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| Calf Problem (Read 636 times) |
ud32 |
posted: 6/20/2008 at 2:19 AM |
Slowly built up to 15 miles a week - nothing major - after 2 miles the middle of my calf all of a sudden felt like someone smacked it with a hammer - I walked, stretched and tried to run again but couldn't so i walked home and iced it. 12 hours later it is still sore.
Any opinions on what I did and how long to wait to try and run again - I really prefer not to lose too many days since I am happy with the weekly mileage progress I have made. What about stretching it or other suggestions ??? |
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posted: 6/22/2008 at 1:15 PM |
| I'm not sure how right I am, but I would stretch is lightly, but not a lot at once. Ironically, I stretched my calf after a run earlier this week and now it's pretty sore. I think it may be because I stretched it a lot all at once. Icing it will definitely help, and I would take it easy for a couple of days. |
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Just Be |
posted: 6/23/2008 at 9:52 AM |
Does it feel like exaggerated muscle soreness (similar to what you get after delayed onset muscle soreness sets in a day or two after working out for the first time in a long time)?
Based on the info you provided it sounds like your calf may have cramped up on you during your run. Check your diet for healthy potassium, calcium and sodium levels in particular, but just try to make sure you're getting an all around balanced diet and plenty of uninterrupted sleep time. |
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Carps10 view log |
posted: 6/24/2008 at 2:38 PM
modified: 6/24/2008 at 2:40 PM |
if it wasn't a normal muscle cramp, it could be a common overuse injury. this is what coolrunning has to say about it.
Pain in the Mid-Calf
(Soleus muscle pain)
Description:
Dull aching pain in the middle of your calf. If the pain is low and near the heel, you may have Achilles tendinitis instead.
Likely causes:
The soleus muscle, which runs between the two heads of the big calf muscle, often takes more of a beating than the larger muscle because it acts first when you use your calf muscles. This injury is an overuse injury, plain and simple, and one that may have been aggravated by too much hill work.
Remedy:
To help the pain, ice the area immediately after running. You can use either a store-bought cold pack or a frozen wet towel. Ice for 10 or 15 minutes. To reduce inflammation, take an aspirin or ibuprofen at mealtime.
Stretching is the main prescription here. Do wall pushups religiously -- several times a day and especially before and after running.
Also, try putting some heel lifts in your regular shoes as well as your running shoes. You can find these in the footcare section of your local drug store or simply use makeup sponges.
Back off on your mileage for a few days, and don't try to run through the pain. Give your legs a little time to mend. |
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ud32 |
posted: 6/25/2008 at 12:40 PM |
Thanks for the feedback. I am thinking it is a bit more than a leg cramp. I went for a walk yesterday and it felt fine. So of course I tried to run and it immediately hurt. I stopped and went in and used a "foam roller" - wow did that hurt - like a deep tissue massage type of hurt.
Felt much better this morning when i woke up - may try to run tonight or tommorrow. Would prefer not to skip too much time not running. Will be a full week as of Thursday. |
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posted: 8/9/2008 at 11:06 PM
modified: 8/9/2008 at 11:07 PM |
I seem to have done something similar to you. With no warning, after 3 minutes of a training run, I felt like my left calf was going to cramp up, then there was this "emptying" feeling inside it. I tried continuing but it was impossible. A day later, walking was o.k. but i could feel the tightness and some pain. Swimming seemed to help it, as did anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants. Tonight I decided to test it and jogged really gently for a few minutes -not really a good idea. It was possible but I was limping and could feel the onset of...what? Not exactly pain, more like tightening up. Anyway, I'm going to leave it three days to see what happens.
After a successful marathon in June (3:12), I was just getting back into decent form - I hope this doesn't sideline me for a long time and have repercussions right until October/November. How did you get on, and do you have any suggestions? |
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posted: 8/17/2008 at 9:20 PM
modified: 8/17/2008 at 9:48 PM |
Well, after leaving it for three days I decided to go out really easy, and do ten minutes. This went o.k. so I continued, increasing the time a little each day. I felt the thing was improving every time, too. In fact, I felt so good yesterday that I probably forced it, and after twenty minutes I felt a similar, but less dramatic, sensation as when I first did it. after streching I decided to carry on, and ran gently for another 15 mins, which went reasonably well. However, i now feel I've been a bit stupid as it's sore again today, and I think I should maybe take ten days to two weeks off running completely. Thing is, I don't think I've actually torn anything, otherwise it would much motre painful. Wouldn't it?
Another problem is that tomorrow I go for a week to the country, a place I dream about running in, and then for a week to my mum's in England, where the running is great, too. In short, these two weeks would normally be ones where I make up for the monotony of normal training and really just enjoy being out in beautiful surroundings.
