“Calves hurt” - this phrase is often heard in everyday communication among a large percentage of people...
“Calves hurt” - this expression is often heard in everyday communication among a large percentage of people. From a medical point of view, the “calf” or calf muscle (m. gastrocnemius) is a large biceps muscle that has three points of attachment to bone structures: the lateral and medial femoral condyles and the calcaneal tubercle, through the powerful Achilles tendon. On the functional side, it is responsible for stabilizing the body during movement and ensures movement of the foot in the sagittal plane.
Statistically, the female half of humanity predominantly complains of pain in the calf muscles and heaviness in the legs, and this is facilitated by the age and physiological characteristics of the body. A certain seasonal dependence was noted, with an increase in requests for medical help for pain in the calf muscles in the summer. According to the analysis of the etiopathogenesis of this symptomatology, a group of risk professions has been identified, including surgeons, teachers, hairdressers, salesmen and other professions that require spending a long time in an upright position.
Pain in the calf muscles is more of a collective symptom and can be characteristic of many diseases and conditions. The susceptibility of women to problems in the calf area is explained by the physiological nature of the female body: hormonal fluctuations are involved here during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause, and when taking hormonal contraceptives. In children, pain in the lower leg muscles is also called “growing pains,” which appear mainly at night. This condition is explained by the intensive process of development of all organs and systems. The first to undergo growth spurts are the bones, followed by the adaptation of the musculotendinous and bursal-ligamentous apparatus. This is a physiological lag and can provoke pain in the calves and feet.
So, let’s try to identify the main reasons why the lower leg muscles may hurt:
Insufficiency of the venous valves, venous congestion is characterized by dull, aching pain, a feeling of heaviness in the calves, and the periodic occurrence of cramps. It is based on a violation of venous outflow, an increase in pressure in the vessels, and a violation of blood exchange at the peripheral level. Often, this condition is caused by an “unsuccessful” mode of work: a long stay in a “sitting” or “standing” position without dynamics, constantly wearing high-heeled shoes, walking in them for long distances. In addition, in addition to vascular problems, the latter fact contributes to the development and progression of flattening of the arch of the foot, and the concomitant restructuring of the bursal-ligamentous, tendon, and bone apparatus of the forefoot.
At home:
For prevention purposes:
When the calf muscle is overstrained, cramps may occur in it. In addition, spasms may indicate disorders of their arterial and venous blood supply. Injuries to the calf muscle can occur when a load exceeds its capabilities, sometimes from a blow to it.
Myositis is inflammation of skeletal muscles. It can occur as a complication of various diseases, such as influenza. A common cause of myositis is muscle overstrain due to unusual physical activity or injury to the leg muscles.
With myositis, aching pain appears in the calf muscles, intensifying with movement. Often, dense nodules or cords are felt in the muscles. With an open injury, as a result of infection, purulent myositis can develop, which is manifested by increased body temperature, chills, a gradual increase in pain, swelling, thickening and tension of the muscle, and redness of the skin over it.
A peculiar form is parasitic myositis, which occurs when muscles are damaged by parasites (Trichinella, cysticerci, Toxoplasma) and is characterized by fever, pain in the muscles of the limbs, chest, tongue, and masticatory muscles.
In individuals who do not have neurological abnormalities, the causes of muscle syndrome are inflammatory or metabolic myopathies. According to the existing international classification, there are three groups of myopathies: idiopathic inflammatory, caused by drugs and toxins, and caused by infections.
Among idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, about 95% are dermatomyositis, polymyositis, myositis due to systemic connective tissue diseases, paraneoplastic myositis and myositis with intracellular inclusions.
Consultation with a rheumatologist excludes myositis due to systemic diseases.
The most relevant today are myopathies associated with taking statins and fibrates.
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Do you have calf pain? It is necessary to take a very careful approach to your overall health. People do not pay enough attention to the symptoms of diseases and do not realize that these diseases can be life-threatening. There are many diseases that at first do not manifest themselves in our body, but in the end it turns out that, unfortunately, it is too late to treat them. Each disease has its own specific signs, characteristic external manifestations - the so-called symptoms of the disease . Identifying symptoms is the first step in diagnosing diseases in general. be examined by a doctor several times a year in order not only to prevent a terrible disease, but also to maintain a healthy spirit in the body and the organism as a whole.
