Calf muscle pain

[RJC123]

I was playing gaelic football yesterday and on turning quickly I managed to twist my leg and knee myself on the calf muscle with my other leg at the same time. It was quite sore on impact and although i played on it did get quite painful after the game. I could feel the pain whilst sleeping last night and on awakening i found it sore to walk and very sore with tension put on the calf muscle. The pain is on the inner side of my left leg and when i squeeze it I can feel pain on the muscle and near the bone.

Its painful to stand on it full pressure or to stand on my tip toes and I'm walking with a limp. There's no obvious swelling but I can feel some when squeezing around the area where its sore. I was just wondering could anyone give advice on this as all physios in our area are booked up and I don't want to go sit in a&e department for hours.

Thanks

[Heidi]

Sounds like a calf strain. These vary in severity from a very simple grade one tear of a few fibres, up to a grade 3 rupture. I would suggest you are a grade two from your symptoms. You can read more about calf strains here:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/back/backlowerleg/calfstrain.htm
Initially you should be icing regularly, resting and stretching gently if this is comfortable to do so.

[RJC123]

thanks Heidi

Today I can walk a little bit better on it, but with an obvious limp, like I'm walking more on my heel and not on the front of my foot, and then when I rest I can feel my calf muscle cramping up. I've attempted stretching lightly but it tends to feel slightly uncomfortable and sore. Is it possible that I'd need some aid in walking, crutches for instance or will attempting to walk be better for it? Just grin and bare the uncomfortable pain I assume.

[Heidi]

Usually a calf strain doesn't require a period of non-weight bearing (unless a full rupture). Try not to walk too far and try wearing shoes with a small (1inch) heel just to ease the stretch on the muscle. If it's uncomfortable to stretch at the moment, give it another couple of days and try again.

[RJC123]

Ok so 1 month on now and I've had a massage from physio who said he couldnt feel any scar tissue or knotting but gave the calf muscle a really good rub which did help. I hadnt felt much pain or discomfort after that but now i've started to get a cramping pain on the calf muscle again but this time on the full muscle and my leg feels dead likes it do with circulation.

Any ideas if this would be related to my injury last month??
Might be a good idea to visit the doctor this time.

[Heidi]

Very likely related.
Always a good idea to visit a Doctor.
If you calf muscles were really tight, 1 massage would help temporarily but it would require more sessions for a long term effect, along with lots of stretches.