Did I have a DVT?

Question

I was woken in the middle of the night by a very sharp stabbing pain in my right leg, just below the knee at the back. I jumped out of bed and after a couple of minutes the sharp pain subsided, leaving me with an ache that lasted 2 or 3 days. Where the pain was, I have a fading red mark. I have had DVT's in the past but not for at least 6 years and though I was on lifetime Warfarin, I took myself off it over a year ago. My previous DVT's progressed to PE's, but I know the pain I suffered the another night was worse than anything I have ever experienced. There is no and was no swelling around the area and I feel no pain now. Should I go and get it checked out at the Doctor? Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all your answers, I was on Warfarin originally because I am thrombophyllic (Leiden 4), I am very bad at taking tablets and like to think of myself as a healthy person. As I said, other than a patch of redness at the site of the pain, there is no visible swelling. I have a very slight ache at the top of my thigh when I walk and a slight cough. I do not have any chest pain or shortness of breath.

Answer 1

Go back to your Dr, asap! I had a DVT just over 26 years ago in my left leg after my baby was born. About eight years ago I had P.E.'s in my right lung and on warfarin for six months. When they took me off it I had P.E.'s again only worse. I was told that I should take warfarin for life now. Some health probs I've have affected my warfarin over the years and regular blood tests sort this out. As much as I would like to come off the tablets, the thought of the pain is worse!

Answer 2

Im sure there was an underlying cause for the coumadin to begin with, besides the dvt's. Something is putting you at risk for the dvt's to begin with. So you should not be taking yourself off coumadin. I would see the doctor right away. Your putting yourself at increased risk of developing subsequent dvt's and throwing a pulmonary embolism. The signs of dvt are: redness, swelling, pain, warmth, over and around the area of pain. You will feel pain when you flex your foot upward. In nursing we call this the homans sign, it is to test for dvt's. Furthermore, i would be especially concerned if you developed chest pain, pain upon inhalation, shortness of breath, sweating, these are signs of pe.

Answer 3

I call something like this a charlie horse. It is really just a spasm of the muscle.

In medical parlance, a charley horse is a painful contusion of the quadriceps muscle of the anterior thigh that commonly results in a muscular hematoma and sometimes several weeks of pain and disability.1,2 It often occurs in sports when an athlete is struck by an opponent's knee, in a manner not unlike the kick of a horse, perhaps the reason for its name. In the UK, such an injury is known as a Dead Leg, corky, or corkie

Answer 4

Sounds like a very bad cramp. Giving your history of DVT & PE it wouldnt hurt to at least let your doctor know what happened and let him decide what to do next. Probably not a good idea to have stopped the coumadin on your own. Be sure you tell the doc. you are not taking it any more. Good luck.

Answer 5

Iwould go to your nearest casuality dept if it is d.v p.It can be life thretning and can be very quick Thats what I did when I got a similar pain in my calf mine turned out to be a pulled muscle but at casuality thay did a blood test and could tell it was not d.t.v. if you go to your doctor he will eather send you to hospital or take a blood test if he does the latter it would take some time to get the result's. All the best of luck

Answer 6

due to your previous history with dvt's-i would make an appt just to get checked out.

i'm sure your dr told you the dangers of getting a pe. if these travel to your heart-you die instantly and if they get into your brain-you risk permanent brain damage or death due to stroke.

in my 7+ years of medical experience-i've seen way too many deaths as a result of a pe.

taking yourself off of your medication was a dangerous and life-threatening move, especially with your history-you might want to strongly consider getting back on your meds...

good luck to you

Answer 7

As you have had this condition before,and the fact that you have taken yourself of medication you Must go to the doctors,As you must know DVT is life threatening

Answer 8

I would go to the doctors as soon as possible.
You may be experiencing a recurrence of your DVT.

Good Luck...

Answer 9

Because prncessan works in trauma icu does that mean she can access my brain and type faster?
I think she said it all

Answer 10

you may have been bitten by something