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“Calves hurt” - this expression is often heard in everyday communication among a large percentage of people. From a medical point of view, the “calf” or calf muscle (m. gastrocnemius) is a large biceps muscle that has three points of attachment to bone structures: the lateral and medial femoral condyles and the calcaneal tubercle, through the powerful Achilles tendon. On the functional side, it is responsible for stabilizing the body during movement and ensures movement of the foot in the sagittal plane.
The first stage of treatment must begin with a comprehensive examination of the body, in order to exclude more serious diseases in which pain and heaviness in the calf area are only an accompanying symptom. Complex therapy of the underlying disease should be carried out under the supervision of the attending physician.
At home:
For prevention purposes:
Every person experiences pain in the calves at least once in their life. This unpleasant symptom can have different origins: from uncomfortable shoes to more serious diseases of the lower extremities. Pain often occurs due to intense physical activity or at the end of a hard day at work. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by swelling and cramps in the lower leg area. What is the cause of myalgia (muscle pain) and how to get rid of it?
Why do my calves hurt and what to do if I feel pain are the first questions patients ask. It is worth noting that the success of future therapy depends on a correct diagnosis. Do not put off visiting a doctor if you experience nagging and sharp pain, cramps, or burning.
A course of therapeutic massage helps to get rid of pain localized in the calves. Strengthening the abdominal muscles is indicated for diseases of the spine that affect the health of the lower extremities.
Muscle pain is observed by an orthopedic traumatologist, venous diseases are the responsibility of a phlebologist, and in case of problems with blood vessels, you should contact the surgical department. Muscle diseases associated with metabolic disorders in muscle tissue are under the jurisdiction of a rheumatologist.
Together with a visual examination and consultation, the following types of diagnostics are carried out:
For pain in the calves, the causes and treatment are closely related. In general, rare episodes of discomfort do not pose a serious threat to human life and health. They can be caused by overwork or training in the gym.
Comfortable body position, massage movements that improve blood circulation, and the use of a cold compress help relieve the condition. Lightly stroking the calf muscles will allow you to resume movement if unpleasant sensations occur during a walk.
What to do if your calves constantly hurt? First of all, visit a medical facility. Therapeutic treatment is not complete without taking medications: antispasmodics, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
To prevent pain in the lower leg area, it is necessary to follow preventive measures. The following recommendations help alleviate the patient's condition:
The condition in which your calves hurt is completely avoidable. The main thing is to take care of your health and not give up on prevention.
The calf muscles are pulled and hurt. What is this? It's like there's no reason. But it's not that simple. There are many reasons that cause discomfort in the calves. And we will tell you about the most common ones.
Treatment of calves with folk remedies
Reason 1 . Increased load during sports training. Almost everyone has experienced pain in the calf muscles after intense physical activity. Here we are lying on the sofa for years and dreaming of a beautiful pumped up figure. And suddenly they decided “I’ll take it on Monday.” And he took it on... He gave such a load that the body, completely unprepared for such extreme conditions, failed in the functioning of all systems. Moreover, you can get serious sprains and ligament ruptures. Conclusion: loads are necessary, but they need to be increased gradually, and start with the simplest exercises.
Reason 2 . Phlebeurysm. If you feel pain under the back of your knee that extends down into your calves, you most likely have varicose veins. The vessels, losing their elasticity, cannot cope with the flow of blood and expand. It is this process that causes pain in the calves. Look at the back of your legs. If you see swollen veins and bluish-violet stars, the cause of your pain is varicose veins.
Reason 3 . Thrombophlebitis. Disease of the cardiovascular system. The disease has recently become rapidly “younger”. A blood clot, or thrombus, is attached to the wall of a vessel and, not only does it create an obstacle to the normal functioning of the circulatory system, it can also come off at any time and, through the blood flow, enter one of the important arteries and clog it. Which is fraught with very sad consequences. Therefore, if your calves hurt, be sure to examine the blood vessels in your legs.
