Lower calf pain mystery - long

[malaholic]

I am having some weird issues with my left calf. Last weekend I did a long ride, and about 60 or 70 miles into the ride, I started noticing a dull pain there. It is in the lower calf in back, pretty much centered laterally, and a couple inches below the biggest "bulge" of the calf muscle. It felt like a just a tight muscle, but was dull and didn't hurt too bad or slow me down. It did not feel at all sore or tender afterwards and I didn't give it a second thought.

After waiting out the rain this week, I biked to work on Friday. It's about 20 miles each way, and I didn't have any problems with the calf.

Today I did another long ride. No problems early in the ride, but I started noticing the calf tightness again at about mile 75 or so. This time though after onset, it quickly got to where it *hurt*. It was no longer a dull pain. Every time my left leg extended down into the bottom of the stroke, or every time I pressed down trying to clip in, it felt like someone was stabbing me in that spot. It hurt even when I was only pedaling with my good leg and just letting the left leg just spin along for the ride.

The thing is, it doesn't hurt to walk. It doesn't feel at all tender or knotted or tight when I press into that spot with my fingers. I can flex my foot all the way & not feel anything. If I lift up high onto my toes I can feel a little twinge in the spot, but nothing like I felt on the bike. I've had a professional bike/cleat fit and I don't pedal with my toes pointed down. So I have no idea what is causing this.

I'm going to try to get in to see my bike PT guy, but I'm signed up for a century with a lot of climbing on Memorial day, and I'm not sure if I can get in before then. I don't want to end up DNF'ing because of this. So in the meantime, does anyone have any ideas what might be going on, or how I might treat it? Thanks!

[jesvetmed]

I'm not 100% sure, but it sounds like what I was feeling when I tore my calf -- the PT says it was likely the soleus muscle that deep inside. But also, that is the area where the nerve runs down your leg deep inside and it can get inflamed and painful, too.

Rest, Ice, Rest, Ice, did I mention rest and ice and stretching.

And he started me on DEEP, painful massage, to help break up some of the scar tissue I'd built up after doing this 3 x in a row over 3 months. At home he has me use the "STICK" to dig into it. It took about 2-3 months to get pain free, and a lot of "laying off" anything that hurt it.

Great idea to see the PT. This was the only thing that made any real difference for me so far. I'm back to running 8-9 miles pain free again. When I finally broke down and made an appointment with him, I couldn't jog 1/4 mile before tearing it again and hobbling back home.

Good luck. I hope you get it resolved very soon!

Oh, and I still go in for those deep massages every week -- it's a love hate thing, but I think it does help. At home, I use my own knee (I think Oakleaf suggested this). I put the right calf up on my left knee and just start digging in and rolling around over the knee. Next best thing to a good massage. I can't get that deep into the muscle any other way.

The only other thing I would add is if it doesn't get better or worsens, consider doctor's appointment to rule out blood clot in the lower leg. I don't know your age, or anything else about you, but if you are over 40, they really get concerned about that stuff! (had that done, also )

[Julie13.1]

Malaholic,
Please get it checked out by your Dr. It could be a DVT (bloodclot). Sounds very suspicious that it feels like muscle soreness yet you didn't do anything to make that muscle sore, especially in only one calf.

Julie

[Zen]

DVT would impede blood flow and cause swelling.

[malaholic]

Thanks for the replies... Blood clots...yikes! I don't have any of the redness, swollen veins, etc. nor any of the predisposition factors that I'm seeing online when I search for that...but thanks for the warning regardless.

I had a consultation with Dr. Google...my best guess right now is either that I have some kind of deep pulled calf muscle, or that maybe it is the upper end of my achilles tendon that got strained. I'm not sure how to tell.

Jesvetmed, I will definitely use the ice & stretching; seems like that would be good regardless of the source of the pain. I tried the self-deep-massage using my other kneecap (great tip btw!) and it doesn't feel that tender, but I'll keep doing it anyway until I can get in to see my PT.

Today it doesn't feel like a very bad injury; the only thing I can do right now that aggravates it is trying to stand tip-toed. I'm just worried about getting back on the bike next week, getting halfway through the ride, and feeling the stabbing sensation again, since I have no idea what I might be doing to have strained it in the first place. My cleats don't appear to be moved, nor seat height or anything like that either. If it was a pedaling technique issue I'd assume it would hurt a little on both sides.

Thanks again for your help!