Lower calf pain mystery - long

[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!