Blood clots - arms or legs
Blood clots in the legs or arms can occur, and these are very serious as they have the potential to cause serious harm to a patient.
Symptoms of blood clots in the leg can include:
- Swelling in one leg (usually the calf) compared to the other
- Leg may be red or painful
- Pain in the back of the calves
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- Shortness of breath
A patient may have previously experienced long-haul travel or recent immobility.
Patients with a combination of these symptoms should be sent to A&E for further assessment.
Injuries
Most pain in the muscles will be due to overuse or injury. This is sometimes called a ‘sprain’ or ‘strain’.
Information can be found here - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sprains-and-strains/
Most can be treated without seeing a GP. Pain relief can be obtained from a local pharmacy and those injuries that persist should see a physiotherapist.
For the first 2 to 3 days after a sprain or strain, follow the 5 steps known as PRICE therapy to help bring down swelling and support the injury:
- Protection – protect the injury, for example by using a support, or shoes that support your foot or ankle.
- Rest – stop any exercise or activities and try not to put any weight on the injury.
- Ice – apply an ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a tea towel) to the injury for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours.
- Compression – wrap a bandage around the injury to support it during the day.
- Elevate – keep it raised on a pillow as much as possible.
To help prevent swelling, try to avoid heat (such as hot baths and heat packs), alcohol and massages for the first couple of days.