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I've Had Calf Swelling And Minor Pain For About 3

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Posted on Mon, 20 May 2019
Question: I've had calf swelling and minor pain for about 3 weeks. The urgent care did an ultrasound and ruled out a blood clot. Any ideas of what else it could be?
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (58 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
different possible causes

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

The fact that the diagnosis of clot was ruled out is good, this is the most worrisome cause for this symptom.

Swelling is part of the body's inflammatory response. It can occur as a result of trauma, infection, allergy, side effect of medication.

If there is increasing swelling, increased warmth or tenderness then infection would need to be ruled out by examination and a complete blood count (to look at the white cell count)

Trauma such as excess or unusual activity or strain or direct force to the calf can also cause swelling and pain and the use of anti inflammatory pain killers would help with this eg naproxen, ibuprofen, cataflam

In the case of an allergy , it would have to be to an agent that came into physical contact with this area since no other places are affected and it would normally be associated with itching and a rash

Swelling of both legs would also occur in kidney or liver or heart disease- these would however affect both legs not only one.

In the absence of any signs/symptoms of infection or allergy then it is possible that there may have been minor trauma to the area that may respond to the medication mentioned

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16845 Questions

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I've Had Calf Swelling And Minor Pain For About 3

Brief Answer: different possible causes Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic The fact that the diagnosis of clot was ruled out is good, this is the most worrisome cause for this symptom. Swelling is part of the body's inflammatory response. It can occur as a result of trauma, infection, allergy, side effect of medication. If there is increasing swelling, increased warmth or tenderness then infection would need to be ruled out by examination and a complete blood count (to look at the white cell count) Trauma such as excess or unusual activity or strain or direct force to the calf can also cause swelling and pain and the use of anti inflammatory pain killers would help with this eg naproxen, ibuprofen, cataflam In the case of an allergy , it would have to be to an agent that came into physical contact with this area since no other places are affected and it would normally be associated with itching and a rash Swelling of both legs would also occur in kidney or liver or heart disease- these would however affect both legs not only one. In the absence of any signs/symptoms of infection or allergy then it is possible that there may have been minor trauma to the area that may respond to the medication mentioned I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions