Hi!
Well, since you flew long distances, yes, DVT can occur, but usually there is a predisposing condition in individuals who suffer clots in deep veins during flights or they are older individuals. Usually these individuals suffer from diabetes, high cholesterol or lipids or high blood pressure or heart disease or thyroid disorders or have varicose veins or have recently undergone a surgery. Being overweight is another cause for DVT and yes, this could cause problem in your case when you flew long hours. DVT is best diagnosed by duplex ultrasound (color dopplar) or by angiogram. And this should be arranged as soon as possible.
Pain can also be felt post unaccustomed exercise due to muscle strain. Being overweight also puts lot of pressure on the limbs and if the footwear is not comfortable, you may end up feeling pain. A ripping pain in calf muscles can also be due to intermittent claudication. The diseased and thrombosed arteries go in spasm while walking or exercising, due to increased blood demand, there is reduced oxygen in muscles, and hence pain.
Pain in the calf area can also be due to pinched spinal nerves in the lumbo-sacral area or a pinched nerve at the knee joint. A nerve conduction study should be done. A MRI of the lumbar spine should also be able to throw some light. Calf muscle pain can also occur due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Generalized weakness, diabetic neuropathy, any peripheral neuropathy and severe anemia can all cause lower leg pains.
You need to discuss this with your doctor. A confirmed diagnosis is not possible on net.
I sincerely hope you will find this information useful in your journey towards better health.
Hope you get well soon! Good Luck and take care!
Thank you for your time,
Is my life in imminant danger if it is DVT?
The pain is in the back of my calf about half way down my leg .
It's weird because when I press in where it hurts. Then lift or lower my foot I can feel a muscle contraction so maybe it is muscular in nature?
Just strange it's been there for months
Deep vein thrombosis does not cause any danger unless a portion of the clot lets loose and forms an embolus that may block an important artery in heart, lung, brain etc. So, since you have it for three months, and if it is DVT, then though there is no imminent danger, yet, this needs to be evaluated and treated as soon as possible.
Hi Doctor,
I went to two doctors and neither believes it is DVT. The first Doctor measured my calves nothing they are both the same size. He also checked to see if my leg was hot. He said it wasn't. He said there would be swelling and the surface would be hot if it was dvt.
The next Doctor said it wasn't dvt and that it was probably a strained muscle. He didn't actually examine the leg but listened to my symptoms.
Would you feel satisfied by these outcomes to believe it isn't dvt?