Has anyone ever had sudden calf pain? I was just walking and all of a sudden if felt like I pulled a muscle in my calf. Its been about a week now and it still hurts. If I wear a 1 or 2 inch heal it feels better. I've been avoiding cardio which is making me crazy. Any ideas on what it is or how to make it better?
Pain in Calf
- Thread starter BuffyR
- Start date
Peaceful Rainbow
Cathlete
You really should get it checked out. Just before Christmas I was going down some bleachers and felt something in my right calf. Turned out I had torn some of the connecting fibers on my achilles. I'm back up to doing regular step and just starting to increase my impact again. But, find out what's wrong so that you can make sure you don't do anything to aggravate it. Try and see someone who understands that type of injury and how to rehab from it. I'm lucky that my primary care Doctor is also a sports med specialist.
cindi1
Cathlete
This has happened to me while running. I would suggest R.I.C.E. Rest Ice Compression Elevation as much as you can. And gentle stretching of the calf/achilles. The reason wearing heals helps is because you shorten the achilles and relieve the stress on the muscle.
To strengthen the area - try calf raises and backward walking.
Until it feels better avoid jumping, step, and hill running. Cardio you could try would be kickboxing, easy running, pool running, cardio machines.
Good luck!
To strengthen the area - try calf raises and backward walking.
Until it feels better avoid jumping, step, and hill running. Cardio you could try would be kickboxing, easy running, pool running, cardio machines.
Good luck!
Thanks for your responses. I'm hoping it just goes away on its own. As I get older I notice I get alot more aches and pains that seem to resolve themselves. I'll call my doc. if it doesn't resolve by the end of this week.
Do you think it is ok to do some cardio on the elliptical?
Do you think it is ok to do some cardio on the elliptical?
cindi1
Cathlete
I'm not a doctor - but if it were me, I would go on the elliptical. 
You just want to avoid moves where you are bouncing/pushing off your toes since that puts a lot of strain on the calf.
Stretch after you work out and then ice/elevate if you can. If you have a foam roller - roll your calves on it after you exercise.
You just want to avoid moves where you are bouncing/pushing off your toes since that puts a lot of strain on the calf. Stretch after you work out and then ice/elevate if you can. If you have a foam roller - roll your calves on it after you exercise.
Last edited:
atiman
Cathlete
I have had that pain.
I was at spin class and afterwards I went out to get in my car. I lifted my leg and I yelped and almost fell over from the pain. It literally took my breath away. I couldn't even tell my kids that I was going to be okay.
Once it subsided I drove home. I could feel that the area in my calf was sore, but I wasn't in pain. I felt that soreness for several days to a week.
Then at class one morning all I did was lift my knee to do a knee up during the warmup and that was it! I knew I tore my calf. This time I couldn't even put any pressure on my foot.
I took 4 weeks to heal and 2 weeks to gain my confidence back to step again....and probably another two more weeks until I let myself bounce off and on my toes hard again. I could other workouts that didn't involve my toes or bouncy action. I used the elliptical.
I was at spin class and afterwards I went out to get in my car. I lifted my leg and I yelped and almost fell over from the pain. It literally took my breath away. I couldn't even tell my kids that I was going to be okay.
Once it subsided I drove home. I could feel that the area in my calf was sore, but I wasn't in pain. I felt that soreness for several days to a week.
Then at class one morning all I did was lift my knee to do a knee up during the warmup and that was it! I knew I tore my calf. This time I couldn't even put any pressure on my foot.
I took 4 weeks to heal and 2 weeks to gain my confidence back to step again....and probably another two more weeks until I let myself bounce off and on my toes hard again. I could other workouts that didn't involve my toes or bouncy action. I used the elliptical.
RapidBreath
Cathlete
It sounds like it might be a "charlie horse" If so, then you might be low on potassium which is the typical deficiency which causes cramps.
Either you can eat a banana or sprinkle 'salt sub' on your food. I use a little bit on most cooked foods in combination with iodized salt because it does taste a little funny.
I hope you feel better.
Either you can eat a banana or sprinkle 'salt sub' on your food. I use a little bit on most cooked foods in combination with iodized salt because it does taste a little funny.
I hope you feel better.
Boingo1
Cathlete
I got a pull in my calf doing step a FEW times. I had to rest it from step for 4 weeks, and got some wonderful advice here for stretches. This is the advice that was given to me, and it worked wonders. BUT. you really have to rest for 3-4 weeks for it to heal. As in not doing cardio that will aggravate it (as Step or running would do).
Here are the stretches that worked:
The BEST stretch I've found is to stand on a stair like you were going to be doing calf raises (or 6" high step platform works great too ). Hold on to something for balance. Lower your foot like you were going to begin a calf raise, but just lower it down slowly until you really feel a stretch in the calf/ tendon. Then use your other leg to push yourself back up. (do NOT do a calf raise to push yourself back up) Do 2 sets of 10 (slowly) three to four times a day. Then, as it gets easier and you need more of a stretch, the PT said to add weights to it (ankle weights, a weighted vest, or she also said you could add weights to a backpack) to help deepen the stretch. Then, as it continues to improve, she said to continue the stretching but to do the sets faster, more like you are pushing off for running .
Personally, I wouldn't go to a doctor unless it doesn't improve with rest and stretches.
Here are the stretches that worked:
The BEST stretch I've found is to stand on a stair like you were going to be doing calf raises (or 6" high step platform works great too ). Hold on to something for balance. Lower your foot like you were going to begin a calf raise, but just lower it down slowly until you really feel a stretch in the calf/ tendon. Then use your other leg to push yourself back up. (do NOT do a calf raise to push yourself back up) Do 2 sets of 10 (slowly) three to four times a day. Then, as it gets easier and you need more of a stretch, the PT said to add weights to it (ankle weights, a weighted vest, or she also said you could add weights to a backpack) to help deepen the stretch. Then, as it continues to improve, she said to continue the stretching but to do the sets faster, more like you are pushing off for running .
Personally, I wouldn't go to a doctor unless it doesn't improve with rest and stretches.