Doctors were astonished that a man was still alive after he visited the hospital, thinking he had only pulled a muscle.
Aches and pains are common and usually resolve on their own, but this man’s leg pain turned out to be much more serious than he initially thought.
Sharing his story on Reddit, user EchoRespite responded to a post asking, “What is the oddest thing you thought was ok/normal and ended up being a medical problem??”
He explained that he believed he had strained a muscle while playing with his dogs. However, as the pain worsened over the next week, he sought medical help.
In his post, he wrote: “I thought I pulled a muscle playing with my dogs one day. One week later, I finally go to the hospital because the pain is getting worse. Turns out I suffer from a genetic blood clotting condition and had a two-foot-long clot in my leg and multiple pulmonary embolisms in my lungs. [The] doctor was genuinely surprised I was alive.”
The condition, known as Factor V Leiden thrombophilia, is a genetic disorder that increases the likelihood of forming blood clots, which can obstruct blood flow in veins. This raises the risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), typically found in the legs but can also affect the brain, eyes, liver, and kidneys, according to Medline Plus.
The shocking revelation prompted numerous social media reactions.
One user commented, “Did they take a pic of the clot when they took it out? I’m surprised you’re alive, too. Multiple PEs is no bueno.”
EchoRespite responded, “If they did, they didn’t show me, haha. I was in ICU for a week, and it took a couple of weeks after that to walk normally.”
Another person shared a similar experience, stating: “I had the worst stomach pain for a few days but thought it was indigestion and gas. It got so bad I was in court, barely able to stand, breaking out in a cold sweat. On the way back to the office, I stopped by urgent care… and a few scans later, they discovered blood clots in my liver and spleen. After a few painful injections and a hospital stay, it was all good.”