Also, I am not much of a swimmer and I haven't got a bike, so what cross-training can I do if I take time off running. Is walking o.k. to do? I really don't want to put much weight on.
Any advice would be gratefully received. 
/:Modified because my typing's rubbish/: |
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posted: 8/17/2008 at 9:32 PM |
| Quote from Carps10 on 6/24/2008 at 2:38 PM:
Pain in the Mid-Calf
Remedy:
To help the pain, ice the area immediately after running. You can use either a store-bought cold pack or a frozen wet towel. Ice for 10 or 15 minutes. To reduce inflammation, take an aspirin or ibuprofen at mealtime.
Frozen peas work great! Peas are easily adjustable. I have not run in four days for the same reason.
Should I be applying ice everyday or using a heating pad? |
Run until the trail runs out
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| view log Hoping to Run Again :-( |
posted: 8/17/2008 at 10:41 PM |
| Quote from runnerclay on 8/17/2008 at 9:32 PM: Should I be applying ice everyday or using a heating pad?
In my personal experience (low-grade soleus tear last year) I found the best solution to be ice every day until it began to heal (my pain was very localized and sharp) then switch to heating and massage. I think I alternated a bit in between too.
Take care!
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~ Fly ~
Only as much as I dream can I be.
veggies on the run
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posted: 9/3/2008 at 2:28 PM
modified: 9/3/2008 at 2:29 PM |
| Quote from Maplefly on 8/17/2008 at 10:41 PM: In my personal experience (low-grade soleus tear last year) I found the best solution to be ice every day until it began to heal (my pain was very localized and sharp) then switch to heating and massage. I think I alternated a bit in between too.
Coming in to the discussion a few days late - sorry!
Maplefly - were you still running and then doing the icing? Or did you stop training during recovery? I'm pretty confident that I've correctly diagnosed an over-use injury to my left soleus and want to be sure to help it recovery optimally, but without losing too much of my recently developed fitness!
I'm pretty sure that my injury is the result of increased mileage that happened to be on some fairly hilly terrain (lots of steep ascents and descents). The pain that I feel is almost worse during the day than it is during my run and really hurts when I climb stairs - it basically feels like my lower leg doesn't have the strength to flex and lift my foot and burns across the inside of my lower leg (halfway between my knee and ankle).
I'm hoping that I can recover by switching over to running only very flat routes for a few weeks with stretching and icing after each run. I've been doing some massage with a foam roller, but can't seem to hit the right spot with the roller. I may also try to find a sports massage therapist in the area. And, since I was planning on adding swimming to my routine for cross-training, I may replace one running day with a swimming day during recovery.
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~ Mary ~
"Workouts are like brushing my teeth; I don't think about them, I just do them. The decision has already been made."
- Patti Sue Plumer |
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posted: 9/3/2008 at 4:21 PM |
Saw an RMT for the first time today and he explained that what I thought were just sore calves were actually shin splints. No running for me till Monday (  ) but I can still walk/swim/bike ride so I guess I just lost my excuse for staying away from the bike. The RMT said walking was fine as was the eliptical machine. |
| PB: 36:44 2008 STWM 5k ... now to bring that lower... |
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ud32 |
posted: 9/8/2008 at 1:26 AM
modified: 9/8/2008 at 2:35 AM |
Couldn't shake it with the foam roller. Saw a PT/Massage therapist for 3 seession of DEEP and I mean DEEP muscle massage. Almost had me in tears - was pouring sweat from the pain. However, it worked and am running fine now.
Also, ice and streching in between massages. |
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| view log " RehabCheffyRehab" |
posted: 9/8/2008 at 4:53 PM |
| Quote from ud32 on 9/8/2008 at 1:26 AM: Couldn't shake it with the foam roller. Saw a PT/Massage therapist for 3 seession of DEEP and I mean DEEP muscle massage. Almost had me in tears - was pouring sweat from the pain. However, it worked and am running fine now.
Also, ice and streching in between massages.
I would agree with this. You need to find someone that is qualified to HURT YOU, to get to the pain. I had mine done last Friday, and I am feeling better today, but I hurt all weekend long. Meewolfie, Mine does not sound near as troublesome as yours does.... firs thing the MT asked was if I felt a burning sensation in the area of concern, and I don't. Mine just aches like a dull toothache pain. It gets a little worse when first moving it with light exercise, but feels better after loosening up. aches dully during the day. does not hurt at night to interupt sleep. I have full range of motion in the lower leg also. I was told not to run on hard surfaces till my race, and to use a wobble board to help strengthen my lower leg muscles.
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