i was playing racketball two weeks ago and thought i pulled a calf muscle. i went to the doc. and he said i torn the muscle. i had internal bleeding and the blood pooled to my foot. the foot got pretty swollen and very sore. for two weeks now i've been hobbling around in about the same pain as day one. the doc said it will go away in a couple of weeks, but i am not convinced of his assessment. he did determine the achilles is not torn, but i still am in alot of pain. i'd like to know if anyone has done the same and can give me some advice about the problem. also, it happened right when i was starting to get in the groove of training on a daily basis. thank you in advance. Jon

I thought I was wiiting about my own injury. I too was playing racquetball and tore the calf muscle and the blood pooled in my ancle.
My injury happened two weeks ago tomorrow. I had a tournament to play in a couple of days my game was just getting back together after 20 years after not playing. I play in a league, out of 45 guys and a few women I ranked 16.
Currently I see a chiropractor once week. He is using ultra sound and this week my therapist will begin massage.
I also use some essential oils that help produce healing.
What are you doing for yours.
Harold

I just got back from the gym. I was playing racquetball and felt a pop in my calf while trying to sprint to the front wall. I actually thought one of the other guys had hit me in the calf with his racquet. Instant pain and I can hardly walk. I'm fairly certain that I tore something, but I'l let the doc tell me for sure. You guys said that the tear caused internal bleeding and the blood "pooled." I'm trying to keep my leg up, but my calf feels like it's on fire. I've also got it iced, I hope this helps. First post says two weeks, no real improvement although the second post says that things are much better after two weeks. I wonder how long it will be before I can get back on the court?

miesvander:

You might want to see a doctor if you heard something pop.

My achilles had to be sewn back together after I heard it pop like that a few years ago during a soccer game. I walked around for 3 days before I was dragged to the doctor's office, and was told that the tendon was totally detached.

And I tore my left calf early last June, and it limited my running to almost zero for the rest of the summer ---although doing a triathlon every couple of weeks or so never allowed it time to heal. The good news is that its OK now; except the right calf is sore. Go figure.

thehitman

have you all been doing the whole RICE thing? rest, ice, compression, elevation? if not, that's where i'd start... stay off it when it hurts, don't push through pain, don't do things to cause pain, take some NSAIDS for the pain and inflammation... for at least a week i'd say. then *gently* and *slowly* get back to normal. if it's really still that bad, look into physical therapy... they'll get you back in a few weeks i'd think. if not, go back to the doc and see what's up.

don't wait for the woman in your life to drag you back either... pride heals faster than a torn achilles... hahaha... ;)

my 2 cents, hope you all feel better...

annie

Remind me never to play racketball!!

Annie:

Thanks for the advise, but its too late.

A few hundred yards from the finish of my 4 mile run yesterday, I came to my senses and slowed down --- no need to sprint that last incline. I felt a sharp pain in my right calf a few seconds later, and am limping around today. Maybe today I'll just go looking for that woman!!!

thehitman

thehitman-
what do you mean it's too late? now that you've reinjured yourself, it's the perfect chance to start over and do what you should have done before! :p RICE, RICE baby.... unless you heard that pop, then to the MD pronto.

it's funny (not funny-haha, more like funny-ouch) to see how all you guys just fit the patient demographic of torn achilles tendons to a T... textbook cases, all of you.....

take care of yourselves and feel better!!

:)
annie

Annie:

Thanks again. Luckily; no pop. It'll be better in no time (famous last words).

And you're right about the stereotype -- so its just swimming for a few days; and maybe the bike, if it stops snowing. Do I still fit the mold?

Now its off to make some of that rice you mentioned -- a growing boy's gotta eat!.

thehitman

up your protein and amino acids to help rebuild the muscle. up your vitamins,. help your body heal faster.

Annie -

OK. I did it your way. Swimming only during the last 9 days.

The muscle was still sore earlier this week, but feels fine now. No more running though, at least through the weekend.

Tomorrow, it'll be a 30 or 60 mile group ride, depending on how it feels.

thehitman

the hitman-
congratulations!! way to listen to your body and not your pride... it sounds like you are one of the successful few who can do that.

you'll be right back on track in no time... happy injury-free training!

:)
annie

Thanks again, Annie.... but.....

I had no problem with the ride --- 30 miles; didn't want to push it (although I did charge the hills; duh).

Yesterday, jogging with my dog...... same story as before - right before the finish, on an incline.... I felt that same pain.

Back to square one.
At least its early in the year.
Live and learn

thehitman

hitman-
you've got to be kidding me... what's up with that?? are you sure it's not your dog nipping at your heels? that would be painful too... ;)

ok, so the fact that you've done this several times and basic treatment hasn't worked for you leads me to believe that there's something more here... i'd talk to the doc and find a good Physical Therapist in your area. you might be having some biomechanical issues that you need to fix (foot structure, shoes, muscle imbalances, etc) before you can really get into running again.

maybe for next time (we're talking after you've rested it for a week) try an elliptical or something at the gym that's non-impact but simulates running... and doesn't have an incline.

good luck and let me know how it goes... i'm interested to see what the PT has to say...

:)
annie
(can you guess what my major is in college?)

