Does anyone have any positive calf strain recovery stories...?

[Sandraj39]

Just wondering, as all I have read is of people having recurrent problems! I tore my gastric calf muscle 9 days ago. The bruising and slight swelling have now settled down. Have been hobbling around and still have a slight limp due more to tightness than pain. Have treated with ice, rest and elevation and will probably see a physio once it has settled a little more for some exercises, although I have already thought the NHS strength and flexibility programme might also help.

Anyway, having worked my way to week 8 of the programme, feeling so comfortable and not a calf twinge to be had, this injury was actually sustained playing a stop start game of chase with the kids where I work, not whilst out running.

I am just desperate to hear from someone, anyone, who has also had quite a bad strain like this and been able to run ag again. I have been told that key to recovery is letting the muscle heal first, so I know I won't be running for a while but I am quite low about the possibility of this stopping me running. Just need something to hold on to I guess...

Thanks

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Darned autocorrect.. That should read gastroc...!

[AllieG Graduate]

*stands up and puts up hand* me, miss!

I tore my gastroc muscle a couple of years ago sprinting down a corridor at work (theatre nurse). It was before I started running, though. It took a good few weeks to get better, but, it did. Not wearing completely flat shoes helped and I stick to that now.

One of the foot surgeons told me to put some raisers in my shoes at the heels, just to lift them a bit and take the strain off my calves. I got them from Boots, they ain't cheap but they really helped. They were green, I think they still are now. I have a few pairs of utterly flat sneakers that I couldn't wear without them.

As for running... I started C25K in December, but really suffered with tight calves and shin splints initially. I had to stop completely for a good few weeks and re-think everything... Went too fast, too far too quick, broke Laura's rules basically. I went to see a physio in the end because I just couldn't see a way through it. That was a really positive experience, he checked my gait and gave me some exercises to do (I had to do them religiously, 3 times a day). After a while I could run a kilometer, then a mile... When I graduated from the programme I could manage about 4.5k in the 30 mins.

My calves are still quite tight, but it's just the way they are. I can't really crouch at all without my heels lifting from the ground, but I'm just very careful with the running. Any serious niggles I rest and go for a swim instead, but luckily it all seems much better now. I'm still chasing a sub-30 5K (my PB is just over 31 mins but I will do it, I'm sure) but running is such a joy that speed doesn't and shouldn't really matter.

Today I ran 12 kilometers. I guess that's the proof that with the right advice and a bit of time, it all comes good.

Keep us posted!

[Sandraj39 Graduate in reply to AllieG]

Thank you so much for posting Allie, I can't tell you how much I needed to hear that! Rediscovering the power of running has helped me not just physically, but emotionally too - in just a couple of months I had become a much calmer and less anxious person (according to my OH and kids!). Your story just confirms that this does not have to be the end of my running, just a temporary blip! Amazing that you are now running such distances - thank you for brightening up my day a little 😀

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to AllieG]

love to know the exercises..

[AllieG Graduate]

Oh you are more than welcome. This forum is great for stuff like this. The whole running thing has transformed my life and my health in so many ways. I've always had issues with depression and anxiety; it's completely under control now. My OH says, "you walk taller now!"

[Northernspirit Graduate]

Hi, I had a calf strain at about week 9 and it scuppered me for about 2 weeks. It's going to be OK and you will run again don't worry make sure you rest etc and maybe try heat as well to losen it if the initial swelling has subsided. Good luck!!

[Sandraj39 Graduate in reply to Northernspirit]

Thank you too for your words of encouragement! I thinkI will try some heat now actually as it is more stiff than sore now.

[Northernspirit Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

I bought a foam roller it's sort of an instrument of torture but works well on stiff calves....look em up

The thing with this running malarkey is staying off the injury couch....currently occupying a space with a hip / thigh niggle which won't go away, so I know how you feel. Hang in there and keep the faith

[Girlyswot Graduate]

Hi, I tore my calf muscle in December 2013 playing indoor cricket. I had bruising on my leg and foot (I don't bruise easily). It took a fair while (and physio) to put it right. I started C25k last August and got to w9r1 and had to stop due to tight calf muscles. Thanks to further exercises, I graduated in January and run regularly (have done 4 parkruns). I now do the exercises on the NHS choices site which you may find helpful. Don't despair, I'm sure you will get back to running and be fine - good luck ! xx

[Sandraj39 Graduate in reply to Girlyswot]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. All is definitely not lost then...and I have already seen those exercises and plan to gradually build them in to daily life as my leg allows. Great to hear that it did not stop you running In the long run.

X

[Anaverageman Graduate]

you have a GASTRIC calf muscle??

mmm * sings*

the ankle bone's connected to the hip bone, the hip bones connected to the shoulder bone.. the shoulder bones connected to the finger bone..

OK, so anatomy was never MY Strong point either...

ON a more serious note. yes I tore my calf muscle a few years back ( not through constant running), but after a hard session in the gym one evening , I ran to catch a train the following day and felt it go twang.. then had to quite literally hop to train and limp/hop all round London cos i had meetings i had to go to..

BUT the good news was it did heal fully.. and (RICE aside ) not much i could do to speed it up.. just make sure you give yourself enough time.. there really isn't much else for a muscle tear.. deep massage/ foam rollers may HELP.. but that's more likely in the case of a strain really....

*Heads off to study his anatomy books looking for this gastric calf muscle.. *

[Sandraj39 Graduate in reply to Anaverageman]

I did of course mean 'Gastroc', short for Gastrocnemius (darn autocorrect!) - hope you didn't spend too long looking for the gastric muscle😉!

Thanks for your reply though. I am now 4 and a half weeks on from accident and it seems to be healing well, although I have now had a couple of visits to the physio who has given me lots of useful exercises to help recovery and some 'lovely ' deep muscle massage😁. Like you said, I think the important thing is time now (tons of icing in the first week and a half!). Cannot wait to get back running on it though - how long before you were running again? Am hoping it will recover well as I have never had problems with my calves before. Here's to happy running!