Has anybody managed to tear a calf muscle?

[pegasi]

I managed to tear my calf muscle, at the point where the muscle attaches to the achilles tendon. It's apparently a common runner's injury. I stepped backwards and went to move to execute a kick, and my calf muscle went crazy. I had had my ankle flexed and my knee straight, like the back leg is in front stance, and went to move, and the calf muscle just went out of nowhere. It felt like someone hit me with a bat in the back of the leg, it was that bad. Took me out of class that day, and I'm still out.

It's been 2 weeks now, the leg still hurts in that area if I try to do some basic wall stretching, so I know not to go back to class yet. I'd rather be in class, but I know if I don't let this heal all the way first, it's likely to get reinjured. So, I'm trying to be patient.

I'm stuck wearing one of those walking boot things, this one is an aircast pneumatic walker. I'm wearing it as much as I can stand, to keep the ankle bent to 90 deg, so that the calf won't heal shortened. I stretch it just a little every day, to the "pain point" where when it hurts, I stop. I hate this darned boot, but on the other hand, if it'll help things heal faster, and save me from having to rehab a very tight muscle, I can live with it.

Anyone else did something like this? Any advice?

[Sohan]

Funny you mention this. I have never had a major tear, but am nursing a nasty pull of my left gastrocnemius as I am writing this. Like you, it kind of came from nowhere, but I probably just overdid it in my workout. Typically, if it's not too severe, something like my injury heals within 72 hrs.

Sounds like you have a fairly major tear, though you should be thankful it's not a complete separation from the bone. I assume you've been to the doc, so my best recommendation is to just be patient and do what the doc and/or your phys therapist tells you. With time, almost everything heals.

Not really related to your exact problem, but I thought this might cheer you up, (hopefully):

Nothing To Worry About

I have nothing to worry about

Except two things.

Am I sick or am I healthy?

If I am healthy, then I have nothing to worry about.

Though if I am sick, I still only have two things to worry about--

Will I get better or will I die?

If I get better, then I have nothing to worry about.

But if I die, I yet again have only have two things to worry about--

Am I going to heaven or am I going to Hades?

If I go to heaven, then I have nothing to worry about.

And if I go to Hades, I'll be too busy visiting with all of my friends down there to have anything to worry about!!!

With respect,

Sohan

[pegasi]

Sadly, no insurance had made it such that I've only seen my GP. He helped where he could by working with me so I could get some meds via a mail order program for people w/o insurance that I could afford, and gave me the rx for the boot. I ended up waiting a week to get one, with all the figuring out of which model was needed, and trying to find one I could afford. Ebay came thru again!

I'm in the wait til it doesn't hurt to try to stretch it before I can go back to class mode. I must've did it rather thoroughly, to still be in pain 2 wks later. I hate sitting around

[Sohan]

In the great scheme of things, when you look back on this, it won't seem that long, though it does now. Be patient, and it will heal. I would recommend to not stretch it for awhile, at least. Since you're not a phys therapy pro, you might unwittingly reinjure the tissue if you overstretch--besides, stretching reduces acute pain sensations in the muscle, so you might do further damage without knowing it as you stretch.

Hang in there.

With respect,

Sohan

[Tiger1962]

I managed to tear my calf muscle, at the point where the muscle attaches to the achilles tendon. It's apparently a common runner's injury. I stepped backwards and went to move to execute a kick, and my calf muscle went crazy. I had had my ankle flexed and my knee straight, like the back leg is in front stance, and went to move, and the calf muscle just went out of nowhere. It felt like someone hit me with a bat in the back of the leg, it was that bad. Took me out of class that day, and I'm still out.

It's been 2 weeks now, the leg still hurts in that area if I try to do some basic wall stretching, so I know not to go back to class yet. I'd rather be in class, but I know if I don't let this heal all the way first, it's likely to get reinjured. So, I'm trying to be patient.

I'm stuck wearing one of those walking boot things, this one is an aircast pneumatic walker. I'm wearing it as much as I can stand, to keep the ankle bent to 90 deg, so that the calf won't heal shortened. I stretch it just a little every day, to the "pain point" where when it hurts, I stop. I hate this darned boot, but on the other hand, if it'll help things heal faster, and save me from having to rehab a very tight muscle, I can live with it.

Anyone else did something like this? Any advice?

Old post but I'm hearing this from a few lately. Anyone getting this injury definitely needs to rest it. I've done this a few times myself and had to go through a couple months of physical therapy. Calf stretches are very important before working out to avoid it happening again. Takes more than 2 weeks to heal. Go slowly, listen to what your M.D. and P.T. tell you to do.

[pegasi]

It took me about 10 weeks to heal, and I've still a visible bulge to my calf on the inside, so I must've got it pretty nastily. I've an odd "knot and dent" to my medial calf muscle when you feel it when it's tensed, so I think I definitely did some damage. Leg still works, so I guess I can't complain too much about the money I spent on the walker boot the doc said to wear to keep the ankle flexed to keep the calf from healing with the foot dropped. (no insurance at the time) It worked, so I can't argue.

[joesteph]

It took me about 10 weeks to heal . . .

Leg still works, so I guess I can't complain too much about the money I spent on the walker boot the doc said to wear to keep the ankle flexed to keep the calf from healing with the foot dropped. (no insurance at the time) It worked, so I can't argue.

You sound like a lucky guy in two ways, pegasi. The first is that you found a doctor who wasn't a specialist but who knew what to do, and the second is that you healed without an operation. Probably only one in a hundred could do what you did, so buy lottery tickets; you're likely the one who hits it big.

I hope you're able to ease back into your martial arts routine with full recovery.

[Tiger1962]

It took me about 10 weeks to heal, and I've still a visible bulge to my calf on the inside, so I must've got it pretty nastily. I've an odd "knot and dent" to my medial calf muscle when you feel it when it's tensed, so I think I definitely did some damage. Leg still works, so I guess I can't complain too much about the money I spent on the walker boot the doc said to wear to keep the ankle flexed to keep the calf from healing with the foot dropped. (no insurance at the time) It worked, so I can't argue.

Yeah, and I definitely would not get rid of any devices you get from your doctor for any injuries. I've collected some over the years - LOL - and unfortunately, have had to use them a FEW times. Not that I wish this on anyone, but it CAN save you some bucks in the long run.

[pegasi]

Well, after 5 knee surgeries and what I did to the left calf, and having had carpal tunnel surgery in both hands, plus having broke my left forearm, I've got quite the collection of orthopedic stuff, let me tell you! I've even added a couple of items, since I knew needing them would be in the future, and the way things are going, the insurance companies are passing on so many costs, I figured I'd pay 5 or 10 bucks now for what they'd try and charge me 200 bucks for, and save myself the misery later. It can sit in my closet, I've the space to store a couple of items I know I'll have to get eventually anyway.

[Tiger1962]

Well, after 5 knee surgeries and what I did to the left calf, and having had carpal tunnel surgery in both hands, plus having broke my left forearm, I've got quite the collection of orthopedic stuff, let me tell you! I've even added a couple of items, since I knew needing them would be in the future, and the way things are going, the insurance companies are passing on so many costs, I figured I'd pay 5 or 10 bucks now for what they'd try and charge me 200 bucks for, and save myself the misery later. It can sit in my closet, I've the space to store a couple of items I know I'll have to get eventually anyway.

Hey, you got the RIGHT idea. Don't laugh but I found a brand new pair of crutches at a garage sale. I hope I never need them but if I do, I have them.

My orthopedic devices are my "trophies" these days and I have a library of stretching exercises that various doctors have printed out and given to me.