How long do I wait?

[Northernspirit]

Calf injury. It's now 9 days since I first strained this calf of mine. Rested, iced, gelled, stretched. Ran after 5 days but it did hurt after about 10 mins and walked the rest. Not entirely sure it's ready yet. What is the best thing to do? Wait? Rest? Arrrggghhhhhhh!!!

[Irishprincess Graduate]

What a pain. Maybe it's time to see your doctor or physio. Do you need new shoes? Have you been using a foam roller?

[Northernspirit Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Just got a foam roller and that seems to help. I can walk fine now, doesn't hurt generally but I can feel it's tight and still not 100% when stretching....what do you think about a gentle run? Maybe being over cautious!

[Irishprincess Graduate in reply to Northernspirit]

Maybe a slow short run and see how it feels. My calves feel tight'ish all the time and I stretch even on non run days. Have you tried pilates or yoga as that helps with deep stretching. Or, a sports massage which will hurt like bu**ery but will get rid of the tightness.

[Northernspirit Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks! I'm doing stretches daily now but yoga is a great idea thanks. I'm going to go for a short run to try again.....next stop is a massage -yikes- sounds painful!!

[Irishprincess Graduate in reply to Northernspirit]

It is but it works. I'm going on Tuesday and dreading it!

[Northernspirit Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

I have back massages regularly, she uses her elbow and it kills me! Its evil !! m sure she'd relish having a go at my legs haha! Yoga it is

[poppypug Graduate]

Oooh Ahhh the dreaded sports massage

Yep, I had another one on Tuesday. They certainly do the trick but they make me want to cry like a baby xxx

[Irishprincess Graduate in reply to poppypug]

I know poppy. Must remember to wear waterproof mascara that day!

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

.... and a couple of Neurofen an hour before xxx

[ju-ju- Graduate]

Maybe see a physio if it doesn't improve? Have you tried foam rolling??

[Northernspirit Graduate in reply to ju-ju-]

Foam roller is a new acquisition and seems to be helping and maybe physio or sports massage is next! Trying to work out from more experienced runners whether to keep trying to test it out or abstain, but it seems tight calves are part and parcel of being a runner? When is a tight calf that responds to stretching etc not an injury?

[Jo55 Graduate]

If you think it could be a bit more than a minor niggle then professional advice from physio would be best - voice of experience from one who put it off and ended up on the injury couch for nearly 3 months! My easy run started off with 1 minute run 1 minute walk three times then building up by a minute each run, without the advice my easy run would probably of been 15/20 minutes putting me back to square one again.

[Northernspirit Graduate in reply to Jo55]

Thanks Jo! That's my worry...hate the IC. I will try your easy run and then decide on physio etc. it's not hindering me walking at all now, but feels bruised when I massage it.

[Jo55 Graduate]

My rear end still feels bruised when I massage it but the massage certainly helps. Good luck

[LisaGuy-Cowes Graduate]

just getting over tendonitis , going to the physic helped loads. had advice on when start running again and exercises to do in the meantime