What Causes Lump In Calf After Work Out?

Posted on Sat, 17 Jan 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 17 Jan 2015 Answered on

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi. I'm an athletic 20 year old, and I run every day. Over the last couple of weeks, I have been really increasing my workload in terms of mileage, and intensity by doing things like cycling, weight lifting, etc. It's been about two weeks ago, exactly that I first noticed this soft lump on my calf. It's about half an inch big, and it doesn't hurt at all. It feels soft, like I can move it around a little when I poke at it. It's only visible when I flex, and when I stop flexing, it goes away. Could this be veins in my legs just popping up, or could it be something like a cyst?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It can be a lipoma

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case and I think that this lump might be a lipoma. Lipoma is a swelling of fat and it is not harmful. It usually not causes any trouble.
Diagnosis can be confirmed with ultrasound.
Other possibility is that it can be a lymph node.
I would suggest you to get a ultrasound examination to confirm the diagnosis.
AsI mentioned previously there is no treatment needed if it is lipoma or lymph node.
I hope this answer will be useful. Let me know if there is any other follow up questions.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar