Chronic calf pain can be caused by muscle injuries, tendonitis, cramping, cysts, or blood clots. Treatment options include rest, ice, compression, elevation, stretching, exercise, and corrective footwear. More serious cases may require medical attention or surgery.
The most common cause of chronic calf pain is a muscle injury, which can cause inflammation, strains, or tears in any of the three major calf muscles. An injury to those muscles can in turn cause other injuries, resulting in chronic and recurring calf pain. Tendonitis — or swelling of a tendon — is another common cause of chronic calf pain, as are cramping common during exercise. More serious causes of chronic calf pain can include cysts in or around the calf muscles and blood clots, which is a condition that requires medical attention.
A calf strain occurs when too much force is applied to the calf muscles. Muscles are not prepared to bear the load and can contract beyond their normal capacity. A muscle strain causes a dull ache, soreness, tenderness, and general weakness in the calf area. It is usually treated with the RICE system — Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation — as well as light stretching and exercise after several days of rest. Medical care isn’t usually needed to treat a calf strain, although some more serious strains may require physical therapy. A more serious muscle injury will require much more rest and attention as the muscle reattaches itself. In some severe cases, the muscle may need to be surgically repaired.
Chronic calf pain can also result from muscle cramps or overuse. Runners often suffer from chronic calf pain after running too far, especially if the runner’s shoes are old, worn out, or not supportive enough. Corrective footwear or new running shoes can solve the problem, as can sufficient rest between running activities. Cramping can be caused by dehydration or muscle overuse, as well as the buildup of lactic acid in the muscles, and a runner or other athlete should make sure they drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after exercise.
More serious conditions that can cause chronic calf pain include cysts and blood clots. If the pain isn’t the result of an injury or persistent exercise, the cause could be a blood clot. The clot restricts blood flow through the calf, and swelling and pain usually accompany the presence of a clot. If pain persists after surgery, starting a drug regimen, or other out-of-the-ordinary practice, seek immediate medical attention. If the pain is behind the knee, the cause may be a Baker’s cyst; this cyst is caused by fluid collecting over the calf muscles. The fluid will need to be drained to ease the pain.
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