So it is possible. It feels similar to a muscle cramp or mild charleyhorse but isn't going away. Calf and thigh pain can be a symptom of many different conditions and can affect people of all ages. Childress MA, Beutler A. Step by step guide to pain relief and prevention. Still you should consider getting a Doppler ultrasound to check for blood clots. Calf pain when walking is very different than calf pain at night in bed. Illustration by Joshua Seong. This combination is usually not a cause for concern and is most likely caused by a pulled muscle. Here are a few tips to ease the pain and speed up the healing process: Rest: If you get a bruise give that area some rest. In total, it usually takes up to three days for a pulled calf muscle to start feeling better. Lower extremity manifestations of peripheral artery disease: the pathophysiologic and functional implications of leg ischemia. Get urgent medical attention if you have severe, unusual pain or other signs and symptoms.Your headache may be a … That said, a D-dimer may be ordered to aid in the diagnosis of a blood clot. The inflammatory markers, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), may be helpful in diagnosing or ruling out a bone infection. I had an ultrasound done in February to rule out blood clots, an MRI in May to rule out a muscle tear and an EMG in July to rule out nerve damage. Don’t assume pain in the lower back, cramping in the legs and that “pins and needles” feeling are the result of a problem with your spine. The popliteal tendon wraps around the knee joint, connecting the thighbone to the popliteal muscle—a triangular-shaped muscle that works with the tendon to control flexion and rotation of the knee. There are a variety of possible diagnoses, from muscle strain or rupture to a blood clot, and your doctor will want to know the specifics of your discomfort—like the quality (e.g., sharp, cramping) and intensity (e.g., mild versus severe)—to start getting to the bottom of why you have calf pain. Edema refers to swelling caused by excess fluid. Your calf, located in the back of the leg just below the knee, is made up of three muscles (gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris). Calf pain and stiffness may also be present. A strain is caused when a muscle is stretched or torn and a sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched or twisted. 18 years experience Neurosurgery. Prevalence of Baker's cyst in patients with knee pain: an ultrasonographic study. Clin Microbiol Rev. The symptoms can range from mild achiness and tightness to sudden inability to walk or bear weight. Just a couple quick questions before I transfer you. Be careful of taking birth control pills as well. 2 thanks. Rarely, the popliteal tendon tears, but this may occur with trauma, such as with a direct blow to the inside of the knee. The doctor said she generally didn't bother with D-Dimers for calf pain - she felt that it should be an ultrasound or nothing. This means slowing down your activity for at least 10 minutes before stopping completely. When the tendon becomes irritated, usually as a result of overuse, a burning pain may develop in the back of the leg, usually just above the heel. The pain of popliteal tendonitis is felt above the calf, in the back and side of the knee, and worsens when walking or running downhill. In addition to pain, if the injury to the popliteal tendon is acute, bleeding into the knee joint may occur. When should I be concerned about swelling during pregnancy? Weakness? Yellow Zone: Medium Risk -- You’ve been sedentary, perhaps traveling and sitting in a … The calf is made up of two muscles--the gastrocnemius, which is the muscle you can see and feel, and the soleus, which lies underneath the gastrocnemius in the back of the leg. Should I be concerned, or is this the nerves healing? Rarely, a severe peroneal nerve entrapment can lead to muscle weakness and foot drop. Am Fam Physician. For instance, in order to prevent muscle cramps and strains in your calf, it's important to warm-up (for example, gently jogging in place) followed by stretching your calf muscle prior to exercising. Dr. Chaim Colen answered. This has just become a daily stress and annoyance to me now. A calf muscle strain occurs when the muscle fibers in the calf tear either partially or completely. Are You Positive That the Simmonds-Thompson Test Is Negative? Spider veins should not be causing pain. Chikazawa K, Netsu S, Akashi K, Suzuki Y, Konno R, Motomatsu S. 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