Calf-Soleus pain

Robert Michiel said:

I developed sudden onset of pain in my left lower posterolateral calf 3 days
ago. I was told that it was a soleus strain, and was advised to use ice,
stretches, and massage, and to avoid running for several days. I tried
running again today on a soft flat surface-trail. For about the first mile
I felt fine. Then the same pain recurred in exactly the same spot. I can
run through the pain easily enough, but I am concerned about causing a more
severe injury. I have a 10 mile race coming up in 2 weeks and the Vermont
City Marathon on the Memorial Day weekend. I would appreciate any advice.

I'm not gonna try to field this - there are others a lot better
qualified to give you advice - but suggest that if you were otherwise
inclined to wear flats for your race, consider sticking with trainers
this time around. A few mm difference in heel height is something
your calf will feel over the course of ten miles, especially at race
pace.

Good luck.

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I developed sudden onset of pain in my left lower posterolateral calf 3 days
ago. I was told that it was a soleus strain, and was advised to use ice,
stretches, and massage, and to avoid running for several days. I tried
running again today on a soft flat surface-trail. For about the first mile
I felt fine. Then the same pain recurred in exactly the same spot. I can
run through the pain easily enough, but I am concerned about causing a more
severe injury. I have a 10 mile race coming up in 2 weeks and the Vermont
City Marathon on the Memorial Day weekend. I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

Bob

This is typical usenet bluster. Use it for what it's
worth.

I had the same problem. I rested and iced for 5 days.
It felt fine to walk, but after the 4th or 5th mile,
I could feel the pain again.

I went to strength exercises for the calf (stair heel
lifts), heat (from a pad), and massage. It's been
another five days. I'm running without sharp pain,
sometimes with no pain at all, but I do feel the
slight tug, pain, and stiffness every now and then.

S.

samson said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I developed sudden onset of pain in my left lower posterolateral calf 3 days
ago. I was told that it was a soleus strain, and was advised to use ice,
stretches, and massage, and to avoid running for several days. I tried
running again today on a soft flat surface-trail. For about the first mile
I felt fine. Then the same pain recurred in exactly the same spot. I can
run through the pain easily enough, but I am concerned about causing a more
severe injury. I have a 10 mile race coming up in 2 weeks and the Vermont
City Marathon on the Memorial Day weekend. I would appreciate any advice.

Quoted message said:

Thanks,

Quoted message said:

Bob

I had a problem with my soleus that resulted in 2 weeks off. Had to go
for ultrasound.

The ultrasound helped a lot but i still had some tightness.

Eventually, stretching the muscle 5 times a day with a 2 hour gap in
between helped me a lot. Stretch only if there is no swelling.

Stretch the muscle before and after running.

Sanjay

This is typical usenet bluster. Use it for what it's

Quoted message said:

worth.

I had the same problem. I rested and iced for 5 days.
It felt fine to walk, but after the 4th or 5th mile,
I could feel the pain again.

I went to strength exercises for the calf (stair heel
lifts), heat (from a pad), and massage. It's been
another five days. I'm running without sharp pain,
sometimes with no pain at all, but I do feel the
slight tug, pain, and stiffness every now and then.

S.

Robert Michiel said:

I developed sudden onset of pain in my left lower posterolateral calf 3 days
ago. I was told that it was a soleus strain, and was advised to use ice,
stretches, and massage, and to avoid running for several days. I tried
running again today on a soft flat surface-trail. For about the first mile
I felt fine. Then the same pain recurred in exactly the same spot. I can
run through the pain easily enough, but I am concerned about causing a more
severe injury. I have a 10 mile race coming up in 2 weeks and the Vermont
City Marathon on the Memorial Day weekend. I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

Bob

I had some soreness and tightness in my calffor a while some years
back, I just kept up with my normal training until near the end of a
long run I felt what could be described as a rubber band snapping. I
was unable to run again for about a month as I recall. Now when I
have pain and unusual soreness I back off.

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

Quoted message said:

Robert Michiel said:

I developed sudden onset of pain in my left lower posterolateral calf 3
days
ago. I was told that it was a soleus strain, and was advised to use ice,
stretches, and massage, and to avoid running for several days. I tried
running again today on a soft flat surface-trail. For about the first
mile
I felt fine. Then the same pain recurred in exactly the same spot. I
can
run through the pain easily enough, but I am concerned about causing a
more
severe injury. I have a 10 mile race coming up in 2 weeks and the
Vermont
City Marathon on the Memorial Day weekend. I would appreciate any
advice.

Thanks,

Bob

I had some soreness and tightness in my calffor a while some years
back, I just kept up with my normal training until near the end of a
long run I felt what could be described as a rubber band snapping. I
was unable to run again for about a month as I recall. Now when I
have pain and unusual soreness I back off.

Same exact thing happened to me at the end of '05. In the months following
the Vermont 50 miler, I began to do some speed training to finish out the
year with some shorter races. Bad idea: my calves got tight, and I wasn't
fully aware of the risk. During a routine easy run, something snapped in
there. Though it wasn't really painful when it happened, something
definitely tore. Luckily it was December, so I just took a month off. After
that it was fine, and I try to be more careful now to stretch/massage tight
calves.

I'd say to you Bob: follow that advise, massage, then ice, but be careful
stretching it. I'd work it with massage/ice for a couple of days before
running or stretching again. Also I'd first do like a 10 minute walking
warmup, then stretch it very carefully and see how it feels before trying to
run on it. Also eat more protein 😉 Also, in the first few days, don't do
any biking.

-Tony

Charlie Pendejo <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Robert Michiel said:

I developed sudden onset of pain in my left lower
posterolateral calf 3 days ago. I was told that it was a
soleus strain, and was advised to use ice, stretches, and
massage, and to avoid running for several days. I tried
running again today on a soft flat surface-trail. For about
the first mile I felt fine. Then the same pain recurred in
exactly the same spot. I can run through the pain easily
enough, but I am concerned about causing a more severe injury.
I have a 10 mile race coming up in 2 weeks and the Vermont City
Marathon on the Memorial Day weekend. I would appreciate any
advice.

I'm not gonna try to field this - there are others a lot better
qualified to give you advice - but suggest that if you were
otherwise inclined to wear flats for your race, consider
sticking with trainers this time around. A few mm difference in
heel height is something your calf will feel over the course of
ten miles, especially at race pace.

I'll second that. I recently switched to very low profile flats
and after 25 KM of racing in them this past weekend, my calves have
been seriously talking to me.