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Morning update: Still painful but I'm not sure if it's DVT. Again, it's not swollen, red, or debilitating to walk on, but the calf almost feels bruised and while it's warm, it's not any warmer than my other leg. I'm thinking it might just be a muscle strain, but the main caveat is my other leg feels fine, just my left calf is hurting.

Backstory: Today I noticed some soreness in my left calf, not the right. At first I wrote it off as a muscle strain as I had done some heavy work in my carport a couple of days prior, but a couple of things worry me: The location of the pain is in a part of my calf and I could see a blue vein that's not as noticeable on my right. It doesn't appear swollen or red nor is it unbearably painful to walk with, but the anxious part of my mind thinks I got a clot about to work its way to my heart and kill me. FWIW I have high blood pressure so IDK if that plays a part or not. Anyone with experience want to talk me down from spiraling

I figured as much, it happened to my other leg months ago lol I can't wait for this thing to stop hurting so I can forget about it Something I forgot to mention about the red mark is it feels slightly raised, if that makes sense. Could it still be what you said? Some kind of little bruise or what?

I think rationally I'm fine, if it was what I feared, it would've spread much further IIRC. The swelling is going down slowly but it's noticeable at least, though my calve is aching because I've had to walk awkwardly this past week so I don't think "that's" anything to fear

Another question: Would scratching at the area make it worse? Or maybe wearing shoes? Obvious question I know but I want to be sure lymphangitis and therefore sepsis is off the table. The former I heard spreads in 24 hours but could it take longer? I know speed is its key but again, trying to rule out things here. I ask because sometimes it looks "redder" in person than on camera, hence why I'm not sharing a photo (It hasn't chanced since the one above this post.) Any more input would be helpful, my initial sore though is almost pretty much good, at least where I can walk normally.

Okay I was hoping this would be the end of it, the initial sore is still slowly but surely healing and getting less swollen, which is a plus. However I noticed this: UPDATE (I hope this is the last one I send, I'm not cut out to be a foot model) Does it look like it has two bits starting to branch off there? Or am I seeing things? That said I noticed that mark wasn't actually connected to the main sore, at least upon looking at my old pics. It almost looks like a separate spot entirely. I really don't want to spiral back to thinking I got a hot date with Death on the River Styx, especially since I've been doing so good. What do y'all think?

Well I wouldn't say my fears are *totally* gone. Last night I had a headache and felt chills, which spooked me since they said that could be signs of an infection spreading. However I think the headache came from the Tylenol as I'm normal now. The marks I was concerned about are still there, one seems to have decreased but the other one's standing firm lol but no progression, so I still think it being potentially septic is not true. the wound itself is getting progressively less painful but it still hurts to walk on, as expected, but the swelling is going down little by little. So while I see the light at the end of the tunnel, I'm not out yet. I thank y'all for your patience tho

Morning update: No pic this time, not necessary. Feels like some of the swelling has gone down a touch, but some still remains, as expected. Pain isn't as intense, just need to be careful how I walk. The "marks" I was upset about are basically nothing so I scared myself into a panic with the help of nefarious Dr. Google and Nurse Reddit. All told, I think I'm gonna be okay, and I have Ironman and Holls to thank for keeping me in check. I'll give the frozen veggie trick a go later, see if it helps me out some.

The itch has stopped for the most part, it was just a little tinge. I take it you looked at my pics? I got another one I'm uploading now. FWIW I took a Tylenol and while the localized swelling is still there, the pain has more or less gone away. No clue if it was the Tylenol that did it or what but I'll take it. I want the swelling to go, I never had this happen before lol. Updated pic (Anxious area highlighted): https://imgur.com/a/PO43DIC

Little follow up: No change in the "streaks" but that area is a little itchy, but not consistently so. There's still tenderness in the original sore, it almost feels like a bee sting, which makes me wonder if I went beyond skin deep with that puncture lol. It's mostly like that when I try to walk normally, but I can wiggle my toes just fine. Go figure Just little oddities that, while I'm nowhere near panic stricken as I was this morning, show I'm not out of the woods just yet.

Yeah I think that's the ticket TBH. The fact it hasn't shot up my leg or anything. Looking at comparison pictures can be nightmarish along with the hysterics of "OMG RED LINE GO TO THE ER YESTERDAY" Still, I'm going to keep an eye on it, anything to help it heal faster would be super welcome.

