I Have Had Leg Pain On/off For A Few Weeks

Posted on Sat, 9 May 2020

Question: I have had leg pain on/off for a few weeks now. I am sedentary and I have been sleeping on a recliner. The pain today was mostly in my inner thigh- I did some light movement and then I went to lie down and it then suddenly traveled to my lower pelvic/abdomen region. That lasted for hours. I then tried to go for a walk and then I got pain in the middle of my back, same side. I am scared this is a blood clot. I feel weird sensation in my leg at times like tingling when seated in the recliner with legs straight out. What is this?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Unlikely a blood clot at this time!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks so much for this question.

I have reviewed this information fully. While sedentary lifestyle constitutes a major risk factor for clots, your symptoms are not consistent with blood clots. Symptoms of blood cots are fairly stable, often start in the calf and associated with constant pain of the affected area and swelling. It is extremely unlikely for a clot to start in the thigh.

Also, even if a clot were ever to travel from the legs, it goes to the lungs and not the back. I lean more towards associating this pain with your lifestyle and sitting posture. I will encourage you to do more activity and pursue walking to help circulate blood around more. Also, avoid sitting on same position for too long.Do well to rise up and stretch often. Also, avoid smoking as this increases risk of blood clots.

I hope this addresses your fear and provides helpful insights and tips to cope through with this. I will encourage you to keep me posted and updated about this especially if your symptoms do change.

NB: Try to get weight well controlled, if that is not the case already. If dropping just a few pounds provides major benefits.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (7 hours later)

My pain that has been for a few weeks started in the lower leg. It was just that I felt the pain worse today in my thigh.

I do not smoke and I am not overweight. I have now developed pain in my inner thigh on opposite side. That is from groin to lateral side of knee. I tried to move around more today without doing anything too extraneous.

The pain in my back went away pretty fast so it may be unrelated. Are you sure it is not a clot?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This is for sure not a clot!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the follow up.

Am so happy hearing the pain eased. Even more happier that your weight is good and you are not smoking cigarettes. This does so much good to your health.

The nature of your pain is certainly not related to a clot. It sounds more musculoskeletal and the waxing and waning nature is more in line with this. Be calm, relaxed and avoid being sedentary moving forward despite the initial pain related to exercise.

I wish you well and always available to help address any concerns you may have.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj