Pulled this SH$$ out of my calf muscle!!! Help!!

stlrman · « **on:** 7 Jul 2016, 12:34 am »

Playing tennis , it felt like some threw a hard ball at 90 mph at my calf muscle!!
Happened on Monday. I can walk on my tippy toe on that leg.
Should I use heating pad, hot bath water now? Go to the doctor to get crutches? Wrap it? Massage it myself?
No real pain , just extreme tightness. To the point where I must walk on my tippy toe.
I need to be walking normally in ten days , shooting a wedding .
Thanks !!

Phil A · « **Reply #1 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 12:37 am »

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/ankle-achilles-shin-pain/calf-strain

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 12:43 am »

I would suggest that you make several treatment at the same time.
If you are young in 10 days shall be good.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 01:13 am »

Quote from: Phil A on 7 Jul 2016, 12:37 am

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/ankle-achilles-shin-pain/calf-strain

That was a really good article Phil. From reading it seems as though if there's no bad bruising or deformation of the calf muscle, the doctor doesn't do much more than you could get at the pharmacy and a little research on the internet. If there are those more serious symptoms you're suppose to see the doc. At least that's my take on it. Hope you feel better Todd.

John Casler · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 01:25 am »

Sounds more like a "tear" than a "pull", but as above, if you have significant bruising and blood pooling you should at least consult your Dr for his suggestion. Do examine for any "deformation" slight indents, or gaps.

Snug or tight elastic sock or wrap might also be helpful. As well as elevation to improve circulation.

Odal3 · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 02:08 am »

Sorry to hear. Definitely do the "Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation"

With icing, try "ice massage"
http://rpm-therapy.com/2012/how-to-do-ice-massage-pain-inflammation/
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/tc/ice-massage-topic-overview

If it doesn't improve and you go see a doctor (and your insurance allows) try to see someone that specializes in sports injuries.

Devil Doc · « **Reply #6 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 02:13 am »

Ice and 600mg Motrin four times per day, assuming you're not allergic and have no stomach problems. Recent injuries almost always get ice, and Motrin is good for everything from hang nails to sucking chest wounds. See a Doctor if it doesn't get better in a week or so. And I can't think of a worse place to get medical advise than an audiophile forum. These people don't know shit about audio to say nothing about medicine.

Doc

mresseguie · « **Reply #7 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 02:24 am »

As long as there isn't bleeding and you haven't suffered deep vein thrombosis, find a reputable Tui-Na specialist. Literally, it means "push-pull"; it's Chinese healing.

Generally speaking, the procedure is:
1. wrap injured part of body in very hot towels that have been soaked in herbs (herbal medicine). heat for approximately 20 minutes.
2. the Doctor massages your calf. This is not your average Swedish feel good massage. Your calf is now a loaf of bread dough that will be kneaded until the doctor is satisfied that the injured area has had its bad blood pulled out of the area and good blood has entered the site. [Note - this process is extremely painful during the first application.]
3. The Doctor will wrap your calf in herbal medicine paste and wrap gauze bandages around that.
4. Remove gauze and paste after 12 - 24 hours. Wash area clean.
5. Go see the Doctor again after 3 or 4 days for a repeat of steps 1 through 4.

As I mentioned, it hurts. However, it is VERY effective. I suffered excruciatingly painful tendonitis in my right calf while I was living in Taiwan about 20 years ago. Western doctors all said, "Take anti-inflammatories, rest and don't stand up for long periods. It should be better in three weeks." My job didn't allow for no standing. A friend recommended a very experienced TuiNa practitioner. We went to try it out. He scared the HELL out of me because I thought he was destroying my leg. Nonetheless, I followed through with it. I went four times in 10 days and all symptoms were gone completely. No pills.

Good medicine. Try it. You may like it.

Best of luck!

Phil A · « **Reply #8 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 02:30 am »

Hope you feel better soon. It gets worse as one gets older. One does not recover nearly as fast. I remember probably about a decade back, give or take. I had new carpet put in the foyer and grand room of the old place. The main audio system and rack were in the grand room. After the rack and all the furniture was put back, I had to re-hook up the system. I left a decent amount of space between the wall and rack but I've never been all that flexible to start with. I don't know what I did but I almost had to go to the doctor. I was dreading telling him that I was injured re-hooking up my audio system

It finally started to feel better about a week and a half later.

stlrman · « **Reply #9 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 02:47 am »

Thanks everyone for the advice and well wishes !!
There is no bruising or marks of any kind .
I may swing by my doctor tomorrow as I have insurance, so it can't really hurt.
I'll keep yall posted.
I guess I'll need to stretch before working out!

I have massive calves and thigh muscles , and I'm not at all flexible. I'm also packing an extra 20 pounds around the gut. I had done a few tennis clinics the past month with no problems.
Thanks again !
Todd

richidoo · « **Reply #10 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 03:27 am »

Tennis players are frequently deficient in Magnesium, because it is a very high stress sport, and magnesium is the stress mineral it is wasted to kidneys during stress.

Muscles work by calcium is allowed into the muscle cell to cause contraction. If not enough magnesium in the cell to push out the calcium when contraction is supposed to be done then calcium stays in the cell continuing the cramp until enough magnesium can be brought in to push it out. If the whole body is magnesium deficient then the cramp will stay on. It is very easy to get deficient, read up on magnesium.

Hyland's Magnesium Phosphate 6x sublingual cell salt tablets will stop the cramp fast. Read about cell salts. It is very easily absorbed and acts very fast, but it's a small amount of magnesium not enough to build up the reserves.
Then take a good magnesium supplement like Magnesium Taurate over a year to get the intracellular levels back up.
You can apply magnesium chloride "oil" (saturated magnesium chloride salt in water) to the muscle topically. It is also a good way to absorb more magnesium through the skin as massage oil. If it itches means you need it bad.

Folsom · « **Reply #11 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 04:34 am »

Don't use cheap magnesium you can get at Safeway or Walgreens, it's almost worthless since it's not an absorbable form on top of other factors. But it's wonderful stuff.

Also I'm a big,fan of this stuff, that is very high quality.

http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/tissue-rejuvenator.tr.html?gclid=COb91YTB4M0CFVFgfgodfFMFMg

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #12 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 04:17 pm »

I used this some years ago Sports Rub Oinment may help and inexpensive:
http://www.tigerbalm.com/sg/range/20/range_products/14

Avaliable at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Strength-Sports-Oinment-Ounces/dp/B000N5WT2O/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1467908018&sr=1-4&keywords=tiger+balm+muscle+rub

bummrush · « **Reply #13 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 06:22 pm »

Above,made mewant to see magnesium level in my vitamin.

Folsom · « **Reply #14 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 07:23 pm »

The type matters as much as how much, if not more, for magnesium.

pehare · « **Reply #15 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 08:32 pm »

I did the exact thing to my calf muscle while playing tennis about 15 years ago. At the time I was running 5 miles a day each morning & thought I was in okay shape to play tennis which I hadn't played regularly in years. Wrong - completely different muscles involved. I was running crosscourt towards the net chasing a shot & POW! I had to be helped by my friend off the court, home & could barely walk for almost 2 weeks, crutches. Couldn't even put weight on it. Went a sports injury doctor which was a waste of money - he couldn't do squat. It just took time & rest to heal on it's own. Even then I tried playing tennis too soon & re-tweeked it. Eventually plantar fasciitis & Achilles tendonitis in that same leg ended my running in my early 40's. Now I just swim laps daily, ride my bike a few times a week & walk my dog. As my doctor says to me "you just have to make adjustments in life"

Getting old is humbling to say the least.

stlrman · « **Reply #16 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 10:44 pm »

Thanks Pehare!!
I'm resting it a bit . Advil , and about to take a hot bath.
I think I'll just hit with partners for now on. I'm good just hitting , that's what I enjoy . Stroking the forehand and my wicked two hand backhand. I'm sure I burst forward trying to run in to get to a drop shot .
I'm out of shape. Twenty pounds over weight , a smoker, don't work out for months, then started tennis clinics, then went to show off for my buddy who plays every week. Dumb!!
I was hitting with him very nicely.
Doubles should be good for me if I want to play to compete. Time to get on a treadmill , which I hate !! Get on a stationary bike , I can stand this .

Devil Doc · « **Reply #17 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 11:10 pm »

"Old age ain't for sissies." Bette Davis.

Doc

stlrman · « **Reply #18 on:** 7 Jul 2016, 11:20 pm »

Doc , I'm only old in that I'm lazy, fat, smoke, don't exercise in any routine.
Shit , I'm only 50 . People are running Ultra Marathons at 50. 50 ain't old , I'm old .

WGH · « **Reply #19 on:** 8 Jul 2016, 02:10 am »

Quote from: stlrman on 7 Jul 2016, 10:44 pm

Time to get on a treadmill , which I hate !! Get on a stationary bike , I can stand this .

Rest is good, but only for a little bit. Warm up on the treadmill or bike, whatever hurts the least for 20-45 minutes until you are dripping then roll the calf. Rolling before warming up is good too. Rolling is gonna hurt but you have to do it. Do this 3 times a week for 6-12 months and you will be fine.