Annie -

Actually a dog did clamp onto my left calf, but that was a life-time or two ago (yours, not mine). Nothing a few stitches and a few doses of penicillin couldn't fix.

And you're absolutely on target about the eliptical --- I spent all winter on an eliptical and a Nordictrack Teton (up to 50 degree climbs) putting the spring back in my legs.

The bottom line is I just did too much, too soon. Initially (more mileage this year than the past twenty, combined), and then after the initial tear. It won't happen again.

I'll let you know how things progress.

thehitman

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who has this injury. I did it on the ski slopes about a week ago. I'm really glad to see that I probably don't need a cast, given what others have advised. I can walk on it fine, although it does get tight if I stretch it much. I was a bit non plussed to see my ankle swell and get black and blue. But it seems to be getting better day by day, so I'm hoping I don't need any medical intervention at this point. Now I need to find a good PT or bodyworker.
I realized when this happened that I did this, a bit less severely, about 15 years ago in a karate class. I suspect I'll have to be careful from now on not to redo the damage.
Jason

....I went to track practice and then after i went swimming. I did a flip turn and as soon as i kicked off i felt something tare. It hurt soo badly. Turns out i tore my calf muscle. Its been almost 2 months now and it still isnt healed all the way. I have to go to phyiscal therpy and i ruined my whole track season :(

Yeah, it takes a while.

Its been about 8 weeks, and I'll probably go for a run tomorrow to test mine out. A couple of app. 200 mile weeks on the bike didn't seem to bother it, but running's a whole different story. If it's still sore, it looks like delaying my first triathlon of the season from mid-May to maybe mid-June.

thehitman

Three years ago in Tai Kwon Do class I was sparring with three other white belts like myself. I lunged forward on my right foot and, like mentioned above, I thought someone hit my right calf with a hammer. My calf, not my ankle, was dark purple surrounded by yellow the next day and for many weeks to follow. It took about 4 months before I could walk with no limp. It took THREE YEARS before I could run again. My right calf still hurts occasionally and I am never agressive with it anymore. My story gets worse. Less than three weeks ago, after losing 30 pounds from 9 mile walks mixed with light jogging and a little sprinting, I was dancing at my Synanogue in a big circle. I've been quite the dancer since I was 7. I am 36 now. I did a really fast three steps back then an immediate lung forward off of the ball of my left foot and POP went the left calf! The second I did it I thought to myself, "I can't believe I did it again!"
So I am here on my bed 12 days later looking at my left calf that is completly dark purple. This time, however, I got immediate medical attention. Last time I did not and was doing dorsi flexion stretches the day after I got the right calf injury. (dorsi flexion is bringing the toe up towrds the knee) I am not putting any weight on my left foot what-so-ever. It is very very spooky to me now because I know as I get older I might POP both calves at the same time potentially(G_D forbid) I just wanted to warn all of you that think this type of calf injury, that we all have sustained, will heal in a matter of weeks. Nope, you better think in terms of years and if all of you keep ripping the muscle fibers with continued excersize, you might consider that it will never fully heal! I cried a few nights a week ago, not because of the immediate pain, it was the pain of knowing that my new left calf injury is going to take from two to three years to heal to where I can run again. I am doing much better now. I am dealing great with the pain because I am brave, tough, and, oh did I mention on a hell of a lot of Vicodin? :-) Please, please, stop excersizing on your injuries, you will just keep creating newer and worse scar tissue unless you let it heal. Thank you for your stories, nice to hear I am not the only thirty-something year old guy that is trying to do things like I use to do when I was 22yrs. old. :-O Ice is good, biking is easier than running because pushing a peddle down can be done like you are standing on your tippy toes, which is opposite of dorsi flexion....
take it easy
from
Aaron

Three years ago in Tai Kwon Do class I was sparring with three other white belts like myself. I lunged forward on my right foot and, like mentioned above, I thought someone hit my right calf with a hammer. My calf, not my ankle, was dark purple surrounded by yellow the next day and for many weeks to follow. It took about 4 months before I could walk with no limp. It took THREE YEARS before I could run again. My right calf still hurts occasionally and I am never agressive with it anymore. My story gets worse. Less than three weeks ago, after losing 30 pounds from 9 mile walks mixed with light jogging and a little sprinting, I was dancing at my Synanogue in a big circle. I've been quite the dancer since I was 7. I am 36 now. I did a really fast three steps back then an immediate lung forward off of the ball of my left foot and POP went the left calf! The second I did it I thought to myself, "I can't believe I did it again!"
So I am here on my bed 12 days later looking at my left calf that is completly dark purple. This time, however, I got immediate medical attention. Last time I did not and was doing dorsi flexion stretches the day after I got the right calf injury. (dorsi flexion is bringing the toe up towrds the knee) I am not putting any weight on my left foot what-so-ever. It is very very spooky to me now because I know as I get older I might POP both calves at the same time potentially(G_D forbid) I just wanted to warn all of you that think this type of calf injury, that we all have sustained, will heal in a matter of weeks. Nope, you better think in terms of years and if all of you keep ripping the muscle fibers with continued excersize, you might consider that it will never fully heal! I cried a few nights a week ago, not because of the immediate pain, it was the pain of knowing that my new left calf injury is going to take from two to three years to heal to where I can run again. I am doing much better now. I am dealing great with the pain because I am brave, tough, and, oh did I mention on a hell of a lot of Vicodin? :-) Please, please, stop excersizing on your injuries, you will just keep creating newer and worse scar tissue unless you let it heal. Thank you for your stories, nice to hear I am not the only thirty-something year old guy that is trying to do things like I use to do when I was 22yrs. old. :-O Ice is good, biking is easier than running because pushing a peddle down can be done like you are standing on your tippy toes, which is opposite of dorsi flexion....
take it easy
from
Aaron

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/
leg_injuries/a/leg6.htm

paste above address to url bar and
read-it's good

Years?
I don't think so.
Maybe I shouldn't have run in that duathlon yesterday, but I'm sure not going to wait a few years for a pulled or torn muscle to heal.

That said, I'm thinking about putting off my first triathlon of the year until June. And if someone's telling you that it'll take two or three years for your calf to heal, it's time for a second opinoin.

thehitman

Another update on my pulled calf muscle.

Here's a thread today where the advise to another injury is:

"I found just tuffing it out was the quickest way to recovery"
http://www.trifuel.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2787

and my comment:

When I pulled my calf muscle in early March, I'm glad you weren't there to give me advise.
I scratched 3 or 4 early triathlons and took it slow. My legs are as healthy as they've been in a long time, I'm fast, and I'm ready for my "A" races in July. Thanks Annie, et al.

It took a full 3 months before my calf injury felt fully healed. In my first two triathlons of the season, I've passed a lot of runners (for a change), and have been passed by just one - a guy doing an 18 flat 5K split. Now if I could just get that swim stroke to start producing.....

thehitman

Okay, it's been just over 4 months since I paid a visit to the doctor for my torn left calf muscle. It took a full 3 months before I even felt comfortable running and I'm now back on the racquetball courts again. For those of you that have torn your calf muscles I feel for you, that just plain sucked. For those of you that haven't torn your calf muscle yet, it will happen, and the doctor has good drugs that will make it feel much better. I used to just smile at the ones streching and tried not to step on them as I took the court. I never thought that I would get old and have my body fail me like this, but things change, and rethinking the "I'm not that old" is not a bad thing. I now spend a good 10 to 15 minutes stretching before I even consider taking the court. I don't ever want to have to go through that torn calf garbage again. I now watch the younger guys stepping over me to take the court and just think to myself "do you really want to learn the hard way?"

miesvander -

Just don't forget the lesson learned.

By the way, I haven't been running all week --- that calf is sore after 4 triathlons in 4 weeks. I made a conscious decision to "tuff it out" in the last 2, and accomplished one of my primary goals in the process. Today, I'm paying the expected penalty. I scratched tomorrow's triathlon, but am hoping I'll be ready next week.

thehitman
http://www.bobmayerlaw.com/aboutus2.html

I was sparring in Karate... after delivering a kick with my right leg; I brought it back behind me and planted to prepare for a counter-attack. I very loud pop and then I felt as if someone tapped my calf.. I instinctively looked back to see who was messing with me, but there was nobody there. I was confused, because I didn’t really feel much pain, but my mind was putting it all together – then it hit me. A wave of nausea and cold sweat followed, but I was still able to walk off of the dojo floor and eventually drive home to do the R.I.C.E routine.

With me, there wasn’t a whole lot of swelling and bruising within the first few days, but I couldn’t really walk without a cane and the pain was very intense while trying to walk. On day three I had a MRI done that showed an extensive tear from the top to bottom of my calf. On day four my foot and ankle swelled A LOT and purples and yellows started appearing at my ankle and eventually creped all the way to my toes and the underside of my foot was completely black and blue. My foot was so swollen that it ripped the elastic on the sides of my loafer.

Fortunately, my PT told my that it was OK to use the exercise bike… this motion didn’t hurt my calf at all, so I did a lot of that, combined with the stretching and ultrasound. 3 ½ months later I still have soreness and tightness when walking (after long periods of inaction) but once I warm up and stretch out everything works pretty well. I really screwed my knee up because I was gimping so badly for the first 4 weeks.

NOTES for others reading this looking for information after similar injury (docs aren’t very forthcoming with what to expect):

1) First 10 days REALLY sucked! It seemed to get worse each day until day 11, and then there was a miraculous improvement!

2) Getting out of bed REALLY sucked for the first week or so. It felt like my calf was literally exploding for about 5 minutes after throwing my leg off the side of the bed. TIP; before getting out of bed in the morning, move your ankle around for a few minutes to get the blood going SLOWLY, then just let the affected calf hang over the side of the bed for a little while, gradually letting more blood into the area, then stand.. again slowly adding more weight to it until the pain subsides a bit…. This process really helped.

3) See a Physiatrist! These docs specialize in these types of injuries and they will hook you up with a PT who will immediately get you using your wheels again and back on the road to recovery. I was back in the dojo doing most of my routines with two weeks, but it was more like 8 weeks before I could do most stuff without thinking about my calf.