I have been really stupid ...

vacherin

... and I carried on running despite feeling calf muscle tightness/pain. It now really, really hurts to walk. I warmed up beforehand (obviously not properly, although I thought I'd done it properly at the time) and stretched afterwards (ditto), but it hasn't helped. I have also applied some muscle strain cream but it's not done anything apart from make my hands and calf smell completely foul.

Does anyone have any advice in terms of further treatment, rest time before resuming exercise etc. please? There is a lot of conflicting advice online, some of which suggests heat treatment, some suggests ice, some suggests gentle low impact exercise, some suggests total rest etc. and I am confused as to what to do ...

I would really appreciate any suggestions!

Many thanks

V x

scottb81

If you pulled the calf muscle you may have felt the muscle or the Achilles tendon pop when you ran. If so, the muscle is strained. Since you are still walking it is probably not a serious strain. Rest it for a few days and apply heat to encourage blood flow. Do not stretch until the pain is mostly gone or you may strain it again before it heals. If it is a minor strain then it should be better in a few days to a week. If it is still really painful after that then you should probably see a Dr.

If you did not feel it pop then it may just be soreness. In that case just rest it for a couple of days and the pain will be gone.

Jennyisbusy

I second the heating pad and maybe a nice bath. Advil will help if you can't stand it -but don't overdo work it just cause you don't feel the pain as much.

Try to listen to your body. most of the pushing harder that people talk about has to do with mental blocks, not ignoring pain.

Best Wishes:flowerforyou:

ruby_red_rose

Last year, I tore my calf muscle due to strenous exercise without proper stretching. Go see a doctor to make sure you haven't done the same.

Lane1012

Also check your shoes, they may not be the right ones for you. I had the same issue with my calves and it was because I went to a sporting goods store and bought a popular brand instead of going to a running specialty store. Once I fixed the shoe problem my calf issues went away. Amazing what the right tools can do.

BrianSharpe

The general rule is RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) a little ibuprofen can help with inflammation and pain relief.

If that hasn't alleviated your symptoms in a few days you may want to see a sports doctor.

Once you're back to being able to run take it easy for the first little while. Do dynamic stretching before your run and static stretching afterward and incorporate calf raises into your strength program.

Good luck!

MacMadame

Ice is for inflammation. Heat is for stiffness.

Generally the advice is to do ice when you first injure yourself and then later to alternate but I found with my various calf issues that I never had stiffness, just inflammation and I mostly used ice.

I agree with Ruby Red Rose. If you've torn the muscle, resting a few days isn't going to cut it. You'll need PT and/or ART to stabilize the area and deal with any scar tissue that forms. So you need to see a doctor and get diagnosed.

kittyneutron

Listen to your body. If it is really bad tomorrow you may consider seeing a doctor. The most common advice for sprains and strains is "PRICE" which stands for:
-Protection
-Rest
-Ice
-Compression
-Elevation

Check out the Mayo Clinic's web page for more:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sprains-and-strains/DS00343/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sprains-and-strains/DS00343/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

mjc65

I have a similar problem of having a fair amount of pain after running in either my calves or my groin, so much that I am seriously considering moving to cycling for a while as this does not give me the same amount of grief. Everyone that I have spoken to says that it is natural to feel aches after running, but this is a pain where I can't keep my legs still because if I do the pain becomes too intense.

This can't be right can it?

Lane1012

I have a similar problem of having a fair amount of pain after running in either my calves or my groin, so much that I am seriously considering moving to cycling for a while as this does not give me the same amount of grief. Everyone that I have spoken to says that it is natural to feel aches after running, but this is a pain where I can't keep my legs still because if I do the pain becomes too intense.

This can't be right can it?

Soreness is quite different from the pain you're describing, I'd see a physical therapist / sports medicine specialist.

Christine1110

The general rule is RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) a little ibuprofen can help with inflammation and pain relief.

If that hasn't alleviated your symptoms in a few days you may want to see a sports doctor.

Once you're back to being able to run take it easy for the first little while. Do dynamic stretching before your run and static stretching afterward and incorporate calf raises into your strength program.

Good luck!

I agree!!

NYJ8687

Have you tried using a foam roller?

sylvuz323

If you have swelling, you will want to keep it wrapped plus take an anti-inflammatory like Motrin. Plus follow what was told to you above about PRICE. I just pulled a muscle in my calf about 3 weeks ago and that's exactly what my doc said, took a little over a week to heal. I went back to running but I don't push it when I feel pain...take it easy if you need too.

vacherin

Thanks so much for the advice, everyone. It seems to hurt more when I do anything to shorten the muscle (e.g. wearing heels, pointing my toes - so I have stopped doing both!). Walking normally on flat ground seems to be ok today, but going down stairs is a killer and I can't do it unless I sort of turn sideways and sidestep down like a crab.

I must admit ... I think I needed new running shoes but I put it off to save money. I know, I know. They're not falling apart, but they are showing very slight signs of wear and have lost their bouncy newness. So I won't be running again until I get new ones. I will also try the heat treatment and avoid stretching it until it's better - funnily enough I thought stretching was a good thing to do, so I was all set to do that until I read that piece of advice. There is no swelling, and there was no pop as such - just sudden tightness and a lot of pain, and only in one leg (so not the regular soreness you'd expect from strenuous exercise).

Needless to say, I am worried about how the heck I will be able to carry on in my weight loss goal with running off the menu for the time being. Can cycling, cross trainer, walking etc. be as effective for weight loss?

Lane1012

cycling is great exercise as long as it doesn't put added strain on that calf .. swimming is also a great burner if the availability is there.