Lower calf pain can be caused by muscle strains, poor circulation, dehydration, or blood clots. Prevention includes stretching before exercise, while treatment involves rest, ice, and pain relievers. Serious conditions should be brought to a doctor’s attention immediately.
Lower calf pain is most commonly caused by overstretching, pulling, straining, or pulling the calf muscles. Additional causes of discomfort or soreness could include bruising, poor circulation, insufficient nutrients, dehydration, or deformities in your muscles or tendons. Cramps are usually a temporary condition and can be treated with warmth and a gentle rub or massage, which relaxes the muscles.
Most calf injuries occur during exercise such as walking, running, climbing, swimming, or other activities that require substantial movement of the legs. The best way to prevent most muscle strains is to stretch before working out or playing sports. Another cause of lower calf pain could involve the calf muscles pulling away from the Achilles tendon. If the muscle separates from the tendon, surgery is usually required, followed by several months of rehabilitation to restore range of motion.
Unstable blood pressure can also cause pain in the lower calf and can sometimes cause swelling or impede mobility. Burning, throbbing, or cramping sensations could indicate poor blood circulation, inflamed tissue, or some other problem often associated with varicose veins. Occasionally lower calf pain could be caused by blood clots and could be a serious warning sign of greater health problems.
A condition called deep vein thrombosis can cause calf pain when blood clots form and block veins deep in muscles. This causes swelling and pressure, which aggravates surrounding tissue and can be symptomatic of a stroke or other serious health problem. Deep vein thrombosis and muscle tears, especially if the injury is tendon related, are serious conditions that should be brought to a doctor’s attention immediately.
Lower calf pain can also indicate an unbalanced diet lacking in key nutrients, vitamins or minerals such as potassium. Additionally, dehydration can lead to painful burning sensations throughout your muscles. This condition often starts in muscle groups, such as the calves. If the pain increases, comes back, or doesn’t decrease, it may indicate a problem that only a doctor may be able to diagnose and treat.
Often, however, most causes of lower calf pain are temporary and can be self-treated. Treatments for calf injuries may include raising the leg, applying ice packs, maintaining constant pressure on the injury, resting, and sometimes taking anti-inflammatory medications. While recovering from an injury, gradual stretching and light exercise will help strengthen the healing muscle and regain range of motion. Pain relievers can also provide temporary relief from discomfort.
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