anyone else

[angieD]

Hello everyone,
I hope you're all okay.
I had stiff painful muscles in my leg early last week, it felt like I'd had cramp but i hadn't ,it started out of nowhere in the afternoon.
Well I limped about and thought nothing of it but realised a couple of days later that just above the back of my knee was very tender to touch.I got a mirror and looked There was a large circular almost black bruise and there was a lump but not in the bruise.
I've been having pain from my foot to my groin off & on since.
On saturday I had to have my flu jab so I asked the doctor, he said it was phlebitis and told me to take painkillers & wear support stockings.
Has anyone had phlebitis? Does it hurt just the vein or the whole leg?
Is it a clot?
I hpoe omeone can help.
Love
Angie

[peonyprincess]

OUCH!!

Phlebitis can be very painful, but if the pain was already there prior to your receiving a flu shot then I would be a little more concerned. From my experience, people would develop phlebitis when they had IV therapy, etc. Where did you get your flu shot? Anytime I have given it, it has gone in the upper arm. You might try a warm compress to the affected area and see if that helps. You might have a tense muscle for whatever reason, however, if you are prone to blood clots, then it might be worth checking your PT/INR (bleeding time) to see what is going on. You didn't say if the doc with the flu shot was the same as your primary or lupie doc, if it isn't the same, then it might be important to make them aware of the problem. Also, if the pain is still there, it wouldn't hurt to to tell the good doc to see if he would want to do anything further.


Nancy

[merryooch]

omg, i woke up last saturday with this horrible pain behind my right knee, i went to the dr and he did an mri. it showed an erupted cyst. i also strained my calf muscle. i also had phlebitis a few months ago. mine was drug induced from an iv i had during sinus surgery. it lasted about 3 months. my dr did not seem concerned about it. i was told to use warm compresses. good luck

[cath]

Hi Angie,

Phlebitis is an inflamation in a superficial (just under the skin) vein. Sometimes it is just inflamation (often with a slight infecion introfuced by an IV canulae), and sometimes it is inflamation around a clot.

You have APS don't you... What treatment are you on for it?

Having APS is very likely the cause of this phlebitis for you, and it may very well be a clot. Clots in the superficial veins don't usually travel into the bigger veins or cause serious complications like CVA/PE/MI, and usually go away eventually on their own (it may take up to 6 weeks). Often an NSAID is prescribed to help with the pain, as they can be really sore, not just at the spot, but making the whoe leg ache.

In your situation, because you have APS, I think it is sensible to get your clotting checked. This might be a warning sign that you are at risk of a more serious clot. Are you still being seen at St Thomas'? Can you phone or email them for advice?

If you develop shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness or cognitive problems, weakness in limbs or face etc, call an ambulance and go to A&E. Major complications of phlebitis are not usual, but can happen. I'm slightly concerned that whilst this spot/clot probably won't hurt you, a new clot somewhere else could.

Hope you can gt some good professional advice soon....

Take care, and let us know how you are doing

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