Suggest Treatment For Pain In Calf Muscle

Posted on Mon, 12 Jan 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 12 Jan 2015 Answered on

Wed, 28 Jan 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have slight pain in my right calf muscle in one small area that I feel when I walk. No redness no swelling. I have been in bed the past week and sleeping a lot from being sick. I felt the calve pain last night and today. Worried if it is a blood clot and how would I know? I took Aleve earlier and no relief.

Answered by Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You can know by Doppler

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,

Welcome to HCM.
As you were on bed for quite some time, your worries about the blood clot are reasonable. Calf clot (deep vein thrombosis) starts initially as mild pain in the calf and may progress rapidly if not attended.
All you need is to keep your calf exercising and see if the pain resolves. If you see any increasing pain or new development of redness or warmth over the region, after 1-2 days, you will need to rule out the thrombus. For that, you need to undergo VENOUS DOPPLER of the leg. Proper treatment at an early stage will prevent complications like embolism.

Hope I am clear.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (10 minutes later)

Hi! what type of calf exercising? Not sure if I should go to ER or wait until I see primary Dr. Monday afternoon. Is there anything else I can do from home incase it is a clot?

Answered by Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can wait

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Just exercise your ankle joint down and up with some rotatory movements for few minutes frequently. You can also take a little stroll now and then. That is all you need

Till you visit your doctor, you may use cold compression over the region. I feel no urgency in your case; can wait till you meet your physician.
All the best

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju