{"id":7513,"date":"2019-07-06T09:50:14","date_gmt":"2019-07-06T09:50:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=7513"},"modified":"2021-06-16T15:14:49","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T15:14:49","slug":"14-things-that-might-be-the-cause-of-calf-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-things-that-might-be-the-cause-of-calf-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Things That Might Be the Cause of Calf Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The calf muscles are things that usually go unnoticed for most people until they become an issue that is. Despite appearing to be up there with some of the strongest muscles in our bodies, calves can be just as susceptible to problems and injury as everywhere else in the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst it is certainly true that most cases of calf pain can be treated at home or with home remedies, there are a number of other causes of calf pain that may require immediate and urgent medical attention from a doctor or at the hospital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you are a professional athlete, someone who works out and wants to look good, or just a regular person hoping to live a pain-free life, pain in the calf can take the wind straight out of your sails and throw you way off course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a list of 8 of the most common reasons why someone would feel pain in the calf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.     Muscle cramp<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyone knows the pain of muscle cramps. Many people describe them as being up there with the worst pain imaginable, whilst others say they even perversely enjoy the sensation of a cramping contraction. It takes all kinds of people to make a world and if muscle cramps are your thing, good for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muscle cramps<\/a> are things that come on suddenly, incredible painful contractions of the muscles. When the cramp is in the calf it can be fairly debilitating. If you were to look at the calf muscle during a cramp you would be able to see the muscle moving and contracting in synchronization with the waves of pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually, cramps are a sign of dehydration and a lack of oxygen in the affected area. This means that in extended periods of exercise and physical exertion it can be fairly common for someone to suffer a cramp in the calf muscle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2.     Muscle strain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you strain a muscle <\/a>in your calf, it’s going to take a lot longer to recover from than a calf cramp, that’s for sure. Interestingly though, the short-lived intense pain of a muscle cramp can actually be more difficult to bear than the long and drawn out pain that comes with a calf strain.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A calf strain occurs through overuse of the muscle or sudden injury. The duration of a calf strain depends on the severity, but usually, someone can find their way back to full fitness in a timeframe of somewhere between 3 and 6 weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This all depends on the base level of fitness of that person though, and it is certainly true that someone who is already physically fit can expect a shorter recovery time than someone who is out of shape and overweight for instance. Following the rest, ice, compression and elevation principles is a good way to speed up the recovery time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3.     Achilles tendonitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tendonitis typically occurs as a result of the overuse of a muscle, a joint or a group of muscles. The Achilles tendon<\/a> stretches from the heel into the belly of the calf and so a case of calf pain could well be caused by tendinitis of the Achilles. This is something that athletes need to be wary of, as tendonitis in the Achilles can be a precursor to or a warning sign of actually rupturing the Achilles tendon.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A full rupture can potentially be career-ending for professional sportsmen and women and so it is pertinent that these people listen to their bodies. Sometimes this tendonitis pain eases with physical activity, only to return again when resting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The returning pain is nearly always worse and full recovery is usually only possible following a decent period of rest. The likelihood of someone rupturing their Achilles tendon is almost doubled when they fail to warm up properly.
