BF's leg

Please help. I need advice and prayers for my BF. His ankle swelled up for no apparent reason. After 3 days his leg swelled up as well. He had a cramp in his calf at first. Now his upper leg hurts. He went to the Dr and had tests for a blood clot, which, Thank GOD, came out negative. He has arthritis and high blood pressure that have been controlled pretty well with medication. The doctor said that if it were liver, kidney, or heart problems that both legs would have swollen.

Does anyone know what this could be? We are not getting any more help from the doctor. He said see ya in 6 months.

Insect bite???

Sorry to hear about your BF. But what is wrong with your doctor!!!!! I would not let this rest - find another doctor who will to help resolve the problem. This should not be written off just like that!!!!!!

Originally Posted by GailC

Insect bite???

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Thats what my guess was gonna be too!

Vibes for your BF--praying for a quick recovery and for you to get answers!!

Get a second opinion! A good dr. would not blow this off without trying antibiotics (in case of infection) an x-ray or something! Could be cellulosis, I saw a lot of that working in the hospital (but without seeing couldn't tell you)... but really, I think your doctor was really wrong in not investigating further. Sudden unexplained swelling isn't somthing to ignore!

oops I think I made a typo ... it's been 3 years since I worked there and I think I meant cellulitis (one of those lol) I was a CNA not a Dr...

Originally Posted by babyharley

Vibes for your BF--praying for a quick recovery and for you to get answers!!

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Sending (((((( Good Vibes ))))))

I would definitely see another doctor. My father had problem with his wrist/arm swelling for no apparent reason. He was on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. He eventually had to be hospitalized to get both intravenously. He did recover and we still dont' know why it happened, but please see another doctor.

I was wondering if it could be an insect bite also....
I think you should definately get a second opinion. I don't understand how a doctor can wave it off as nothing and tell you to come back in 6 months and not try to figure out what the problem is. If the swelling had gone down and everything was back to normal I could maybe understand it. But if he is still swollen it makes no sense at all.

Sending Vibes {{{}}}

Thank you all very much for your prayers, good thoughts, and advice.

I dragged him to this doctor, so there is pretty much no chance of me getting him to start over with another doctor. He had just changed doctors because his new health insurance kicked in. He has double premium payments for the first month. Between time lost at work for dr appts. and the venus doppler test (leg ultrasound), co-pays, and the premiums, he is more concerned about money than his leg. I, on the other hand would go into deep debt just to make sure he's ok, but I can't force him.

Insect bites are possible. He's a landsacaper. (He had previously almost lost the other leg because he got bit by a brown recluse spider while hiking alone on the Applacian trail. He let it go for days before seeking medical attention.) Neither of us noticed anything unusual on his skin this time though.

Another thought might be chemicals... When you mentioned he was a landscaper it came to mind. Could he have come into contact with some sort of chemical that caused a reaction

Also, could be gout. Can appear pretty randomly. I understand about the reluctant bf - my husband refuses to go to the doctor.

If you aren't able to get him in the dr's office, I would suggest calling around and asking as many doctors as you can regarding this. Or, you could make an appt. for your bf and then just take him, don't tell him first.

Eventually, he may just get sick enough to go.

I don't know much...Gout?

Gout is a form of arthritis that affects the foot, usually beginning with the big toe.
When his ankle first swelled up I thought of Gout, but it did not hurt at that point and from what I've read Gout is very painful. Just in case though, we are gradually moving back toward being vegetarians (or close to it) to avoid uric acid, found in meat products which can cause gout.

Originally Posted by Rockcat

Gout is a form of arthritis that affects the foot, usually beginning with the big toe.
When his ankle first swelled up I thought of Gout, but it did not hurt at that point and from what I've read Gout is very painful. Just in case though, we are gradually moving back toward being vegetarians (or close to it) to avoid uric acid, found in meat products which can cause gout.

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You're right about the painful aspect of gout. I didn't realize that it didn't hurt him. Working in a dialysis center, I see a lot of wierd cases of gout and rheumatoid arthritis. That's why I thought of it.

Beyond that, I don't have much clue as to what it could be. But I am really hoping that the swelling goes down soon! Maybe some gentle massage could get the circulation going??

Board magic...........more coming to you!

I am not sure that massaging it would be such a good idea with undiagnosed swelling. I am a massage therapist, and I would not touch him without knowing, but then again, I have not actually seen him. That is something you could call your doctor and ask him if it would be ok.
If he says it would be ok, use gentle strokes with your full hand and fingers in the direction of the heart. Go from the ankle to the knee with the same light pressure. There is a good chance that it will help with the swelling as long as it is ok with his doctor.

Squirtle, chemicals are a possibility, but the company he works for tries to make things as safe as possible.
Blueberrybeth, We believe his arthritis to be rheumatoid, although his doctor didn't say so. Do you think this could be part of that? It didn't hurt at first, which made us believe that it was something different. Thanks for the massage suggestion.
Krazy kat2, I didn't even know that massage could hurt him. I'm glad you said that. Calling the doctor sounds like a good idea (even though he apparently thinks its a non-issue). If he doctor approves, I'll give it a shot.

As of last night one ankle is 3/4 an inch larger than the other. His calves differ by 1 1/2 inches. The pain is getting to be a little less.

Thanks again everyone for your prayers, well-wishes, and advice.

Sending my many prayers and get well wishes to your BF!

Originally Posted by Miss Mew

Sending my many prayers and get well wishes to your BF!

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Thank you. I DO believe in the power of prayer.

Your kitty is so beautiful!