Penny Arcade Forums› Help / Advice Forum
The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.

Pain in lower calf

HeirHeir Ausitn, TXRegistered User regular
edited February 2011 in Help / Advice Forum
Hey guys,

A few weeks ago I started running again...used to be a pretty big runner at one point, but haven't really done it much in the last year. Anyways, started up again. About a week ago, I noticed my right leg seemed really fatigued when I ran. Nothing serious, figured I was just a little tired, and powered through it.

Two days later I run, and my calf is really sore feeling. After a short run I stop and call it quits for a week to give it time to heal.

Today I'm out throwing the football around with family, and when I'm running, my still-sore calf suddenly starts to hurt quite a bit. It almost felt like something...popped...in my calf when I was running around today. I iced it pretty well, but it's really sore now and is hard to walk on. Pretty much every time I take a step, and I get to the point in that stop where my right leg is behind me it starts to hurt something fierce.

Going to take it easy for another week, but wanted some input on what it could possibly be. If it stays bad I'll go to a doctor, but it doesn't really bother me if I don't put weight on it. Any advice on how to help the healing process?

Sorry, I put this in the wrong Forum. I reported to a mod. Sorry guys.

Thanks!

camo_sig2.png
Heir on

Posts

  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    edited February 2011
    It could be any of dozens of things. We can't diagnose you over the internet. Go see a doctor if you're concerned.

    Esh on
  • VisionOfClarityVisionOfClarity Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I've never had a popping feeling but my calves (especially my right) will get a nasty pain in them when I'm running sometimes. What has helped me is stretching, a lot of stretching, before and after I run using one of these. I also squat more often and push myself to squat deeper.

    I'd be more worried about that popping noise. I'd suggest seeing a doc to make sure you didn't hurt anything. But if he doesn't find a problem you may just need to change your routine up or even get different sneakers. There's a lot that could cause that problem.

    VisionOfClarity on
  • LailLail Surrey, B.C.Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    It may just be sore because the muscle hasn't been pushed in a while.

    Stretch lots.

    If you give a weeks rest and the pain is still as intense when you try again then go see a doctor, but it's probably just sore from being inactive.

    Lail on
  • HeirHeir Ausitn, TXRegistered User regular
    edited February 2011
    After going to the doctor, it appears I have a Grade 2 Calf Strain. The main cause of it was that I was stretching too much when my muscles were still "cold." My leg is nice and swollen up, fun times. Can't do any exercise for a minimum of two weeks.

    So good to know from here on out. Be careful stretching a bunch if you're not warmed up yet.

    Heir on
    camo_sig2.png
  • BlochWaveBlochWave Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I think the modern view on stretching and (relatively) slow running is to just not do it before you run. As you've discovered, it's counterproductive at worst, not particularly helpful at best. Stretching after a run can be helpful, but I've never found it to be a necessity. By and large, I find the best way to warm up for a run consists of....running slow.

    But anyways, I'm piping in because you must have been stretching REALLY hard to do something like that. Even if you're dripping sweat after a massive workout, don't stretch that much

    BlochWave on
  • tehmarkentehmarken BrooklynRegistered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Heir wrote: »
    After going to the doctor, it appears I have a Grade 2 Calf Strain. The main cause of it was that I was stretching too much when my muscles were still "cold." My leg is nice and swollen up, fun times. Can't do any exercise for a minimum of two weeks.

    So good to know from here on out. Be careful stretching a bunch if you're not warmed up yet.

    Glad your doctor could diagnose it and you learned the problem.

    In general, I think a lot of people don't know good stretching though.

    Stretching before exercise is meant to just limber up and prep your muscles and joints for performing their full range of motion. Dynamic stretches are part of the warming up process along with light movements (like jumping jacks, light jogging, standing twists, windmills, etc).

    The stretching you do at the end of exercise is the "stretch out and hold it" type, static stretches. This is to increase flexibility by forcefully stretching out ligaments and muscle tissue while they are warm and have lots of blood flow. Also helps in preventing post-exercise cramping.



    In short, before exercise you do stuff to slowly get your joints and muscles doing a full range of motion and doing things to warm up. After exercise while you're still warm and lots of blood flowing, you do long stretches to improve flexibility and prevent cramps.

    tehmarken on
Sign In or Register to comment.
Penny Arcade Forums› Help / Advice Forum