Reason 4 . Neurology and diseases of the spine. In this case there is a direct connection. A pinched nerve caused by problems in the spine causes pain in the leg. The pain can be concentrated in the lumbar region, in the buttock and often in the leg, including the calf muscle. Moreover, in the muscle of one leg, left or right.
Reason 5 . Pregnancy. The growing body in the womb of the expectant mother puts a huge strain on the whole body, including the legs. In addition, a woman eats heavily during this period and sometimes cannot control fluid intake, which provokes swelling of the lower extremities. Doctors say that nagging pain in the calves during pregnancy is normal. But you can still alleviate the condition if you do a light foot massage and a contrast shower every evening. If you give your feet a bath with chamomile infusion before going to bed, this will also reduce the discomfort in your feet.
The cause of pain in the leg muscles can also be a lack of calcium, magnesium and iron. Eat fish and cheese, vegetables and fruits, drink fermented milk products.
Ficus and agave
Don't put excessive stress on your legs. You should alternate them with rest. If you suffer from pain and cramps in the muscles of your legs, place a small cushion under your legs at night.
If your work involves sitting for a long time, be sure to place a low stand under your feet.
Footrest
Daily morning exercises are a must! Squat, swing back and forth and to the sides. These exercises are aimed at improving blood circulation.
Do a light massage of the calf muscles daily. But don't overdo it, light massage!
Pay attention to the shoes. High heels are not your option, your option is no higher than four cm. Wear orthopedic insoles - they relieve stress on the muscles.
It is useful to wear sneakers to train the calf muscles.
A contrast shower will relieve fatigue. It should start with a hot stream, after a minute - cold. Alternate five times, ending with cold.
Diseases, nature and causes of pain in the calf muscles
No one will be surprised by the pain in your calves after a long bike ride, an evening fashion show in high-heeled shoes, or a fun night of dancing. Legs that are not used to such physical activity will definitely start to hurt in the morning.
However, painful sensations sometimes arise, at first glance, for no reason and suddenly, disturbing for a long time, interfering with the normal rhythm of life. For what reason do women's calves hurt, what causes such an unpleasant symptom and how to cope with it, we will tell you in our article.
Pain in the calves is a signal from the body to a malfunction in the functioning of any organs or systems. Moreover, the reason for their appearance may have a distant relationship with the muscles and tissues of the legs themselves.
That is why even the most qualified and experienced doctor will not be able to accurately determine the disease only by symptoms. To do this, he will need a detailed examination.
What was the factor in the occurrence of the pain symptom: unusually high physical activity or an injury that went unnoticed, malfunction of the vascular system or even cancer - the nature of the pain and additional research will tell.
Based on the different symptoms of pain, the diseases that cause it are divided into several groups.
Women's calves also hurt due to poor lifestyle choices. Thus, excessive weight when walking increases the load on the legs, and a sedentary lifestyle leads to poor blood circulation. These factors cause a lack of oxygen in the muscles, resulting in cramps and swelling.
Addiction to tobacco and alcohol also contributes to poor oxygen saturation of the blood, which causes a chain reaction of muscle pain.
We have already said that there are a lot of reasons why the calf hurts on the leg and we have listed some of them. However, it is equally important to know their characteristics, as well as how the mechanisms that cause pain in the limbs manifest themselves.
Please note that symptoms will differ for different diseases. In this case, additional symptoms may appear, which affects the general well-being of the person.
For example, women who are expecting a child have leg pain due to swelling or a lack of important microelements due to an unbalanced diet. In addition, the fetus, which grows quickly, puts pressure on the organs and tissues of the pregnant woman, which significantly impairs blood flow. In this case, special gymnastics for pregnant women, proper nutrition, and reasonable physical activity are indicated.
In men and women, pain syndromes often occur after injury. So, if pain is felt in only one leg, this indicates an injury. In addition, pain or swelling in only the right or left leg can be clear signs of neurological diseases or a violation of systemic blood flow.
If both legs hurt, this is a signal of serious health problems or evidence of ordinary fatigue.
Regardless of the nature of the pain and its manifestations, you need to find out the reason why it appeared.
Let's consider the main manifestations of pain in various diseases.
This disease manifests itself as inflammation of the calf muscles and is a consequence of intense exercise, injury or flu.
When palpating the muscles, nodules are felt, with strong pressure on which the pain intensifies.
At the very beginning of the disease, the pain is aching and manifests itself only with movements or pressure on the nodules. With the development of pathology, it intensifies, is felt even at rest and takes on a different character: it can be shooting or sharp.
If the disease is the result of an injury, it may be accompanied by an infection. In this case, there is a discharge of pus, an increase in temperature, and general intoxication occurs.
Myositis should be treated by reducing physical activity or (in case of injury) complete rest.
To alleviate the patient's condition, use topical ointments:
In case of fever, medications are prescribed to reduce the temperature, and in case of purulent complications, antibiotics are prescribed.
Varicose veins are most often a hereditary disease that begins to manifest itself after the age of 20. The symptoms in the form of veins protruding on the legs are so obvious that making a diagnosis does not cause difficulties.
If at the beginning of the development of the disease, it brings the patient only aesthetic discomfort, then as it develops it causes serious ailments:
All of these symptoms are caused by swelling, which compresses the nerve endings and leads to a general disruption of blood flow, as well as the release of toxins. As a result, inflammation appears.
If treatment is carried out untimely or incorrectly, the disease develops into deep vein thrombosis. This condition is dangerous because blood clots, called thrombi, form in the vein. These clots can break away from the vein walls and enter the general bloodstream, leading to a pulmonary infarction or death of the patient.
A person constantly feels unwell, which manifests itself in the following symptoms:
The following drugs are used for therapeutic treatment:
In advanced stages of the disease, surgical intervention will be required, because trophic ulcers appear in the affected areas, which are very difficult to cure.
Considering the life-threatening nature of this disease, at the first symptoms of venous thrombosis you should seek medical help.
During treatment, you must observe strict bed rest, since any physical activity will lead to a blood clot breaking.
These dangerous conditions are caused by a blood clot that completely blocks the circulation of blood in the arteries. Painkillers are prescribed for pain caused by this disease, since a person cannot tolerate them for a long time.
The patient feels a strong internal burning sensation, while the feet and calves are very cold, and there is a complete or partial loss of their sensitivity.
Without proper treatment, the disease leads to gangrene.
Diseases associated with neurology are also the culprits of long-term nagging pain in the legs. They arise due to tissue inflammation.
There are many causes of the disease, but they are all a consequence of intoxication of the body or impaired metabolism.
Treatment is prescribed based on the reasons that caused the pain. But under any circumstances, analgesic drugs are used.
Legs may hurt due to inflammation or injury to the joint. At first, the pain is minor and intermittent. However, as the disease progresses, the pain intensifies under any load. Then the joint becomes deformed and is in a “stony” state: the person is unable to move independently.
Treatment consists of using agents that suppress inflammation and pain.
Spinal diseases are another source of pain syndromes in the calves. The pain is so strong that a person always feels it.
Diabetes mellitus, based on improper metabolism, provokes poor arterial blood permeability, as well as inflammation of the fiber that is located under the skin. They become the reason why the calves hurt.
At the same time, diabetes mellitus causes thrush and difficult-to-treat vaginal infections in women, and decreased erection and pain in the groin area in men.
Lack of vitamins and microelements
If the legs of an expectant mother or a woman who adheres to a strict diet hurt, then most likely the cause of the pain syndrome is a lack of necessary microelements in the body. Therefore, the best medicine in this case is a balanced diet, as well as taking special vitamin complexes.
If pain in the calves is not caused by one-time physical activity, but becomes a constant companion, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. The sooner the cause of the disease is identified, the more successful its treatment will be.
You should not diagnose yourself and prescribe treatment: this will only make the situation worse.
Doctors have developed several recommendations that should be used by anyone who has experienced leg pain to alleviate symptoms or prevent the development of the disease: