Calf Pain

Mark (MSA) said:

I was out running Christmas day (irrelevant) and 4 miles into my run I
felt a sharp pain in my right calf muscle which brough me to a grinding
halt. I stretched my calf for a bit but was unable to carry on running,
and had to walk home.

I'be been icing my calf for the past 36 hours on and off and it feels a
lot better, but I would still be unable to run.

I had exactly the same thing happen to me 6 months ago, but with the
left leg.

Same shoes (worn in), no dramatic increase in mileage, no fast pace on
the 25th.

Any ideas what this is, what causes it? I will put my hands up now to
not stretching or peforming routine warm ups before my runs, I usually
just run slow for the first 2 miles or so. I know this is wrong and
will make an effort to change from now on, it's just a case of
remembering and getting into the habit to be honest. Could it be
becasue I'm not stretching/warming up...even though I was 4 miles into a
run?

Thanks in advance, and Merry Christmas from London to you all!

I am experiencing the almost the same issue with my left leg (thigh and
calf) muscles. I can endure the pain during run (for the most part).
The pain after the run really hurts.

I know I am not help at all since I am in the same boat as you are. :-)
Hoping to hear from someone with some helpful advice.

PS - Have you tried taking Advil/Tylenol before running? Advil usually
works for me to minimize the pain during the run.

--
SR
[email hidden]
Please remove SPAMBUSTER to reply via email.

Subba Rao <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:IQ1sf.69120$sg5.35299@dukeread12:

Quoted message said:

Mark (MSA) said:

I was out running Christmas day (irrelevant) and 4 miles
into my run I felt a sharp pain in my right calf muscle
which brough me to a grinding halt. I stretched my calf
for a bit but was unable to carry on running, and had to
walk home.

I'be been icing my calf for the past 36 hours on and off
and it feels a lot better, but I would still be unable to
run.

I had exactly the same thing happen to me 6 months ago, but
with the left leg.

Same shoes (worn in), no dramatic increase in mileage, no
fast pace on the 25th.

Any ideas what this is, what causes it?
Thanks in advance, and Merry Christmas from London to you
all!

I am experiencing the almost the same issue with my left leg
(thigh and calf) muscles. I can endure the pain during run
(for the most part). The pain after the run really hurts.

I know I am not help at all since I am in the same boat as
you are. :-)
Hoping to hear from someone with some helpful advice.

I had a similar problem with calf pain, and solved it by working
the calf muscles and quads with The Stick (available at local
running stores or online). You can save the cost of this product
by using a rolling pin instead or a tennis ball. This pressure
seems to keep the muscles loose, and is much more effective than
stretching (which, I think, can sometimes cause more harm than
good).

Ken

Ken Jones said:

I had a similar problem with calf pain, and solved it by working
the calf muscles and quads with The Stick [...] This pressure
seems to keep the muscles loose, and is much more effective
than stretching (which, I think, can sometimes cause more
harm than good).

The Stick is good. For calves, so are your hands - they're easy to
reach and don't require extraordinary pressure or technique.

Stretching does many of us more good than harm. The Stick and other
self-massage gadgets complement, but certainly do not replace,
stretching for me. Many, myself included, think the right time for
static stretching is once you are thoroughly warmed up, i.e. after your
run not before. Some like to stretch 15 mins into their run, which
they start at a very slow pace. Some people get by without stretching
at all, or as you say, find it does them more harm than good.

Often overlooked, or at least under-discussed IMO, is the importance of
your everyday shoes. I'm not the only one who has correlated tight leg
muscles or back pain with wearing shoes with substantial heels. If you
walk or stand much, your shoes may be a stronger influence on whether
your legs are stretched or tight than a few minutes of static
stretching. Sandals with little or no heel work well for me in summer;
boots with the standard inch or so heel are, I believe, contributing to
problems now in winter. I'm inclined to try something like Earth
boots, though so far I've struck out finding them locally.

"Ken Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Subba Rao <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:IQ1sf.69120$sg5.35299@dukeread12:

Quoted message said:

Mark (MSA) said:

I was out running Christmas day (irrelevant) and 4 miles
into my run I felt a sharp pain in my right calf muscle
which brough me to a grinding halt. I stretched my calf
for a bit but was unable to carry on running, and had to
walk home.

I'be been icing my calf for the past 36 hours on and off
and it feels a lot better, but I would still be unable to
run.

I had exactly the same thing happen to me 6 months ago, but
with the left leg.

Same shoes (worn in), no dramatic increase in mileage, no
fast pace on the 25th.

Any ideas what this is, what causes it?
Thanks in advance, and Merry Christmas from London to you
all!

I am experiencing the almost the same issue with my left leg
(thigh and calf) muscles. I can endure the pain during run
(for the most part). The pain after the run really hurts.

I know I am not help at all since I am in the same boat as
you are. :-)
Hoping to hear from someone with some helpful advice.

I had a similar problem with calf pain, and solved it by working
the calf muscles and quads with The Stick (available at local
running stores or online). You can save the cost of this product
by using a rolling pin instead or a tennis ball. This pressure
seems to keep the muscles loose, and is much more effective than
stretching (which, I think, can sometimes cause more harm than
good).

Ken

I agree with this - you're likely experiencing knots in the calf muscle.
This is particularly a problem if you run on hard surfaces. The "Stick" and
other pressure-based stretching techniquest work quite well for at-home use.
If you have access to an athletic trainer, then you should take advantage of
that for some electric stim therapy. That will loosen muscle knots
thoroughly and very quickly.

Dave

"David Geesaman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Ken Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Subba Rao <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:IQ1sf.69120$sg5.35299@dukeread12:

Quoted message said:

Mark (MSA) wrote:
> I was out running Christmas day (irrelevant) and 4 miles
> into my run I felt a sharp pain in my right calf muscle
> which brough me to a grinding halt. I stretched my calf
> for a bit but was unable to carry on running, and had to
> walk home.
>
> I'be been icing my calf for the past 36 hours on and off
> and it feels a lot better, but I would still be unable to
> run.
>
> I had exactly the same thing happen to me 6 months ago, but
> with the left leg.
>
> Same shoes (worn in), no dramatic increase in mileage, no
> fast pace on the 25th.
>
> Any ideas what this is, what causes it?
> Thanks in advance, and Merry Christmas from London to you
> all!
>
>

I am experiencing the almost the same issue with my left leg
(thigh and calf) muscles. I can endure the pain during run
(for the most part). The pain after the run really hurts.

I know I am not help at all since I am in the same boat as
you are. :-)
Hoping to hear from someone with some helpful advice.

I had a similar problem with calf pain, and solved it by working
the calf muscles and quads with The Stick (available at local
running stores or online). You can save the cost of this product
by using a rolling pin instead or a tennis ball. This pressure
seems to keep the muscles loose, and is much more effective than
stretching (which, I think, can sometimes cause more harm than
good).

Ken

I agree with this - you're likely experiencing knots in the calf

muscle.

Quoted message said:

This is particularly a problem if you run on hard surfaces. The "Stick"

and

Quoted message said:

other pressure-based stretching techniquest work quite well for at-home

use.

Quoted message said:

If you have access to an athletic trainer, then you should take advantage

of

Quoted message said:

that for some electric stim therapy. That will loosen muscle knots
thoroughly and very quickly.

Dave

Interesting Dave, running on pavement seems to be the cause of my calf
muscle strain/tear earlier this month. Previously I was running on trails
with short stints of pavement, then I was training more on pavement for a 5k
and I noticed the calf getting progressively tighter over a series of runs
until it finally gave out. I was unaware of such knots. I believe Dan S. had
the same problem after he moved and had to run more on pavement. My
brother-in-law told me that deep tissue massage is another way to break up
the scar tissue such knots may contain.

-Tony

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Mark (MSA) wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>
>> I had exactly the same thing happen to me 6 months ago, but
>> with the left leg.
>>
>> Same shoes (worn in), no dramatic increase in mileage, no
>> fast pace on the 25th.
>>
>> Any ideas what this is, what causes it?
>> Thanks in advance, and Merry Christmas from London to you
>> all!

Thanks for the replies guys. The pain is easing, and today I went for
a very slow 10k jog (6.30 minute km's). I coul feel 'tightness' in my
calf but it held OK. I iced it for good measure when I returned.

I guess I should have rested it longer, but I couldn't stand not go out
any longer.

I will make it a priority to stretch and massage my calves before every
run and perform a warm down routine at the end.

Thanks again, and avery happy New Year to everyone.

--
Mark
_______________________________________
Nerves of Steel, Heart of Gold, Knob of Butter

Mark (MSA) said:

I will make it a priority to stretch and massage my calves before every
run and perform a warm down routine at the end.

Please pardon my repetition, but: consider doing the (static) stretch
*after* your run not before. Or at least after 10-15 mins of slow
jogging or other warmup.

If you do any sort of stretching before, consider doing something more
like the Whartons (stretching gurus: http://www.aistretch.com/)
recommend, namely about 10 reps of 2-3 second stretches. (Of course
their system is considerably more detailed than that...)

Unless you have reason to believe that pre-warmup static stretching
will do you some good.

Quoted message said:

Unless you have reason to believe that pre-warmup static stretching
will do you some good.

No, none whatsoever.

Thanks, I will follow your advice and see how I get on.

--
Mark
_______________________________________
Nerves of Steel, Heart of Gold, Knob of Butter

Mark (MSA) said:

I was out running Christmas day (irrelevant) and 4 miles into my run I
felt a sharp pain in my right calf muscle which brough me to a grinding
halt.

[...]

Quoted message said:

Any ideas what this is, what causes it?

Were there any incriminating reindeer toothmarks?

Mark (MSA) said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>
>> Mark (MSA) wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>>
>>> I had exactly the same thing happen to me 6 months ago, but
>>> with the left leg.
>>>
>>> Same shoes (worn in), no dramatic increase in mileage, no
>>> fast pace on the 25th.
>>>
>>> Any ideas what this is, what causes it?
>>> Thanks in advance, and Merry Christmas from London to you
>>> all!

Thanks for the replies guys. The pain is easing, and today I went for
a very slow 10k jog (6.30 minute km's). I coul feel 'tightness' in my
calf but it held OK. I iced it for good measure when I returned.

I guess I should have rested it longer, but I couldn't stand not go out
any longer.

I will make it a priority to stretch and massage my calves before every
run and perform a warm down routine at the end.

If you're still having pain you should NOT stretch.
Is possible you have a tear, in which case you need
to let it mend and then begin massage. Or, if you're
that tight (knots etc.) massage is more useful than
stretching. Self massage (stick, rolling, etc.) is
useful before stretching regardless.

Charlie Pendejo said:

Ken Jones said:

I had a similar problem with calf pain, and solved it by working
the calf muscles and quads with The Stick [...] This pressure
seems to keep the muscles loose, and is much more effective
than stretching (which, I think, can sometimes cause more
harm than good).

The Stick is good. For calves, so are your hands - they're easy to
reach and don't require extraordinary pressure or technique.

Stretching does many of us more good than harm. The Stick and other
self-massage gadgets complement, but certainly do not replace,
stretching for me. Many, myself included, think the right time for
static stretching is once you are thoroughly warmed up, i.e. after your
run not before. Some like to stretch 15 mins into their run, which
they start at a very slow pace.

The Stick is excellent for calf muscles. I'd
use the stick as recommmended, then stretch.

What isn't being said is that if an injury is
suspected, need to let it mend before either...

Mark \(MSA\) said:

I was out running Christmas day (irrelevant) and 4 miles into my run I
felt a sharp pain in my right calf muscle which brough me to a grinding
halt. I stretched my calf for a bit but was unable to carry on
running, and had to walk home.

I'be been icing my calf for the past 36 hours on and off and it feels a
lot better, but I would still be unable to run.

I had exactly the same thing happen to me 6 months ago, but with the
left leg.

Same shoes (worn in), no dramatic increase in mileage, no fast pace on
the 25th.

Any ideas what this is, what causes it? I will put my hands up now to
not stretching or peforming routine warm ups before my runs, I usually
just run slow for the first 2 miles or so. I know this is wrong and
will make an effort to change from now on, it's just a case of
remembering and getting into the habit to be honest. Could it be
becasue I'm not stretching/warming up...even though I was 4 miles into
a run?

Thanks in advance, and Merry Christmas from London to you all!

Sounds like a cramp to me. Are you taking a multivitamin daily?

--
Is this thing on?

Joe Humble said:

Mark \(MSA\) said:

I was out running Christmas day (irrelevant) and 4 miles into my run I
felt a sharp pain in my right calf muscle which brough me to a grinding
halt. I stretched my calf for a bit but was unable to carry on
running, and had to walk home.

I'be been icing my calf for the past 36 hours on and off and it feels a
lot better, but I would still be unable to run.

I had exactly the same thing happen to me 6 months ago, but with the
left leg.

Same shoes (worn in), no dramatic increase in mileage, no fast pace on
the 25th.

Any ideas what this is, what causes it? I will put my hands up now to
not stretching or peforming routine warm ups before my runs, I usually
just run slow for the first 2 miles or so. I know this is wrong and
will make an effort to change from now on, it's just a case of
remembering and getting into the habit to be honest. Could it be
becasue I'm not stretching/warming up...even though I was 4 miles into
a run?

Thanks in advance, and Merry Christmas from London to you all!

Sounds like a cramp to me. Are you taking a multivitamin daily?

It may be dehydration.

Martha

Joe Humble said:

Mark \(MSA\) said:

I was out running Christmas day (irrelevant) and 4 miles into my run I
felt a sharp pain in my right calf muscle which brough me to a grinding
halt.

Sounds like a cramp to me. Are you taking a multivitamin daily?

Oh [censored], I just realized I haven't been taking mine for months. There
is the bottle, on top of the stove controls, where I'm supposed to see
it.

Now the bottle has been relocated between the coffee grinder and the
espresso machine. Can't miss it now.

Thanks, Joe Humble.

Quoted message said:

Sounds like a cramp to me. Are you taking a multivitamin daily?

But would cramp stop me from running for 3 days?

I eased back into it, and have run 40 miles since Christmas
day...things are fine now.

The pain just stopped me dead in my tracks, it felt like bad cramp I
must admit, but I thought cramp went away fairly quickly leaving no
after pain?

--
Mark
_______________________________________
Nerves of Steel, Heart of Gold, Knob of Butter

Mark (MSA) said:

The pain just stopped me dead in my tracks, it felt like bad cramp I
must admit, but I thought cramp went away fairly quickly leaving no
after pain?

A muscle that contracts inappropriately could additionally generate
enough tension to injure itself. The reason there is pain in the first
place is because the muscle is contracting so strongly. That can lead
to delayed-onset muscle sorenes (DOMS) or worse.

I think what is missing is that PattStrap. The stick is good after the
pain, but the pattstrap seems to stop the pain all together. It did
for me at least.