Painful Calf Muscles

[--John--]

I'm an older runner but have completed 5k runs and some 10k runs last year. But this year I am having a problem with painful calf muscles. I do all the stretching exercises and train regularly without overdoing it. The pain feel likes a knife stabbing into the back of my legs and is more pronounced on the right than the left.

As I shall be 75 this year I'm inclined to think it is simply down to old age but I'm wondering if I should seek some professional help, especially as it is a new problem that I didn't get last year despite lots of runing events and training. I haven't knowingly suffered any injury. It just came on.

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks

[AnnieW55]

If the pain is new and you don't feel you've done anything to cause it the do get it checked out with your GP or a sports physio. You don't say when you get the pain - during exercise, before, after, anytime? That might help give you a clue as to what's going on: but my first sentence still stands. Hope you get sorted soon.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

If a pain recurs or persists then our advice is always to get it checked out.

Have you changed your shoes or running surface recently?

[misswobble Graduate]

I think you might need a doc. It’s always a good idea - if only to rule things out

I got a calf micro tear while out on a slow gentle 5k jog, towards the end . Sudden onset and I described it as a hot knife being thrust upwards. Mine was a month before a race. I had two attempts to get running. Both failed so I ended up completely doing nothing and fortunately it healed in time

Are your shoes ok?

[--John--]

Thanks for your replies. The muscle is always sore to the touch. I can feel it when walking - in any footwear. But it is worse when I'm running. I walk in scarpa shoes with good tread as I had a problem on the sole of my foot which still persists - Morton's neuroma. But that pre-dates this problem and is on the left foot. My running shoes are Asics Gel-Kayano which cost me a fortune. I had them fitted at a running shop in Birmingham after assessment on their treadmill. They were certainly uncomfortable at first - I was warned they would need breaking in - and they did! Prior to that I had Saucony Guide 9. Should I go back to those? They're a bit worn now.

[Rignold]

There are any number of possible causes for stabbing calf pain from disc problems in the lower spine to simple stress (yes, sounds weird but true) to vein issues. On a positive note, running related injury is probably low o the list of possibiles if you have not consciously done anything while running.

Doctor is the answer though. Too many variables to ponder for the lay person.