Calf pain

Graelwyn75

Few weeks ago, i decided to try a hi intensity circuit video on fitness blender and on doing some of the jumps, i somehow injured something in the back if my calf, sort of the bottom half of it. It was instant pain and it took 4-5 days for me to be able to run on the treadmill again and even the elliptical was painful.

The pain went, and for a few elliptical or running workouts I was okay, but now after doing 5k in 24 minutes yesterday on the treadmill, the pain is back and it is sore walking again.

I cannot even remember the last time i had any injury apart from shin splints years ago from skating, which i just rode out and adding running and circuit stuff is pretty new to me as i cycled mostly before. What am I likely to have done, and can I just leave it to heal on its own?

rainbowbow

Walk it off.



Kidding, if its still bothering you see a doctor or pt.

Graelwyn75

Yeah was hoping to avoid seeing the dr. I hate being incapacitated in any way, and just from following a damn online video. Mind you, it was rather energetic for the living room.

GiddyupTim

I would bet that you have what is known as 'tennis players' calf," so called because it happens to people over 30-35 years, and, back in the day, the only adults who ran fast played tennis.
I guess it is a muscle tear. But I am not really sure they know that for certain.
This injury occurs very characteristically. When it happens, it feels very powerful. It is not uncommon for people to swing around when it happens, because they think someone behind them has kicked them or hit them with something hard. The soreness usually feels as if it is deep inside the calf and usually runs up and down much of the calf.
My sports medicine experts will tell you that you just have to rest it, and wait for 4-6 weeks.
I had it, and could not get it better for many, many weeks. So, i asked an orthopedic surgeon I met about it. This surgeon was a team doctor for the San Francisco Giants.
He told me to go out and jog on it. Not fast and not far. No sprinting. But to jog on it nonetheless, every day, even though it hurt. He predicted it would be better in a week.
I was better in five days. Granted, I had already had the injury for well over a month. But, when I started jogging, I could hardly go up and down stairs -- I clung to the bannister.
I have been able to convince one other person to do this. He thinks it helped too.
Good luck.
Be careful, of course. If my description of the acute injury does not sound like yours, you may have injured your Achilles tendon. That is down right around or above the place where our calf gets skinny to meet the heel. You would need to see a doctor for that.

Graelwyn75

I would bet that you have what is known as 'tennis players' calf," so called because it happens to people over 30-35 years, and, back in the day, the only adults who ran fast played tennis.
I guess it is a muscle tear. But I am not really sure they know that for certain.
This injury occurs very characteristically. When it happens, it feels very powerful. It is not uncommon for people to swing around when it happens, because they think someone behind them has kicked them or hit them with something hard. The soreness usually feels as if it is deep inside the calf and usually runs up and down much of the calf.
My sports medicine experts will tell you that you just have to rest it, and wait for 4-6 weeks.
I had it, and could not get it better for many, many weeks. So, i asked an orthopedic surgeon I met about it. This surgeon was a team doctor for the San Francisco Giants.
He told me to go out and jog on it. Not fast and not far. No sprinting. But to jog on it nonetheless, every day, even though it hurt. He predicted it would be better in a week.
I was better in five days. Granted, I had already had the injury for well over a month. But, when I started jogging, I could hardly go up and down stairs -- I clung to the bannister.
I have been able to convince one other person to do this. He thinks it helped too.
Good luck.
Be careful, of course. If my description of the acute injury does not sound like yours, you may have injured your Achilles tendon. That is down right around or above the place where our calf gets skinny to meet the heel. You would need to see a doctor for that.

Thanks, your description sort of matches what it felt like at the time, though i don't play tennis, lol. I just tend to find it hard to not push myself hard when i exercise. I can try jogging slower, just hard to know when it has healed. I thought it was healed when it stopped hurting, but it came back as soon as I did a harder run.

nexangelus

If you have foam rollers, after running, stretching and what not, use the roller to ease the muscle out. Also try ice, rest and keeping it up for a bit...(Rest Ice Compression Elevation)

p.s. you have most likely just pulled it or because of increased activity, have made the muscle sore...it can happen when you do fartleks, up your distance, try to run a certain distance faster, etc, suddenly (as in you don't ease into it, you just bosh straight into it) And it sounds like it could be the achilles region if it is your lower calf area...if unsure see a physio or someone trained in dealing with sports injuries....

sunlover89

If you have foam rollers, after running, stretching and what not, use the roller to ease the muscle out. Also try ice, rest and keeping it up for a bit...(Rest Ice Compression Elevation)

p.s. you have most likely just pulled it or because of increased activity, have made the muscle sore...it can happen when you do fartleks, up your distance, try to run a certain distance faster, etc, suddenly (as in you don't ease into it, you just bosh straight into it) And it sounds like it could be the achilles region if it is your lower calf area...if unsure see a physio or someone trained in dealing with sports injuries....

^ this. The exact same thing has happened to me, has been bothering me for over a month. I spoke to a trainer yesterday who said to keep my cardio minimal i.e. don't do anything which causes pain, and massage the muscle every few hours, especially before and after exercise. You can use a roller to massage the calf or just your hands. Even after using it yesterday for 5 minutes, it really does help.