrice]

Feb 19, 2020 16:17:06 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

If you feel a lump behind your knee it could be a popliteal cyst. They’re not dangerous. Sometimes they burst and sometimes they can be symptomatic like you’re describing. Off the top of my head other causes could include superficial phlebitis, varicose vein, venous insufficiency (less likely), or lumbar back problem. Doesn’t sound like a lumbar back problem if your leg is swelling. Glad you have a doctor’s appointment and hopefully they can give you piece of mind.

As I’ve gotten older 1 leg has started to swelling more than the other. Sometimes it aches. I wear compression socks or tights more these days.

Thank you! If the doctor doesn't find anything wrong, maybe I'll try compression tights and see if that makes a difference.

[Jalapeñomel]

I had compartment syndrome in both my legs, but it hurts on the outer side of the shin. Lots of swelling, rock hard, and radiates through the ankles.