There's also the fact they haven't really grown since I first noticed them. I just see everyone making a big deal over those lines screaming hospital or urgent care you know I'll keep you updated if something worse happens or better

What about the red marks? I believe it's called lymphangitis if it's what I think it is? I suppose by not mentioning it in your replies you can't see anything unusual. The toothpick was used, I have a habit of using them, and my messing about likely didn't help matters. The pain is weird though, sometimes it feels like it's better but other times it's painful. Thank you for the replies so far, it's helping me big time

I have an update: First, updated picture: UPDATED PIC Second I told my mom about it and she said hold off on visiting urgent care yet and she dressed the wound and noted there was inflammation in the area but had to look hard for any red marks I was afraid of. I did, after onset of the toothpick and getting it out, dig around the area for a toothpick splinter, I forgot to mention that in my post as I was in a panic. I don't feel any fever, chills (Beyond the seasonal weather) or any other symptoms beyond pain in the area. It's that darn mark that has me scared to the point of writing my will of drowning myself in debt. I blame endless googling for my somewhat justified fears. I just know sepsis comes hard and fast and red marks from the wound is the first classic sign EDIT: Let's say my wound was infected, what's the reasonable risk of getting septic

Anyone? If this gets worse I'm seeing a doctor

Not sure if this helps me but the area can be blanched and septic marks can't do that. Am I good? I don't feel sick but I'm cautious

https://imgur.com/a/ntz5lpT Sorry I'm having trouble attaching photos but here's a picture of the trouble area. It looks like there's no streaking but on the same token, I'm not sure where those red marks came from. surely if this was something to worry about there would be something more defined right?

Hey everyone, sorry to be back here again, but I'm wide awake in a panic. This past Saturday I had accidentally jabbed my foot with a toothpick, of which I promptly pulled out. Since that evening I've been in pain when I put pressure on the area but I've been doing my best to keep it clean and all that jazz and today it's become marginally less painful. That is until I noticed some subtle redness moving away from the wound site and another spot that looks as though it's on the side of my foot going up. Now in some pictures and light it doesn't look connected and my rational side wants to agree with that, but I can't shake this feeling it's infected and I'm going to die because of a stupid toothpick. Someone help talk me down please, I don't feel sick (Had gotten over a cold a month ago) and I'd rather not have to go broke at the doctors for nothing.

Hey guys, it's me again. So an hour and a half ago I noticed the taste of blood in my mouth and spit it up. I was freaked out as I had just come home from my Wednesday night church group and ate a couple of ice cream sandwiches and a Manwich for dinner upon coming home. It's weird because while it doesn't seem like it's a continuous flow, the sudden onset and persistence in little bits as I spit up is scaring me into thinking I'm one foot in the grave. I also have some slight chills and malaise upon seeing the blood, but I don't know it that's a nervous response or part of the phantom disease? If it helps I did have nacho chips for lunch so could that have scratched up my throat/esophagus to cause a tear? Or should I have a priest go over my last rites because I have some incurable cancer?

Could it happen on one side tho

I peed again and it's clear, but the pain's still there intermittently. I'm thinking it's a kidney stone but my mind wants to think elsewhere

It's funny, the moment you think you got your HA under control, something comes out of the woodwork to scare you into making funeral arrangements. So this morning I woke up with a random, sporadic pain in my lower left abdomen. I thought the worst until I remember I had my appendix removed years ago, but it narrows it down to a muscular issue, maybe a UTI or kidney stones or some digestive ailment. Now on top of this I have cloudy urine as evidenced by my latest trip to the bathroom so I'd think it's a UTI based thing, since admittedly I don't drink enough water. I've been doing some heavy lifting the past couple of months so I fear it may even be a hernia, but IDK. I hate having to come back, but I need to put my mind at ease so I don't freak

I don't think I have a splinter now or if I did, it's gone. I just need to let it heal

Update: The site looks better but still sore. I feel a bit hot but we have temps in the 90s today so it could be that. Still going to apply neosporin as it never failed me yet. I don't see any sign of a splinter either but my main concern is if I did more harm than good looking for one

Already addressed this, avoiding doctors until this pandemic's under control. It doesn't feel infected, no fever or anything other than redness