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What Causes Severe Calf Muscle Pain?
Posted on
Sun, 7 May 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 7 May 2017
Answered on
Tue, 30 May 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : I just stepped back hard off a stair and had severe pain in the muscle of my calf. I have applied ice and taken an ibuprofen. The muscle is tight and very painful. Is there anything else I can do? I'm going on a hiking trip out west in 6 days. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Risk of achilles tear
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
For acute injury, rest, ice, elevation, and antiinflammatory medications are the mainstay. However, with the mechanism of injury you described, there could be a tear to the achilles tendon. This would cause calf muscle pain. Achilles tears, which can be partial or rupture, happen when a person is stepping back ward. And they need to be examined by someone who is trained to evaluate it. Treatment is a cast or splint in a position where it can heal, and in some cases, surgery.
While this might not be what is going on, please do go in to the ER and make sure you see a trained ER physician (not a PA or NP). He or she will be able to examine you by having you rest your knee and shin (front part of lower leg) on a chair with your foot and ankle off of it. He/she can then check to see what happens when your foot is flexed and extended. May get an X-ray too.
So just to be on the safe side, please go in to the ER now.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Risk of achilles tear
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
For acute injury, rest, ice, elevation, and antiinflammatory medications are the mainstay. However, with the mechanism of injury you described, there could be a tear to the achilles tendon. This would cause calf muscle pain. Achilles tears, which can be partial or rupture, happen when a person is stepping back ward. And they need to be examined by someone who is trained to evaluate it. Treatment is a cast or splint in a position where it can heal, and in some cases, surgery.
While this might not be what is going on, please do go in to the ER and make sure you see a trained ER physician (not a PA or NP). He or she will be able to examine you by having you rest your knee and shin (front part of lower leg) on a chair with your foot and ankle off of it. He/she can then check to see what happens when your foot is flexed and extended. May get an X-ray too.
So just to be on the safe side, please go in to the ER now.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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