I am recovering from a torn calf muscle that turned into a major DVT. It has been 12 weeks since the original tear and I am now recovering. I have started cycling(gently) but still can not run (or walk properly for that matter). I am not sure what to do now in relaton to starting running again. I feel that in a couple of weeks I could start running but I am not sure if this is what I should do? Does anybody have any advise? I stretch my calf every day and do the exercises my Physio recommends. I know what to do re my calf but it is regarding the DVT I am not sure about. How soon can I start normal training, how soon can I start pushing myself and try to regain my fitness? can anybody HELP?
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Take runnerbeen's advice... get it checked! And if you have got a DVT, and can't think why, ask for a Protein 'C' and 'S' deficiency test. That might explain a genetic cause.
Had anyone had similar problems???
HHH
Go see you doc if you're worried, it'll put your mind at rest.
A girl I was at school with died from DVT, aged 30, after a flight to Spain. I hadn't heard much about it until then.
I've just found out that I had a DVT about 13 years ago, age 21. At the time it was misdiagnosed as a torn muscle, I was off games for about 6 months though & on crutches for much of that time. I got the dull throbbing & stiffened/immobilised leg like you g-f, but my calf was also really hot and swollen and from memory there was a "pain centre" half way up my calf.
Since then I've had a permanently (slightly) swollen leg & ankle, generally a bit stiff, sometimes with cramps like you HHH. I did do the FLM this year though!
I finally got round to getting it checked out and an ultrasound has showed quite a lot of vein damage right up my thigh (the veins are pretty much divided in two right down their length by the clot, the return valves aren't working very well hence the ongoing swelling).
I don't think that much can be done to fix the veins (as the DVT is so old, warfarin etc is no use and the clots aren't going anywhere).
So the question is, to any passing medical forumy person - is this right? So long after the event, are there any physio exercises that can help? E.g. is weight training any good, or is it a bad thing post DVT?
Are there any long term post-DVT issues that can be avoided if you exercise properly?
All contributions gratefully received!
jezza
PS EyeSpy21, I would talk to your doc about possible DVT's. Without being alarmist, I was doing a lot of exercise at the point I got mine, and your injury has some similarities with mine.
DVT's are pretty rare so it's unlikely you've got one, but mine did go unspotted (in fact my GP did spot it, told me to go to A&E asap, and at A&E they said it was just a muscle tear, without doing a scan). The only reason that I can think of that I got one is that I broke my tibia several years before, which I guess could have caused some local vein damage. The sorest bit when the DVT happened was close to the original break.
Just in case it is one, time is of the essence in being able to patch up the damage properly. Worth a second chat with the doc for peace of mind.
Oh! Take note of this: I had a DVT in my lower leg at the end of 2003, and after about 3 months suffered no symptoms. 8 weeks ago, I did some leg curls and suffered another 6 weeks of DVT-like symptoms. Why? Because the pressure on the backs of the knees stressed my veins again. Don't do leg curls!
I got DVT after a long haul flight last week. Took three attempts and an Ultrascan before the diagnosis was confirmed. I didn't fit the profile. There was no detectable swelling. It is a small clot in the lower left leg. The initial diagnosis was muscle strain. This I couldn't accept. I could not stretch the calf muscle in question. I could not put any weight on my left leg. However driving was not a problem. It is a small clot localised in the calf muscle 2-3cm below the knee on the inside of the leg. The pain was excriciating at that point but not above or below. This led me to distrust the initial diagnosis of calf strain. That coupled with the fact that I had no idea how I had strained the calf muscle. Medics are woking to a set of criteria that don't include fit people. The lack of swelling and being fit was a barrier to getting the correct diagnosis.
I can walk without difficulty today just tightness in the affected calf muscle. In Ireland lower leg clots are not treated. I am taking aspirin. Anybody any advice/ experience about when to start back running?
Thanks for the advice. I spoke with my Doc yesterday and she suggested giving it a break to allow the clot to dissolve. I'm not good at being patient, looks like I'll have some practice.
Hi, i too have been diagnosed with a dvt which began in my calf but extended to my groin. True to form, i went to a +e and because i run, they told me i had torn or pulled my calf muscle. At that stage i could put no weight on my leg but was not even offered crutches. We then went back the next day and was given crutches. Thankfully when i saw my doctor last thursday to get a sicknote, he took one look and sent me staight up for a scan. Now i am beginning to be able to walk although still find it difficult to extend my leg properly and am still on the cruthes. I had no previous trauma although i have PCOS so was on the full pill. I didn't think that at 37 i would be where i am today. I hope to be back in work in the next fortnight but my job as a community home carer requires alot of walking. Am i over too ambitious? Also feel very scared about the idea of resuming running but miss it terribly. Would love to hear and whinge from fellow suffferers. Take care all
Vicky x