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4.     Sciatica<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sciatica <\/a>is pain or sensation that can be felt all through the back of the leg. When this type of stabbing, sharp and shooting type of pain occurs, it isn’t usually as a result of a problem with the calf itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sciatic nerve runs from the spine, through the buttock and down into the foot, meaning that any aggravation or irritation of this nerve is likely to be as a result of an issue with the spine. When a disc herniates or bulges, it can impinge on the sciatic nerve with the most troubling symptom from this being a severe pain that is caused. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sciatica can range on the pain scale to the mildly annoying, right through to excruciatingly painful. Sometimes doctors will offer surgical interventions to address the root cause, but more conservative methods of treatment are usually the first port of call. If sciatica is the cause of your calf pain, treat it as a wider issue than just a calf problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5.     Contusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A calf contusion is another possible cause for someone\u2019s calf pain that you might not have considered. This condition is typically characterized by the appearance of a large bruise on the back part of a person\u2019s lower leg. This bruise <\/a>usually comes on as a result of some sort of damage to the leg.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The damage is usually caused by a direct impact to the calf, which causes significant damage to the muscle fibers and their connective tissues, as well as the small blood vessels that can be found in this part of the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of how this type of pain can occur include cricket, where a very strong ball could strike the calf, or soccer, where a kick to the unprotected rear of the lower leg could pack so much punch that it causes a contusion. Many contusions clear up by themselves with conservative treatment and home remedies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6.     Diabetic peripheral neuropathy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anyone living with the pain of diabetic peripheral neuropathy<\/a> will confirm to anyone who asks the question that it is both draining and painful; It is a condition which knows exactly how to get on your nerves and can be extra painful when feeling in the calf.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What some people don\u2019t know is what brings the condition on in sufferers and the main reason for that is because the causes are varied. The fact that this particular source of calf pain has the word diabetic in it, is an obvious indication as to how this particular type of neuropathy comes on, as a complication of diabetes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with diabetes, especially children, have a lot to deal without developing a condition like this. The only positive to draw perhaps is that people who have diabetes are already well versed in how to look after their own medical conditions, and so should be fairly well equipped to handle this kind of calf pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7.     Deep vein thrombosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A blood clot that develops on the inside of a deep vein, hence the name, deep vein thrombosis<\/a> most often occurs in the leg. This specific type of blood clot forms in the vein and is known as venous thrombosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The larger veins in the leg can be susceptible to this type of clotting and thrombosis and these larger veins are found in both the thigh and the calf. This particular source of calf pain is not only very painful, but it can be very dangerous too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Older people or other people at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis try to fend it off with things like blood thinners and compression socks, however, this isn’t always enough to keep deep vein thrombosis away for as long as a person would choose, which is obviously forever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’ve ever sat through an airplane safety demonstration, you will no doubt have heard the term referred to as a risk of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8.     Compartment syndrome<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Compartment syndrome could be a potential cause of someone\u2019s calf pain. Compartment syndrome comes on when inflammation<\/a>, swelling or bleeding occurs within a compartment of the body, such as the calf. As the fascia beneath the skin is unable to stretch, the added pressure on the capillaries, the nerves and the muscles in that compartment becomes even more increased.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although compartment syndrome can occur in a wide variety of places within the body, compartment syndrome is most often experienced in the calf. This list of 8 potential calf pain causes is far from exhaustive, however, it could well hold the key to unlocking the clues as you try to establish how and why your calf hurts so much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are ever in any doubt, especially in doubt of some of the more serious causes listed here, it’s a good idea to seek advice from a medical professional. Calf pain hurts really, really bad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Arterial Claudication
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The calf muscle acts as a pump, sending blood from the feet back up towards the heart. When the artery <\/a>that is responsible for the circulatory action experiences a blockage or clot, the affected individual may experience a condition known as arterial claudication.\u00a0
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This condition causes pain and cramping in the calf muscle. The cramping symptoms may be sporadic, and patients may notice that the pain is worse in the morning after rising from bed, and then walking to the bathroom. Patients may also experience an increase in pain symptoms, if they sit in a position with the affected cough crossed over the opposite knee, and then try to walk afterward. 
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Arterial claudication may also cause pain when the patient walks, as this type of movement needs blood to flow to the lower limbs. Doctors treat the condition using blood thinners to manage clots and over-the-counter painkillers to manage pain symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10. Neurogenic Claudication
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Neurogenic claudication<\/a> describes a condition affecting the nerves in the lower legs. The affected individual may find that muscles or ligaments trapped the nerves leading to the lower limbs, resulting in symptoms of pain.\u00a0
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Spinal stenosis is a common cause of the condition, and this degenerative bone disease causes a degradation in the vertebrae of the spine. As the discs and vertebrae start to wear away, the nerves in the lower back may become trapped, leading to the onset of pain.
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One of the more common conditions associated with neurogenic claudication is sciatica. Patients who are dealing with sciatica experience the trapping of the sciatic nerve, as the sciatic nerve passes through the piriformis muscle in the hip, it squeezes on the nerve, causing symptoms of pain. 
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The patient may experience shooting pain, emanating from the base of the tailbone, down the back of the leg towards the knee. Other pain symptoms involved with neurogenic claudication include pain while walking, as well as after prolonged periods standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. Plantar Fasciitis
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The plantar fascia<\/a> is a band of connective tissue reaching from the heel towards the base of the toes. Runners who increase their mileage in preparation for a marathon, extend their distance every day until the event.\u00a0
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As a result of the extra distance, the plantar fascia sustains micro-tears to the ligament tissue. These micro-tears may take a few days to heal, and if the runner keeps training, and does not prioritize their recovery, then they main start to notice that the sole begin to feel tight, and exhibit symptoms of pain when walking or running.
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Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition, and many runners may have to hang up their shoes after developing this form of tendonitis. If the affected individual manages to catch it in its early stages and takes the necessary rest to recover the integrity of the ligament, they may be able to reverse the condition. 
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However, in many cases, the runner will keep training, worsening the effects of the plantar fasciitis. In the advanced stages, the patient may not be able to recover the ligament, and they may have to deal with plantar fasciitis symptoms for the rest of their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12. Shin Splints
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Shin splints<\/a> create pain that radiates at the front of the calf muscle. This injury is common in runners that increase their mileage. Every time a runner takes a stride, it creates a foot strike as the heel or ball of the foot makes contact with the ground. This impact runs up the shin bone into the new in the hips, and it’s common for runners to experience issues with these joints and bones.
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As a result of the impact, the tissues around the shin become inflamed, causing symptoms of pain, known as shin splints. This condition makes it challenging for the runner even to walk. The runner can manage pain symptoms using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as Aspirin and Ibuprofen.
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The only way to cure shin splints is through rest and recovery of the muscles and ligaments in the lower limbs. Icing may also help to reduce inflammation and curb the swelling associated with the condition. Wearing compression socks while you run may also act as a preventative measure to prevent shin splints in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13. Dehydration
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Studies show that dehydration <\/a>can affect athletic performance by as much as 60-percent. Since our bodies are more than 65-percent water, a drop-in hydration level affects not only physical performance, but it also affects cognitive functions as well.
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Cramping is one of the more common effects of dehydration, and this may affect any muscle group in the body. However, the calf is usually one of the first muscles to experience the effects of dehydration due to its location in the lower limbs. The calf muscle is a secondary pump that pushes blood from the lower extremities back towards the heart, and in a dehydrated state, this action becomes dysfunctional.
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Medical professionals recommend that we drink six 8-oz glasses of water each day to avoid dehydration. If you compete in sports or train at the gym, then it’s advisable to take along a sports drink to rehydrate yourself after training. Sports drinks contain additional electrolytes that help maintain the body’s mineral balance helping you to avoid cramping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14. Lower-Extremity Peripheral Arterial Disease
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Lower-extremity peripheral artery disease<\/a> occurs when the arteries in the lower limbs become hardened and experienced damage. The arteries may also become narrow, or they may experience a blood clot that blocks circulation.
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As a result of the drop in blood flow, the patient may find they experience symptoms of pain and cramping when they walk or climb stairs. Blood carries oxygen to the muscles, and when the calf does not receive enough oxygenated blood, it results in symptoms of cramping and pain.
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This condition typically occurs in seniors over the age of 60-years old, and the patient may get some relief from lying down for a few hours. However, in some cases, the arteries may become so blocked that the patient does not experience any reduction in symptoms.
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People who are dealing with the blood disorder diabetes, are the most commonly affected by this disorder, and it also may affect people who smoke cigarettes. Patients with lower-extremity peripheral artery disease may also find that wounds on the lower limbs take longer to heal.<\/p>\n\n\n

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