torn calf muscle complications

A torn calf muscle is a common injury in sports involving running, sprinting and changing directions. With muscle injuries the following three symptoms are characteristic: pain upon applying pressure, stretching and activation of the calf muscle against resistance. You may see a gap or dent where the muscle is torn.As this type of severe calf muscle tear results in complete loss of function, performing any activity will be challenging if not impossible. Shar… Its very … Wrap these in a soft cloth and place on your calf for 10 minutes. Avoid walking or other activities that cause pain. If you prefer to call or email us:T: 020 7603 0040 | E: info@kenphysio.com, Telephone: 020 7603 0040 Fax: 020 7117 5640 Email: info@kenphysio.com. You can repeat the process every hour or two for the first ... Heat pads. If not treated correctly a torn calf muscle can be worsened into a larger tear, and sometimes a complete rupture. A grade 1 torn calf muscle will take 1-2 weeks to heal, a grade 2 will take between 4-6 weeks, and a grade 3 can take up to 3 months to heal. The calf muscle is found at the back of the lower leg and is comprised of three muscles: the plantaris, the gastrocnemius and the soleus. Make sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations and let yourself rest to prevent any further injury. This is a common injury, especially among athletes and runners. Prolonged Pain. Tight calf muscles – over time your muscles may tighten up and parts of the muscle may go into spasm, either from congenital reasons (genetics), or poor footwear. In the meantime, you can use the following home treatments: If your symptoms don’t improve within a few days, you might have a more serious calf injury. Calf weakness. Other complications include a slow healing response due to immobility, a long lasting feeling of tightness or pressure in the calf, or some sensitivity or slight sensation change over the tear site. A mild strain can leave you with pain and feelings of pulling within the lower half of your leg. Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly. These muscles can be injured if they get overstretched. It mainly occurs in people playing recreational sports, but it can happen to anyone.The Achilles tendon is a strong fibrous cord that connects the muscles in the back of your calf to your heel bone. If you have a bowel condition or are having bowel surgery, you may be asked to follow a low residue diet. When they're bigger, calf sprains. A torn muscle in the calf describes a serious muscle injury that causes muscle tissue in the back of your leg to tear away from tendons. All rights reserved. Alex Smith's calf strain is about functionality, more challenging because half that calf was used in the muscle transplant to cover his front leg as chronicled by … Deep vein thrombosis, when blood clots form in the veins of the legs. A deep muscle bruise or repeated trauma to the same muscle can cause your muscle tissues to harden and form bone. One primary culprit of calf muscle tears is muscles being too tight. When a strain occurs, muscle fibers are torn to some degree. However, depending on the severity of the injury, it can result in more specific symptoms based on grade: Grade 1 symptoms include a cramping sensation, tightness, and slight pain when the calf muscles stretch and contract. Not warming up properly – if your muscles are particularly tight, then they may be more susceptible to injury. A severe tear in the calf muscle may even prevent you from walking at all. If tissue damage is extensive, you may also have a broken bone, dislocated joint, sprain, torn muscle… Calf muscle tears, when they're minor, are called calf strains. There’s also a risk for a recurring calf muscle strain within one to two weeks of the initial injury. To book an initial consultation with one of our expert physiotherapists, please call us on 0207 6030040 or email us at info@kenphysio.com. The best treatment initially is … Last medically reviewed on July 23, 2018, Strains and sprains are injuries to the soft tissues of the body. A pulled calf muscle refers to strains within the two muscles in the lower back of your leg that make up your calf. Prolonged or chronic pain is the most common complication of an ankle sprain 2.Even severe sprains should be healed and pain-free after 8 weeks, so if pain persists (with inflammation) there is likelihood of an undiagnosed fracture, cartilage tear, or ruptured tendon. 3-4 weeks: The time it takes for a calf muscle to heal depend son how much of the muscle was torn. Rest. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Putting ice on the injured area may ease swelling. A complete tear of the calf muscle is a grade 3. About 30 percent of people with muscle injuries end up having repeated injuries. Calf muscle tear. Symptoms of a pulled calf muscle can depend on the severity of the injury. Due to swelling, the calf muscle can sometimes become extremely large. A torn muscle in calf may vary from a small amount of muscle fibers involved being a grade 1 strain, or a large amount of fibers being a grade 2 strain. Torn blood vessels may cause bluish discoloration. Find out about the causes, symptoms and available treatments. A torn calf muscle, also known as a calf strain or pulled calf, is a common and often painful injury. Fibres of the muscle are torn due to the shear force of the involuntary contraction causing a calf strain. A bout of severe leg cramp may cause damage to the muscle. In total, it usually takes up to three days for a pulled calf muscle to start feeling better. Prescription or over-the-counter medicines. The calf muscle is made up of two main muscles, the soleus and the gastrocnemius. Calf muscle tears have similar symptoms and occur by a similar mechanism to Achilles tendon ruptures. Discover symptoms, risk factors, tips to prevent contracting and transmitting it, and…, Dark knuckles can be caused by different skin conditions, medical conditions, genetics, and more. A