calf pain - diagnosis + help?

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2006-02-15 9:23 PM

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Subject: calf pain - diagnosis + help?

Might have pushed the intro into tempo running from base building too quickly and/or ramped up too much volume. My right calf is talking to me: tightens up during the run and then can be downright painful to walk around post run.

It is the muscle that is solidly in the back of the calf, extends all the way up to the back of the knee and begins about 2" below the ball of muscle on the back of the calf or, put another way, 3-4" up from the ankle.

Is this a common complaint with a simple solution - e.g. stretch this way <insert stretch here: ____> - or is it just one of those things where if it hurts, nurse it?

Doing a half-mary this weekend and am a bit nervous about it talking to me during the race.  Aside from taking laying off it for the rest of the week and taking a couple Advil just before the race, is there anything else I can do?  Does a sports massage help heal something like that?

Thanks.

2006-02-16 10:42 AM
in reply to: #346931

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Subject: RE: calf pain - diagnosis + help?
I tore my calf last August.  Rest didn't help.  In December, I went to the chiropracter for two weeks (6 treatments?) of ultrasound and EMS.
2006-02-16 2:41 PM
in reply to: #347237

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Subject: RE: calf pain - diagnosis + help?

foolproof - 2006-02-16 11:42 AM I tore my calf last August.  Rest didn't help.  In December, I went to the chiropracter for two weeks (6 treatments?) of ultrasound and EMS.

What did the ultrasound + EMS do?  (And what is EMS?) After two weeks of the treatment, did it feel better? How does it feel now?

I know, soo many questions ...

2006-02-16 2:54 PM
in reply to: #346931

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Subject: RE: calf pain - diagnosis + help?

Well, I've gone from no running to finishing a 6 miler this morning!

I finally broke down last December and for two weeks went to the chiropracter.  I think 3 - 4 sessions per week, about 45 min total.  For the first 20, they'd move an ultrasound wand over my calf to flood the area with fluid to speed healing.  Then they put electronic muscle stimulating pads on the four quadrants of my calf and jolted the muscle for 20 minutes to eliminate excess fluid.  They also put an ice pack on during EMS.

I did 34 miles in January and I'm up to 50% of my Run Challenge goal.  If you're near Delray, I'd be happy to refer you.  Good luck!

2006-02-20 1:57 AM
in reply to: #346931

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Subject: RE: calf pain - diagnosis + help?

Thanks for the advice ... ended up going the massage, stretching, Advil and laying off it for a couple days route and it worked fine; calf was not an issue during the 1/2 Mary.

I think perhaps the new shoes I bought also had a role to play in the recovery (Brooks GTS Adrenaline).  I looked at my New Balance 762's and, despite just ~200 miles of running, the back tread was worn down to the nub ... and I am neither hard on a running shoe (only wear mine running and never causally or around the house) nor particularly heavy (163 lbs + 16% bf).

The lesson here for leg and/or knee pain is to check your shoes - even if they do not have that many miles on them.

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