Calf Pain

Calf Pain – What it is

Calf pain is a condition that causes a discomforting feeling in the fleshy tissue that is present in the back portion of the lower leg region, that is, the part between the ankle and the knee. Since the calves contain tendons, nerves, ligaments, blood vessels and nerves, any kind of infection or injury in that portion of the body can be cause of severe pain.

Calf Pain – Symptoms

The kind of symptoms that accompany calf pain will be varied according to the underlying condition, disease or disorder. For instance, if there is an inflammation or an infection in the calf tissue, it can produce redness in the area along with calf pain. A muscle pull can cause calf pain which can accompany other symptoms like swelling caused due to the buildup of fluid. Some such symptoms that accompany conditions causing calf pain include


Joint pain

Skin bumps

Skin DiscolorationThe skin in the region of the calf can get discolored or turn pale. Often, bruising is also seen as a symptom where the skin turns blue because of oxygen deprivation in the calf region.

Numbness

Symptoms related to flu like headache, sore throat, fatigue, fever and cough

Muscle spasmsThese are involuntary muscle contractions of the leg that can result in the decrease of leg-related activities of the body.

Unusual weight loss

Swelling

Varicose veins

Redness

Burning sensations



Serious, Life – Threatening Symptoms

There are many cases in which the condition underlying the calf pain can produce serious symptoms that indicate a life-threat. Some of these include

• High fever
• Pale and cold legs
• Breathing difficulties, breathlessness and wheezing
• Confusion and disorientation
• Loss of ability to walk
• Cyanosis or bluish skin in the calf region

Calf Pain – Causes

Generally, calf pain occurs due to injury, overuse and muscle wear and tear due to oldage. Following are the causes of this condition
Causes Related to Injuries

• These could be injuries like
• Sprains or strains
• Confusion or laceration
• Muscle pull or tear
• Charley horse or muscle cramps that result from dehydration

Causes Related to Infection

• Infected or sore wound
• Skin infection or cellulitis

Causes due to Inflammation, Neurological Conditions and Degeneration

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Tendinitis
• Varicose veins
• Diabetic neuropathy or any other kind of peripheral neuropathy
• Nerve compression or entrapment

Other Causes

• PAD or peripheral artery disease which is caused due to fat buildup on the artery walls causing extremely low blood flow
• Deep vein thrombosis which is a condition in which blood clots originating in the leg region and traveling to the lungs and heart causing a stroke or lung embolism
• Cancer

Possible Complications Related to Calf Pain

The kind of complications that occur with calf pain depend on the cause underlying the pain. Since there could be some serious conditions related to calf pain, any late treatment or treatment failure can cause permanent damage.

Following are some examples of complications that can result due to calf pain

• Amputation or loss of a limb

• Chronic pain

• Permanent damage to the nerves in the leg

• Spreading of the infection

• Blood clots or embolisms in the lungs

• Stroke

Calf Pain – Diagnosis

A physical examination is done as the initial diagnosis procedure. The medical practitioner questions the patient about his medical history and is asked about the symptoms. If the cause is indefinite with physical examination, then further diagnosis is carried out with ultrasound scans, x-rays, musculoskeletal ultrasounds, etc.

Calf Pain – Treatment

The kind of treatment that is administered to a person with calf pain varies depending on the underlying condition.

• In case of inflammations, medicines like Ibuprofen and Naproxen are administered.
• Analgesics like acetaminophen are provided as pain relievers.
• Avoiding muscle stress in the calf region is also a part of curing calf pain.

Calf Pain – Remedies

Ice Therapy

This is particularly useful in case of injuries in the calf region that cause bruises. It involves applying ice packs in the affected area for 20 minutes, four times a day. It should be kept in kind here that a piece of cloth or towel should be used to separate the skin from the ice and that there should be no direct contact in order to avoid any kind of complications.

Compression Bandage

If there is an inflammation in the calf area, then it helps to wrap a compression bandage around the affected area. It should be kept in mind that the winding of the bandage is not too tight to deprive blood flow in the region.

Massage

Oil massages of the area with the pain can help in reducing the symptoms as it increases blood flow in the affected region. Massaging lightly 3-4 times a day can help in recovering from calf pain.

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