pulled calf muscle is diagnosed with a symptom check. This type of injury is caused when one of the two muscles in the calf is overstretched or forced to contract too … Some of the muscle breakdown products, such as the protein myoglobin, are harmful to the kidneys and may lead to kidney failure.. Prompt treatment is important for your overall recovery. This is called a calf strain, or a calf pull, and it's a common injury, especially in athletes You can still walk with a mild strain, but it may be uncomfortable. The chances are greater among athletes who continue to play the same sports and people using the same muscles over and over again. The torn calf muscle may also show signs of bruising in your lower leg behind the knee. Normal movement helps to clear swelling, so oedema can be aggravated by periods of inactivity. Achilles (uh-KILL-eez) tendon rupture is an injury that affects the back of your lower leg. You can help prevent muscle strains and pulled calf muscles by: You can also prevent pulled calf muscles by avoiding strenuous activities you’re not ready for. But until you can get to an appointment, resting and icing your calf will help control the pain and inflammation. Pain will usually flow throughout the leg making its way down to the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle. There are also potential complications from a torn muscle, such as blood clots. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Symptoms may include muscle pains, weakness, vomiting, and confusion. Severe cramp & complications. While you shouldn’t resume normal activities until your calf muscle heals, there are some stretches that can complement rest and other treatment measures. Ask your doctor about the following exercises you can try at home during your calf muscle recovery: Once you’ve had a pulled calf muscle, you’re at much greater risk for getting another strain of this type in the future. Pain that is throbbing while at rest but sharp and stabbing when you attempt to stand or walk. Ice or cold compresses. A torn meniscus causes pain, swelling and stiffness. We’ll show you ways to loosen up tight hamstrings, plus provide tips for preventing hamstring tightness and improving flexibility. With total ruptures a defect can often be seen and felt in the muscle, and above and below the rupture a swelling can be felt (the contracted muscle belly and bleeding). How to Treat and Prevent Tight Hamstrings, inability to stand up on the ball of your foot, warming up for at least five minutes before exercise, including deep stretches, cooling down for five minutes after you work out, stretching your muscles again for five minutes after you’ve cooled down. What Causes Dark Knuckles and How Can You Treat Them? As a result, if you touch the injured calf, you can feel the muscle fibers bunched up at one spot. The swelling and bruising makes the area tender to touch. Grade 3: This is the most severe calf strain with a complete tearing or rupture of muscle fibres in the lower leg. You may think you’ve just been hit in the leg and potentially hear a “pop.” There is sudden pain at the back of the calf. A doctor, personal trainer, or physical therapist can offer recommendations for taking your workouts to the next level when it’s appropriate. Achilles tendon ruptures involve the actual Achilles tendon with pain located just … This will significantly slow the healing process. Walking on recovering calf muscles can also increase recovery time. A sign of a torn calf muscle is similar to that of an Achilles tendon rupture. We include products we think are useful for our readers. They may even have you do mild stretches while they look at your calf muscle to see if it’s pulled. The injured muscle may feel weak and stiff. Injury to a calf muscle can range from a strain or pull that you can treat at home to a more serious tear that may need a doctor's care. The difference is the location of the injury. Topic Overview. Can Testosterone Supplements Improve Your Sex Drive? While not necessarily painful, this lump must be treated by a doctor to avoid further muscle injury. Stretching not only helps with recovery of your affected muscles, but it can also help your knee and ankle joints remain stabilized and mobile. Notable symptoms for a strained or torn calf muscle are stiffness, swelling, pain, and bruising. Acute compartment syndrome, when pressure builds up in the muscles of the foot and impedes blood flow. A doctor may recommend surgery to treat a severely strained or torn calf muscle. While it may be difficult to rest your affected leg for a few days, moving around too soon can make the muscle strain worse. This is a much more severe condition. Other signs of a pulled calf muscle include: A severe pull in your calf muscles can leave you with feelings of sharp pain. Calf problems - Muscle, bone and joint injuries | NHS inform Learn more about the potential benefits and…. Treatment for a gastrocnemius muscle tear. It's the result of muscles and tendons losing elasticity as we age, and it's the most common cause of calf pain in athletes. Torn Calf Muscle Complications. Calf (Gastrocnemius) muscle tears commonly occur in middle-aged recreational athletes while performing actions that require forceful contraction of the calf muscle (ex: basketball, hill running, tennis, etc.). A sudden tendon rupture (such as the Achilles tendon) is often excruciating and feels like someone has shot you from... A severely strained calf will likely cause bruising, which will settle into your foot and turn it black and blue. Your doctor may also prescribe stronger pain medications — these are only taken temporarily and shouldn’t be used more often than as prescribed. Propping up your calf slightly above the level of your heart may lessen swelling. Here is an overview of calf pain diagnoses that are muscular in origin, ranging from a calf muscle strain (when the muscle is overstretched or torn) to a muscle cramp or bruise. 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