Calf pain often occurs after carrying out heavy or strenuous daily activities. The severity of calf pain varies, from mild pain to a stabbing pain.
Calf pain is quite common and is often associated with muscle cramps which can be cured with massage alone. However, there are actually many other conditions that can cause calf pain, ranging from as mild as muscle cramps to severe and requiring serious treatment.
Causes of Calf Pain
Calf pain can be caused by several factors, including disorders of the muscles, joints, tendons, blood vessels, nerves, bones, or skin around the calves. This condition can occur while exercising, working, and even sleeping. Complaints experienced can vary, depending on the cause.
Below are some conditions that can cause calf pain:
1. Muscle cramps
Cramps occur when a muscle contracts or tightens suddenly. Calf pain due to muscle cramps is generally caused by sudden and excessive exercise or strenuous activity, dehydration, or muscle injury.
2. Muscles tense
Calf pain due to muscle tension usually occurs during fatigue or after overuse of the calf muscles. This can also occur in sports that involve a lot of calf muscle strength, such as running, swimming, or cycling.
3. Bruises
This condition is usually caused by an injury or injury from a fall or impact. Bruises are caused by the rupture of the capillary network under the skin which then appears as a discoloration of the skin due to seepage of blood.
In addition, there are several other conditions that are more serious and can cause calf pain, namely:
1. Deep vein thrombosis (deep vein thrombosis)
Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that occurs in the deep veins in the thigh and calf. In addition to calf pain, this condition is also characterized by swelling of the calf, hot calf, and changes in the color of the calf to become paler or reddish.
2. Sciatica
Sciatica occurs due to pinched nerves in the pelvis. This condition generally causes pain that radiates from the pelvis, buttocks to the legs, including the calves. The severity of the pain caused can be mild, but it can also be severe and interfere with daily activities.
3. Tendinitis
Calf pain can also be caused by tendinitis or tendon inflammation that occurs in the Achilles tendon. This condition is characterized by pain in the area around the heel to the calf. Usually, Achilles tendon tendinitis occurs due to overuse of the calf muscles, for example when climbing stairs a lot.
4. Neuropathy diabetic peripheral nerves
Diabetic neuropathy is a complication of diabetes. People with diabetes whose sugar levels are not controlled can experience damage to the nerves, including the nerves in the calves. This can cause discomfort such as prickling or burning in the calf.
5. Compartment syndrome
Compartment syndrome occurs due to increased pressure within the muscle compartment. Calf pain that occurs due to compartment syndrome generally results from a severe injury to the area, such as a shin fracture that injures the muscle tissue, blood vessels, and nerves around the fracture.
6. Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by infection with the leptospira bacteria. This disease is spread through exposure to water or soil contaminated with urine or blood of animals, such as rats, cows, or dogs, which are infected with this bacterium.
In addition to calf pain, leptospirosis also causes other symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and yellowing of the skin and eyes.
The Right Way to Overcome Calf Pain
There are different treatment methods for dealing with calf pain, depending on your condition. For mild causes of calf pain, you can handle it independently at home. The following are some ways to treat calf pain:
- Stop activity.
- Rest the legs by lying down and positioning the feet higher than the body.
- Apply ice to the sore calf for about 20 minutes.
- Do light stretches for the legs.
- Take painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, if necessary.
To avoid calf pain and injury to muscles and joints, make sure you always stretch before and after exercising or doing other physical activities. Consuming enough water can prevent dehydration, while reducing the risk of injury during activities.
More serious causes of calf pain need to be checked by a doctor to get the right treatment. If the calf pain you feel is accompanied by pale feet, feels weak, swollen, tingling, and makes it difficult for you to move, immediately consult your doctor.