This article on Unexplained Calf Pain made me smile.
We’ve all read that warning and wondered what it was all about and it’s especially relevant as, over the last few weeks, I keep waking up with pain in my calf.
Now, thinking back to my teenage years, the same thing used to happen and could be cured by jamming my foot against the adjacent wall and pressing down hard, whilst gritting my teeth, until the spasm passed.
I’m pretty sure that, just as it was then, this is cramp due to me trying to stretch out my hamstrings at yoga to in the hope of achieving a vaguely acceptable Downward Facing Dog. Currently, I have to bend my knees dramatically in order to get my back to stretch out because those muscles and tendons are just so damn tight from all the walking I do.
It would be great to just stick my Hitachi or the new cordless Passion Pointer on there but I’ve read that warning so many times that I just don’t dare.
The unexplained calf pain to which they refer is a symptom of a DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis. This is a blood clot in one of the deep veins that run inside the calf, the thigh or, occasionally, the arm. These veins carry blood from the feet back up to the heart. Occasionally, a clot forms on the side wall, due to damage to the vein wall or just because the blood has a higher than usual tendency towards clotting. Most are small enough that your body can gradually break them down without any long-term effects but larger clots can partially or completely block the vein, interfering with the blood flow and causing swelling, redness, heat or pain in the area. However, in some cases, DVT causes no symptoms at all so it is very tricky to diagnose.
Using a vibrator on any unexplained pain in the calf could loosen part of the clot, setting it free to travel within the vein causing an embolism in the lungs, heart, or brain and precipating a stroke or, even, instantaneous death.
DVT normally (but not always) affects older people who are overweight, live a sedentary lifestyle or take a medication with a high dosage of oestrogen. None of which really apply to me – but I did use the contraceptive pill for about a decade when I was in my late teens/early twenties and my lifestyle is certainly a little less hectic these days now that I do yoga and spend so much time bashing away on this keyboard.
Checking out the symptoms, the pain is normally stabbing and mine feels more like a drawing/shortening pain, which is definitely eased when I stretch out my foot and elongate the offending tendons so this tends to confirm my hamstring theory. Currently, there is no swelling or surface redness and it has a tendency to affect either leg (although the left one is definitely worse today) so I’m pretty sure it’s not a DVT but I shall monitor the situation carefully
Please consult your healthcare provider!
Yessir!
I am glad I read this post. I would have not known not to use my vibrator on my calf when in pain. LOL.
LOL, strangely it’s not my first thought either… although I do use my Hitachi on my neck and shoulders :)
find a small dose of kdur helps me a lot.seems water pills take a lot of the potassium out of the body
Now a potassium deficiency sounds much more likely but I do take a good multivitamin most days. I will have to see if the cramps link in with the days when I forget to take it! Thanks Gerald x
I concur with the recommendation to contact your medical provider. they can do a test plate for vitamin/mineral deficiencies as well (i need to have one done myself).
And until it is determined that it is definitely NOT dvt, be sure to notify your massage therapist that it is a potential risk if you go for a massage. if they do any deep stripping of the area they can break the clot loose and potentially cause a fatal situation.
when i ingest too much caffeine i get leg cramping, with horrific charlie-horses when i do the first-thing-in-the-morning stretch. especially when i’m pregnant or hormonal.
Hey Tepid! Thanks for the heads up on the massage factor, I’d not thought of that either!