Don't ignore leg cramps

Reading about Pittsburghracers' passing, and some people saying he'd had leg cramps, I'd like to share what I've gone through and try to get some awareness on the issue.

Three weeks ago, I had a five hour train ride, lots of walking, and a five hour train ride. The next day, I had a "pulled muscle" in my left calf. That's exactly what it felt like. Mine, though, moved. Over a couple days, it slowly moved down my calf and in towards the center of my calf. I went to the podiatrist (due to other issues) and she blew it off since no swelling or redness.

Before I knew anything, I had several days off shortness of breath.

Two weekends ago I drove to Denver from KC, then back a few days ago, then a couple days later, I drove to Michigan. Funny, I pulled that calf again.

It hurt like a B!TCH and after laying in bed crying for three hours, I went to the ER. It's a blood clot. I'm now on blood thinners, and we'll be watching.

Here's the kicker: checking to see if it's a clot is ridiculous easy: you relax in bed and they check along your leg with ultrasound. It's a ten minute deal. It's not expensive.

I'll tell you, clots can generally feel like cramps. If you have cramps in your leg that you can't explain, won't quit after a few minutes, hurt REALLY bad, or move, get to an ER and get checked. Pulmonary embolisms can feel/react a lot like heart attacks, the warning sign is shortness of breath.

I didn't know Pittsburghracer like the rest of you, but I enjoyed his input through the years and I am going to use his passing is an opportunity to pass on one last bit of wisdom. Please, get yourselves checked if ANYTHING seems out of place.