Thrombosis
Thrombosis as a trigger for pulling pain in the calf must be considered a serious cause, as there is a risk of pulmonary embolism due to the detachment of a thrombus. A distinction can be made between so-called phlebothrombosis (deep vein thrombosis, also known as DVT) and thrombophlebitis (more superficial thrombosis). Together with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (pAVK), thrombosis is one of the most important diseases from the group of vascular diseases.
In the presence of a thrombosis, venous blood vessels are blocked by the formation of a blood clot (thrombus). The symptoms of thrombosis vary slightly depending on the location of the obstructed vessel. In general, however, in the case of a pronounced thrombosis, a feeling of tension and warmth in the calf is characteristic in addition to the pulling in the calf. The pain caused by a thrombosis need not be limited to the calf, but can also radiate into the hollow of the knee or thigh. Due to the risk of developing a pulmonary embolism, the presence of a thrombosis should always be ruled out if there is persistent traction in the calf with the accompanying symptoms mentioned.
Pulling in the calf during pregnancy
Pregnancy is an enormous burden on the female hormone balance. The hormonal changes make the woman more susceptible to certain diseases. Pregnancy-associated leg vein thrombosis plays an important role here.
Especially in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy the risk of this is increased. Therefore, especially during pregnancy, one should be particularly alert if sudden symptoms such as a feeling of tension and warmth accompanied by a pulling sensation occur in the calf. Another aspect of pregnancy is the increased water retention at different parts of the body.
If the fluid accumulates in the intervertebral discs, their stability is reduced and the risk of a herniated disc increases during pregnancy. A herniated disc in the area of the lumbar spine would then cause a pulling in the calf as a radiation of the pain in addition to the back pain. The circumstance of a pregnancy thus increases the probability that a pulling in the calf has less harmless causes.
