Calf muscle pain ?soleus?

[guy909uk]

Hi, thank you all for you replies.

Since first posting here I have improved a little, but not far. I can now complete 3 sets of straight leg and knee bent calf raises on single leg, however when I walk around I still get the sharp pain in the centre of my calf (feels really deep down), and it's particularly worse when I am in the process of sitting down (sharp pain as I take my weight of it) and when I stand up. I am really keen to get back to training properly, but do not want to do the injury again. I wonder whether the sharp pain is related to nerve rather than the muscle as it feels different from when I initially did it back in January in that the sharp pain is specifically in one spot, where as presviously I had some pain at the top of my achillis. Can anyone advise me if this may be the case? And if so, how can I sort it out!?
Thanks in advance for your help. It's really appreciated,
Guy

[kmdebique]

Hi Guy

Have you seen an MD/Phyiotherapist about this? You've gotten quite a bit of advice, but it's not clear to me, if you're even sure about what is going on with your leg. Treatments for Achilles tendonitis/tendinopathy varies depending on which part of the tendon it affects. Treatment programs for injuries at the musculotendinous junction have a different success rate than those affecting the insertion to the calcaneus.
Treatments for muscle strains also vary depending on the length of time of injury.

The easiest thing ,hopefully, would be to get an MRI or an Ultrasound of the area. This would help to rule out some of the possibilities of other things causing your pain and allow us to help you better.
The suggestion of calcification sounds like a possibility judging from the length of time of trying with little success and the sharp sticking pain, but then so do other conditions as well.

So can you help us with any supporting medical assessments or findings, as I'd like to see you return to Rugby as soon as possible as well?

Karielle

[guy909uk]

Thanks for your reply Karielle,

I went to see a physio today who says that I have neural tension, and has suggested that the pain is referred from the back. I have been experiencing a little discomfort in the right buttock along with the calf pain, but I wasn't sure if they were related.

He said that my slump test was positive and has given be some stretches as well as performing some "mobes!"
It is reassuring having seen the physio that I am going in the right direction now. He said that the original calf strain could have been a bit of a "red herring" or could have had a neural component.
I feel a little like I have wasted peoples time on this thread, and I just wanted to say thank you for all your help. Perhaps this will encourage people with a similar problem to consider ruling out neural causes with a physio.

I am aware that a buldging disc can cause these symptoms, (which I would like to think I don't have!). Presumably one can get "tightness" in the sciatic nerve without serious back pathology? I am still aiming to be good for Sept and the rugby season!
Thanks again for your help and patience,
Guy