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megaman · Water Boy Joined: 01 Sep 2001 Posts: 26

Every year about this time, I get severe pain in my calf muscle.Inormally run 20-25 miles/week.During my normal run the other day, out of no where I got this sharp pain in the front of my calf.It is in my left leg on the inside part of the lower leg.I walked home took about 5 days off then started running easy only for 15-20 min every other day.Any ideas?

Micah Ward · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2002 4:22 pm Post subject:

A lot of questions come to mind.

1. How many years has this happened?
2. What did you do to treat it in other years?
3. How did it respond to that treatment?
4. Are you training any different this time of year than you do the rest of the year?
5. Is this the time of year when your shoes start to wear out?

The answers to those questions would be very enlightening.
Micah...currently with a stress fracture, again

megaman · Water Boy Joined: 01 Sep 2001 Posts: 26

i would say the last 3-5 years and less frequent when younger.just rest ,sometimes ice ,but it seems like it is too deep for the ice to have any effect on it.It usually takes almost till spring to clear up.I buy shoes quite often,I dont have a schedule for buying them per say.I dont do anything drasticly different this time of year, if anything I try to take it easy.This year I am going to try mesage therapy.I would just like it to heal a little bit quicker than in years past.I have been told it is not shin splints.

Conway · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2002 12:37 pm Post subject:

I'm curious as to A) What type of warming up are you doing? and B) What type of stretching are you doing ?? Also what kind of calves do you have - large / small, muscular / not ..

Larger muscles often need more attention in terms of warm ups and stretching ...

megaman · Water Boy Joined: 01 Sep 2001 Posts: 26

Generally before I run,I do some light stretching,trunk twist,hamstrings,calves on a curb,thighs.For a warm-up,I just start off slowly,@8 min. pace then pick it up to a 7;45-;50 pace.I go on the track every other week and do 2 miles of 800's at a7 min. pace.I have fairly large muscular calves.Once the initial injury takes place ,it will come on at the same time of any run afterwood,@15 min. into the run and I have to stop.

Dan · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2002 1:46 pm Post subject:

megaman · Water Boy Joined: 01 Sep 2001 Posts: 26

Dan, I went to your article and then clicked on HERE for the other article,but all that was there was the Atkins diet.Just curious what the other article had to say.Does shin splints cause pain in your calf muscle?

Micah Ward · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2002 4:59 pm Post subject:

Megaman, here is a little story based on my most recent experience with injuries. I have just suffered my third stress fracture in the last two years. (yes Dan & Conway, it happened again)

I called a local running club and the XC and track coach at the local university. They both recommended the same doctor, who turned out to be a Boston Marathon qualifier. He was great and took the attitude that rehabbing was less important than finding and fixing the underlying cause of the fractures.

The doc sent me to a physical therapist (two time Ironman triathlon finisher) who did a complete biomechanics and running analysis. To make a long story short, my problems stem from being "knock kneed". So I now have a set of custom orthotics on the way that hopefully will correct the biomechanics.

The moral of the story is to find RUNNING doctors and let them do their magic. Good luck and keep us posted.
Micah

Dan · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2002 10:32 pm Post subject:

Micah, sorry to hear that. Sad

When was the most recent bout?

On a brighter note, that is very good advice you offered.

megaman, thanks for pointing out that article link points to something else now. They must've changed it at some point... It's been too long since I read the article to remember what it said, sorry.

Micah Ward · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2002 7:15 am Post subject:

Dan, the latest injury happened at the end of January. Looks like the physical therapist is going to have me on an "active" rehab so I am hoping to be racing by the fall.

Good news though is that I am 7 pounds down from Jan 1. Slow but steady.

Dan · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2002 8:51 am Post subject:

What does active rehab consist of? Do you do any pool running or biking?

Dan

Micah Ward · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2002 10:01 am Post subject:

Active rehab is my term and I guess it is relative to the rehab my last doc prescribed. Instead of just resting and doing nothing I get to walk. Interestingly enough the therapist wants me to confine my walking to the treadmill. Something about cushioning and consistent pace and foot plant. Also they are making custom orthotics for my running shoes to try to correct the mechanics that seem to be causing the problems in the first place. He has also suggested biking, but unfortunately I don't have access to a pool for running. I will say this...the foot is doing pretty well with the walking and some over the counter orthotics while I wait on the custom ones. I haven't given up hope on racing in the State Masters Cross Country meet in Oct.

Am I the incurable optimist or what?

Dan · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2002 8:38 pm Post subject:

That all makes sense. The treadmill should force you to pay more attention to foot placement, so they may well be on to something.

Dan

megaman · Water Boy Joined: 01 Sep 2001 Posts: 26

Well it has been a couple of weeks and this week I started to run.I went three times at about an 8 min pace for 20 min.Pain free.I have had 2 massages and purchased over the counter orthodics.Hopefully I'm on the mend.Thanks for your input.

Dan · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2002 2:39 pm Post subject:

Sounds like you're on a very wise rehab plan. Glad to hear you're getting back into it and feeling good. Smile

Dan

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