Please explain the presentation of DVT.

Question

Hi doctor,

I am an 18 year old healthy female. All day today, I have had sharp pain in one tiny spot on my left hand. There is a tiny red mark that looks like a scratch, but it is not. It is not warm, but the pain is also spreading to my arm. I have also had the same type of pain in both my legs and my foot for a couple weeks now, but no veins or redness are there. I have anxiety which makes me always think the worst. I am scared that I have DVT and that any minute now I am going to drop dead. Please give some suggestions as to what this might be. Could it be something with muscles or nerves? Should I go to a hospital? Any information would help. Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. DVT - deep vein thrombosis classically presents as sharp, unilateral limb pain with swelling, redness and extreme pain especially if someone tries to squeeze it. What you are explaining here is neuropathic pain. Your BMI is not low, but is on the lower side of the range (19-24). I would be interested in checking for vitamin B12 deficiency, hyperthyroidism, thiamine level and CBC (complete blood count). If the above are negative, then nerve conduction study or electromyography (EMG) of the affected hand. Treatment would depend upon the blood work results. It does not appear to be a DVT from the information provided.