RunningAHEAD - Topic: calf muscle strain vs. tear

staunen2

Otium cum dignitate

posted: 8/17/2008 at 9:55 AM

I've been out for going on two weeks with what I thought was just a left calf strain, but am now wondering if it's accually a tear. The pain is much more specific and long lasting than starins I've had in the past - it's tender to the touch and has shown a little bruising, as well. What's are the differences in symptoms between a calf tear and a strain?

Maplefly

Hoping to Run Again :-(

posted: 8/17/2008 at 11:36 AM

As you may know, all calf strains are actually micro-tears in the muscle. Strains are graded by severity with the highest 3 being a complete rupture. I'm not sure how the symptoms differ. I know some people actually hear an audible pop with a tear, but I didn't. I experienced a sharp sting in my lower calf last year in the middle of a routine run. I had recently thrown myself into a new speedwork routine and basically over-did it. I stressed about it for weeks, waiting a few days, then trying to run and soon I wasn't even able to walk without pain. Mine was slightly swollen and very painful, but no bruising. It wouldn't hurt when stepping down, but scream at me when I lifted the leg. Convinced I had a stress fracture, I ended up working with an orthopedic surgeon/sports injury specialist on a diagnosis of a low-grade soleus tear. R.I.C.E. and an agonizing but short stint on crutches followed by massage finally fixed it for me. Bottom line: calf injuries are nasty, take a long time to heal and I would recommend easing off the running until the pain eases completely. If I had let mine heal initially and not made it worse I would've been back running much sooner. No exercise at all for 10 weeks nearly drove me insane!

~ Fly ~
Only as much as I dream can I be.
veggies on the run

staunen2

Otium cum dignitate

posted: 8/17/2008 at 1:51 PM

I have no swelling and didn't hear a 'pop' (the pain came more gradually than in a sudden stabbing way), so maybe mine is a lower grade strain. Like a knuckhead, I've tried going out a couple times when it'd begun to feel a bit better in the hope of salvaging/maintaining hope for a marathon in late October, only to feel the pain creep back. I've got to keep the big picture in focus and try to give it a bit more time (without going insane!). Thanks.

Lifesabeach

posted: 8/17/2008 at 2:02 PM

not sure the difference either. I had swelling and tender-to-the-touch pain in both of mine. I tried the no-running thing...intermittently but I really didn't have time to fully stop running. I went to a sport chiro and he did TENS, ultrasound and deep tissue massage. The massage will make you scream like a little girl but really, it's key. Hope you can get a grip on that. It was the worst 4 months of my life earlier this year. I did one leg and then the other...

Jennifer mm#1231

ant259

posted: 8/17/2008 at 5:26 PM

Can I refer you guys to my posts on the "Calf Problem" thread? I don't really have any localised pain as such, nothing where you could touch it and go "ah, that's where the problem is" - I'm really just praying I've not got some long-term thing.

staunen2

Otium cum dignitate

posted: 8/18/2008 at 8:36 AM

I went for a sports massage shortly after the pain started and while these are never comfortable, this was excruciating. Now I'm wondering if the therapist was digging her elbow into a partly torn muscle. Anyway, as of Wednesday it'll be two weeks without running ... if I don't get back on the road soon I'm fairly certain to come at least marginally unhinged.

calf muscle strain vs. tear (Read 1707 times)