Swollen vein in shin, Deep vein thrombosis? how serious is this?

[zoomistic]

Swollen vein in shin, Deep vein thrombosis? how serious is this?

i seem to have a vein in my shin i can feel it as a lump with my finger and it seems swollen and tender, the rest of the legt leg looks overall normal, there is a visably noticeable lump on the shin where the soft lump is.

i am concerned if this could be a problem, i have an appointment on tuesday to go to the doctor, but today is friday and i am worried this could get worse,

my leg on that side feels weak but isnt red or irritated looking other than the lump where the swollen veinseems to be, i did not injure or bruise or have any irritation noticeable on the skin near this lump.

i feel overall weak and fatigued but i have been feeling like that a while now.

[wishforchange]

Was just scrolling through some old posts I'd responded to as I sometimes like to catch up on any responses.  I'm sorry you are still being so bothered by this bump.  An X-ray would be entirely inappropriate for a soft tissue growth, so don't even ask for this, nothing will come of it.  It is starting to sound more like a cyst, and consequently something that can be best assessed and treated by a dermatologist.   Obviously without seeing it I cannot say what type of cyst, also I am not a doctor, but a dermatologist will be able to identify it quickly, as they know more about their specialism than other doctors.  Ask for a referral.  Unless it is growing very qucikly or changing colour or becoming worse in any way, I think you can safely stop worrying about it for now.  But do get a dermatologist's opinion, and if they can explain it and either offer treatement or tell you the likely prognosis, you can at least feel more understanding of this.  Really, from what you describe and the reactions of your doctors it doesn't sound too serious, just very annoying.  But it is continuing to be a mystery and a concern to you, and I think a definitive diagnosis will change that.  Ask for the referral. Good luck.

[zoomistic]

hey what test could i do to figure out what this bump is? its been 10 days and this bump has not gone away it seems to be hard, and solid like, should i maybe get an xray? would that show anything?

[zoomistic]

ok well i went to the urgent care doctor 80$ deposit down the drain and another medical bill in the mail coming im sure, she basically told me its not a deep vein thrombosis but at the same time its very strange and does not show signs of infection (no red or heat) the bump seems to be more bothersome as time goes by, i notice my leg is just overall weaker on that side and it just bothers me alot, the lady gave me a prescription for an antibiotic and also motrin which she said i probably shouldnt take the antibiotic but just pawned it off on me so she could say she gave me something, the motrin is useless since i have some of that lying around the house already, i am frustrated, also i was wondering can coumodin or a blood thinner be helpful for something like this?  and also this doesnt seem to be healing on its own the veins around that whole leg seem to be a little pumped up more than the rest of them and seems to be getting worse what should i do? wait till i feel like im going to die to get help?

[wishforchange]

The bump you are feeling sounds very much like a varicose vein, which is not the same as a deep vein thrombosis, and not a medical emergency.  It is the result of the valves in the vein malfunctioning and causing blood to pool and swell it up.  Some people are more prone to this and can have many on their lower legs.  It is more common in later life, pregnancy, and with being overweight.  But as there is a genetic component too it can occur at any age and with any section of the population.  Another symptom of varicose veins is a feeling of heaviness and/or weakness in the affected leg.  Raising the legs above the level of the heart allows the blood to drain from them, providing temporary release.  Employing good postural habits such as not crossing your legs can also prevent pressure and pain on these veins.

With Deep Vein Thrombosis, the symptoms are different.  The affected leg will most likely swell, and feel cold to the touch.  There may also be numbness in the area.  These symptoms are very serious and demand immediate intervention, as the clot can quickly travel to the heart, lungs or brain causing possible fatality.  Sudden breathlessness and chest pain are signs the clot has travelled and you need emergency treatment.  But you do not describe any of these symptoms so I hope you are reassured about this.  

If you are feeling generally unwell this may even be unrelated to the vein problem, eg. you may have an infection somewhere.

Do show your doctor your findings, explain you concerns, and should you experience any of the above symptoms, then of course seek emergency help.  From your description though, I do not think you need to worry at this stage.

I hope this has helped you feel better about your symptoms and that your doctor is sympathetic and useful.

[zoomistic]

im worried this might be a blood clot.