Can a blood clot feel like a pulled muscle in your back? (2024)

Can a blood clot feel like a pulled muscle in your back?

The pain can feel similar to a pulled muscle or heavy ache. Whether or not the symptoms indicate DVT, they are issues that need the attention of a doctor as soon as possible.

What does a blood clot in your back feel like?

A blood clot can form in the veins or the arteries, interrupting blood flow. It can cause pain, swelling, and red or dark, tender skin. The area around the blood clot may feel tight or sore like you have a muscle cramp or charley horse.

How do you tell if it's a blood clot or pulled muscle?

These symptoms of a blood clot may feel similar to a pulled muscle or a charley horse, but may differ in that the leg (or arm) may be swollen, slightly discolored, and warm. Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms, because you may need treatment right away.

How can you tell the difference between a blood clot and nerve pain?

Although both are in the leg, blood clots and sciatica feel fairly different. “The pain from a blood clot does not radiate and it doesn't extend to your back,” Dr. Mintz explains. “Sciatica does not cause swelling, redness, and warmth.”

Does a blood clot hurt to touch?

You might have redness and swelling and see a red, hard cord just under the surface of your skin that's tender to the touch. Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include swelling, tenderness, and pain in your leg. Superficial thrombophlebitis signs and symptoms include: Warmth, tenderness and pain in the affected area.

How do you check for blood clots in your back?

Duplex ultrasonography is an imaging test that uses sound waves to look at the flow of blood in the veins. It can detect blockages or blood clots in the deep veins. It is the standard imaging test to diagnose DVT.

Can you get a blood clot in your back?

Some spinal strokes (ischaemic) are caused by a blood clot blocking one of the arteries supplying the spinal cord. A blood clot can form in these arteries or form in a blood vessel elsewhere in the body and travel (a clot is called an embolus when it's travelling) in the bloodstream to the spinal cord.

How do you rule out a blood clot?

How do you rule out blood clots at home?

There are a few telltale signs that you may have DVT, which include pain, swelling, tenderness or redness in and around the suspected area. Some other signs include leg cramps, leg pain that becomes more severe when the foot is bent and skin discoloration.

Does blood clot pain go away when lying down?

Does blood clot pain come and go? Unlike the pain from a charley horse that usually goes away after stretching or with rest, the pain from a blood clot does not go away and usually gets worse with time.

Is blood clot pain sharp or dull?

The feeling can range from a dull ache to intense pain. You may notice the pain throbs in your leg, belly, or even your arm. Warm skin. The skin around painful areas or in the arm or leg with the DVT may feel warmer than other skin.

Do blood clots hurt all the time?

But if the pain only lasts for a few seconds and doesn't come back, it's probably not a blood clot. “Blood clot symptoms don't come and go quickly,” says Dr. Tran. “They stay.”

Is blood clot pain constant?

The pain associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can vary from person to person, and may not always be constant. The pain may come and go, or it may persist and worsen over time. However, other symptoms such as swelling, warmth, and redness in the affected area may be present.

Should you rub a blood clot?

If you are currently being treated for DVT, do not massage your legs. Massage could cause the clot to break loose. If you are scheduled for surgery, ask your surgeon what you can do to help prevent blood clots after surgery. Stop smoking.

Where is pulmonary embolism back pain?

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that occurs in the lungs. The most common symptom of a pulmonary embolism is shortness of breath, but it can also cause pain throughout the chest and upper back.

Where do blood clots usually hurt?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) symptoms can include: Leg swelling. Leg pain, cramping or soreness that often starts in the calf. Change in skin color on the leg — such as red or purple, depending on the color of your skin.

Do blood clots hurt in your back?

DVTs can also form in other places in the body such as the arms (symptoms include arm pain) or in the abdomen and pelvis (causing lower back pain).

Does your back hurt with pulmonary embolism?

Half of the people who have a pulmonary embolism do not know it. If there are signs, they may include shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing up or spitting blood. Other symptoms are back pain, sweating, rapid breathing, dizziness, and bluish nails and lips.

What causes blood clots in the back?

Blood clots are also more likely to form after an injury. People with cancer, obesity, and liver or kidney disease are also prone to blood clots. Smoking also increases the risk of forming blood clots. Conditions that are passed down through families (inherited) may make you more likely to form abnormal blood clots.

What are the silent symptoms of a blood clot?

We can't see or feel these veins, meaning a clot could be “silent” with no symptoms, or it could cause dull, heavy pressure, pain, and swelling. Clots in superficial veins, outside of the muscle tissue, can cause a lump or cord tender to the touch.

Can a blood clot cause back or shoulder pain?

Difficult or painful breathing. Chest pain or tightness. Pain that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back or jaw. Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg.

Can a blood clot feel like sciatica?

Blood vessels in the legs may get infected, bulged, ruptured, or blocked, which in turn can cause sciatica-like signs and symptoms, such as leg pain, weakness, and numbness. It is possible, though rare, that these problems are a medical emergency needing immediate treatment to save the affected limb.

What dissolves blood clots fast?

While many blood clots dissolve with the help of blood thinners, some dangerous clots require fast-acting clot-busting medications called thrombolytics. Because thrombolytics can cause severe bleeding, doctors usually give them only to people with large, severe clots that increase risk of pulmonary embolism.

What are 4 signs of a blood clot?

What are the first signs of a blood clot?