When to Worry About Calf Pain?
What is calf pain?
The calf is mainly composed of two types of muscles gastrocnemius and the soleus. These muscles help move the feet, and any problem in these muscles may cause calf pain. It may vary from person to person. You may experience a dull, aching, or sharp pain with tightness in the back of your lower leg. You may experience the following symptoms:
- Swelling
- Weakness of leg
- Numbness or tingling in your calf and leg
- Unusual coolness or pale color in your calf
- Fluid retention
- Redness, warmth, and tenderness of the calf
These symptoms may indicate severe conditions which warrant your trip to the doctor.
Who can get calf pain?
The following people are at high risk of getting calf pain. Athletes, People who do strain exercises, including putting excess stress on calf muscles and People over age 65. There are other factors too contribute to calf pain. You can also get calf pain if you are:
- Taking medication like cholesterol-lowering drugs
- Suffer from diseases such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, peripheral artery disease (PAD), or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)
- Suffer from heat exhaustion
- Pregnant
- Have low electrolytes due to dehydration or dialysis (a procedure to clean your blood)
- Have edema (swelling formed due to fluid build-up) in your lower leg
- Have short or tight calf muscles
- Do smoking or use tobacco products
Causes of calf pain
You may get calf pain due to several causes, such as cramps, overworking the muscle, and specific foot problems. Most cases of calf pain are easily treated at home, while others may need immediate medical help.
Muscle cramps
Muscle cramps are characterized as sudden, painful muscle contractions. They can last for a few minutes, but you can feel muscle soreness for hours. Cramps are common and usual in physically active people. The following factors may trigger muscle cramps:
- Muscle injuries
- Dehydration
- Mineral deficiencies
Also, some chronic conditions may manifest in the muscle cramp:
- Diabetes
- Kidney failure
- Alcoholism
- Hypothyroidism
- Chronic peripheral vascular disease
In these underlying conditions, the blood flow limited to some parts of the body may cause can cause muscle cramps.
Muscle strain
You may get calf pain due to muscle strains caused by fatigue, overuse, or improper use of a muscle. Muscle strains are common in people who start a new exercise regimen or increase leg exercises such as running, swimming, biking, and powerlifting. You may experience sudden pain, soreness, and limited range of movement when muscle strain occurs. You can treat mild muscle strains with ice, heat, and anti-inflammatory medications at home. While for chronic strains or tears, you may require medical treatment.
Achilles tendonitis
The stress or strain on the Achilles tendon may cause Achilles tendonitis. You may experience symptoms like:
- Swelling
- Pain in the back of the leg
- Inflammation of the tendon,
- Limited motion of the foot
You can use R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compress, elevate) to treat Achilles tendonitis at home. It can help you alleviate these symptoms. But if you experience persistent pain, see your doctor.
Sciatica:
You may get calf pain caused by issues with the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve controls the muscles present in the back of the knee and lower leg. You may experience pain with numbness and tingling felt in the lower back stretch down the leg to the calf and other muscles. Mild pain may relieve by applying an ice pack, using OTC drugs, and perform gentle stretches. But for chronic cases, the doctor may recommend surgery.
Contusion
A contusion may define as a bruise that happens due to trauma such as a fall, cut or blow. A kick in the calf can cause contusion with bruising and soreness. The trauma may burst the capillaries beneath the skin, which causes discoloration or bruises. Usually, bruises heal on their own without any treatment. But if you have unexplained bruising or bruises that reappear in the same area without injury, see the doctor.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a chronic medical condition that may cause nerve damage that affects the arms, hands, legs, and feet. It is common in people with diabetes due to high blood sugar, nerve inflammation, and genetic factors. The other symptom includes:
- Muscle cramps
- Sharp pain
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Impaired sensation (the person may not feel pain or change in temperature)
Deep vein thrombosis
You may experience calf pain due to Deep vein thrombosis or DVT. DVT occurs as the result of blood clot formation in the deep vein in the arm, leg, or calf. Several factors may contribute to DVT. Common factors may include sitting for long periods, medication complications, and smoking. Other symptoms may include:
- Swelling
- Visible veins in the affected area
- Skin discoloration
- Leg tenderness
- The feeling of warmth in the calf
If you develop the above symptoms of DVT, see your doctor immediately.
Compartment syndrome
Compartment syndrome is a chronic condition that happens when a large amount of pressure builds up inside a muscle compartment. Usually, occurs after you've experienced a severe injury like a fracture or broken bone. You may experience symptoms include:
- Numbness
- Severe pain that does not go after rest or medication
- A noticeable bulge in the affected muscle
- Trouble moving the affected area
Home Remedies for Calf Pain Relief
The mild to moderate calf pain can quickly treat at home. The self-care measure includes:
R.I.C.E.
RICE method is the most recommended to treat mild calf muscle pain at home. It includes:
- Rest: Take enough rest and avoid walking or running. It can make your pain worsen.
- Ice: Ice may help reduce swelling. Put a cold compress or ice pack for 20 minutes on your calf muscles. Repeat it every two hours, and don't apply ice directly to your skin.
- Compression: Apply a compression bandage or wrap it to your calf. The bandage reduces blood flow to the calf and relieves swelling.
- Elevation: Elevation may help reduce pain and swelling. Lift your leg into an elevated position above the level of your heart. You can use pillows, blankets, or cushions for support.
OTC medications
OTC medication may help to treat mild to moderate calf pain. You can use common pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
Stretching
Stretching may help to treat mild pain at home. You can do light stretching after painful symptoms subside. The calf muscle stretching includes:
- Calf raises
- Straight calf stretches
- Downward-Facing Dog
The doctor may recommend physical therapy for chronic injuries. For example, calf pain caused by DVT, compartment syndrome, or DPN, medical intervention your doctor recommends surgery and medications.
How to prevent calf pain?
We can prevent calf pain by taking some measures, including:
Stretching: Stretching is one of the most essential methods for preventing calf pain. Do regularly stretching before and after all workouts. It helps repair and strengthens the calf and reduces the chances of future pain and injury. Take enough rest between exercises to help facilitate this muscle repair and growth.
Keep yourself hydrated: Keep yourself hydrated because dehydration can cause muscle cramps.
Gradually increase your exercise regime: If you start doing a workout or add new exercise, you must do it slowly. Increasing physical activity abruptly can cause injury. Find an exercise plan online or work with a trainer.
