Readers ask: Pain, Back Of Calf Hurts When I Flex My Foot Up?

When should I be concerned about calf pain?

Call for immediate medical help or go to an emergency room if you: Have a leg injury with a deep cut or exposed bone or tendon. Are unable to walk or put weight on your leg. Have pain, swelling, redness or warmth in your calf.

Why do the back of my calves hurt when I walk?

Claudication is a common condition where pain occurs in the legs with exercise due to a reduction in the circulation. The cause is hardening of the arteries otherwise known as atherosclerosis. The common symptom is of a cramp like pain developing in the calf muscles on walking.

What does a strained calf muscle feel like?

With a calf strain, you may experience: Sharp pain in the back of the lower leg. The pain can resolve quickly or last for a while. Throbbing pain at rest, with sharp stabs of pain when you try to stand or walk.

Why does the back of my upper calf hurt?

While muscle injuries are the most common cause of calf pain, there are others that may stem from nerve problems, knee joint problems, or foot and ankle conditions. Injuries that fall within this category are more likely to require medical attention or physical therapy.

What does a blood clot feel like in your calf?

A DVT blood clot can cause a calf cramp that feels a lot like a charley horse. Like leg pain, the cramping sensation with DVT will persist and even worsen with time. It won’t clear up with stretching or walking it off like an ordinary charley horse.

How do I know if my calf pain is serious?

Symptoms that might indicate a more severe condition include: swelling. unusual coolness or pale color in the calf. tingling or numbness in the calf and leg. 8. Compartment syndrome

1. severe pain that doesn’t improve after rest or medication.
2. numbness.
3. trouble moving the affected area.
4. a noticeable bulge in the affected muscle.

Is calf pain a sign of heart attack?

When it does, it’s called peripheral arterial disease, or PAD. And in some people, PAD causes leg pain that acts as an ‘early warning’ that someone is at high risk for a heart attack or a stroke, says a University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center expert.

What are the symptoms of a blocked artery in your leg?

Claudication is a symptom of a narrowing or blockage of an artery. Typical symptoms of claudication include: Pain, a burning feeling, or a tired feeling in the legs and buttocks when you walk. Shiny, hairless, blotchy foot skin that may get sores.

How do you relieve tight calf muscles?

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) is good for immediate treatment of muscle issues in the first 48 to 72 hours after you notice tightness and pain. Following the RICE method helps reduce damage in the muscles. Try using an ice pack for 20 minutes every two hours while resting and elevating the leg.

Should you massage a pulled muscle?

Massage. Therapeutic massage helps loosen tight muscles and increase blood flow to help heal damaged tissues. Applying pressure to the injured muscle tissue also helps remove excess fluid and cellular waste products. A 2012 study found that massage immediately following an injury may even speed strained muscle healing.

How long does a calf muscle strain last?

In total, it usually takes up to three days for a pulled calf muscle to start feeling better. But a full recovery may take up to six weeks, according to Oxford University Hospitals. Severe swelling can make any pain and discomfort last a bit longer. Walking on recovering calf muscles can also increase recovery time.

Should you massage a calf strain?

Getting a massage is also very beneficial right after the initial injury (just not at the site of the tear!) Massage can lengthen the entire posterior chain while increasing circulation around the strain through the whole leg. Rubbing the bottom of your foot over a tennis ball can also ease the pain felt in the calf.

Why does my calf have a dull ache?

Muscle Strain Stretch too far or put too much pressure on your calf, and you can strain your muscle. If so, you’ll have a dull ache that worsens when you move. Swelling, redness, or a bruise are also common, and it may hurt to rise up on your toes. Rest and ice can help.

Can Plantar fasciitis cause pain in the calf?

Does plantar fasciitis cause pain in the calf? Pain in the calf usually comes from muscles that are too tight. If those muscles are tight, that contributes to additional stress on the plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis itself does not cause calf muscle pain.

Why do my calf muscles hurt when I wake up?

Tight calf muscles can be most painful or stiff first thing in the morning because the muscles in the foot and leg tighten overnight. One of the most effective ways to alleviate this is to regularly stretch your calves, which will decrease abnormal pronation, mid-foot collapse and excess pressure.