Pain in Calf

[Deleted User]

Hi Everybody:

I did a big training day on Saturday and felt great.  I woke up on Sunday and my calf was painful and sore to the touch.  I tried foam rolling it out, self massage, and ice.  I woke up today and it feels the same.  It doesn't hurt when I bike but I am hesitant to run on it.  Wondering if anyone has experienced the same thing aqnd can give some advice?

Thanks,

Joanna

Carrie Chavez

I have experienced the same thing in the past. I had my husband massage and dig out my calves. I did not run until the pain was gone. I rode because it did not hurt. I was due to change shoes. I worked on opening up my hips- flexors, TFL and quads to improve my stride and worked on 1/2 lunges to activate and open the hips and big toe.

Can you get a professional massage? See a PT? Chiro who does muscle work and can find your imbalances?

gopetego

Joanna I've had similar left calf issues off and on for last few years. For me the cause was has been the bike, but the pain was always felt on the run. The real cause is usually bike position, mainly when in aero position. My left hip issues result in a hitch in my pedal stroke (a small circle movement at top where knee goes out) and a slight leg length difference. So I've played with seat height (changed seats) and shoe cleats to get to a point where, now, the calf is not the issue - just a smaller, not-as-bad issue with the hip. So I'd take a hard look at your fit and pedal stroke and see if your putting to much pressure on your lower leg when cycling. It could be a very small change. Maybe the big training day just caused the problem to surface. Just my 2cents.

moetai@gmail.com

Get a chiro to have a look at it. Check this also: http://www.physioadvisor.com.au/10513350/compartment-syndrome-chronic-compartment-syndrom.htm
just wondering: do u have an adamo saddle? Use to have one, never had that many problems than when i was riding with it (Hips, psoas, back...and calf). Got back to a "normal saddle", not 1 problem in 2 years now. It might have nothing to do with the saddle, but it sure got my attention.
Good luck to u

[Deleted User]

Thank you for all the responses!

@Carrie: I have an appointment with my PT on Wednesday and just using the Stick to work out the know/pain in my calf. I do know my imbalance which is tight hips and lazy glutes, which I've been working on for the past two years with exercises and bands etc.

@Pete: That is a good suggestion and one that I was contemplating as to the cause. I will look at my seat height and see if that is the issue.

@David: I ride a Cobb saddle and don't think that is the issue.

For what it's worth, this is the first time that I have ever experienced a calf pain like this. Soreness I have experienced but not pain to the point where I had trouble putting weight on it when I got up in the morning. I am wondering if it is all related to the hard impact I took on my knee two weeks ago. I was walking in the snow and landed right on my left knee causing a contusion and abrasion which is still there. My calf issue is in the left calf.

drmariner

Joanna,

 Your problem certainly could be musculoskeletal (gastrocnemius/soleus/popliteus muscle strain etc.) but with your trauma I would check your calf circumference and compare it to it's counterpart. If your injured calf is larger than the opposite calf I would have your physician order a venous duplex study to evaluate for deep vein thrombosis. The likelihood of a positive diagnosis is low but would still keep this in the differential.

jsumara

A few years ago I experienced a similar problem. The pain just came on and I could barley walk much less run. Very painful and for no apparent reason. I found an article that was title something like "Calf Muscle Heart Attack" and I knew that was me. The two most likely causes were a) micro tears in the calf muscle and/or b) Compartment syndrome, which is when the muscle builds up and restricts the blood flow.
I never actually found out which it was - it didn't matter to me at the time. The treatment was going to be the same.
I treated this by using "The Stick" to massage the calf, not running until I was pain-free, and when I started back running, I had to stop immediately if/when there was pain. It took a while for this muscle condition to fully mend.
Search: Calf Muscle Heart Attack. Good Luck

[Deleted User]

@David: DVT? I will have to get the tape out to measure the calf circumference and compare. Thanks!

@Jim: I too have been reading about the "Calf Muscle Heart Attack" and wondering if that was what I had. Thanks for the input!

All: My calf is much much better today and only slightly tender to the touch and when I manipulate it. And I am able to walk normally!

I have been foam rolling and 'sticking' it as much as I can. I don't plan to run until Saturday to make sure I give it enough time to heal. Luckily no long run scheduled this week.

Thanks again for everybody's two cents!

Joanna