Why Does My Calf Muscle Hurt?

There’s a group of muscles on the back of each lower leg that doctors call “calf muscles.” They play a key role in helping you walk and run. Lots of things can make them hurt, from a minor sprain to more serious problems like deep vein thrombosis.

Muscle Cramp

If you work your calf muscle too much, you can get a sudden pain in your leg. A muscle cramp can also happen if you hold a position too long or haven’t had enough water to drink. Most cramps are harmless and improve if you massage yourself, do gentle stretching, and apply a warm towel or heating pad. If it doesn’t get better, call your doctor. Although rare, muscle cramps can be caused by other health issues, like compressed nerves.

Muscle Strain

Stretch too far or put too much pressure on your calf, and you can strain your muscle. If so, you’ll have a dull ache that worsens when you move. Swelling, redness, or a bruise are also common, and it may hurt to rise up on your toes. Rest and ice can help. When you sit, try to raise your calf higher than hip height. You’ll also need to be patient. A pulled muscle can take up to 6 weeks to completely heal.

Baker’s Cyst

Fluid inside your knee helps it move smoothly, but an injury or arthritis can cause too much to build up in the back of your knee. If you have a Baker’s cyst, you’ll notice swelling and may not be able to straighten your knee. Swelling and redness can also spread to your calf. Sometimes, a Baker’s cyst goes away on its own. If not, your doctor may need to look for, and treat, the condition causing it.

Sciatica

If the sciatic nerve in your lower back gets pinched or inflamed, you’ll feel a burning pain down one, or both, of your legs. Sciatica pain can come and go. It may also get worse after you stand or walk. Ice packs, applied 20 minutes at a time, can help, as can over-the-counter pain medicine. You may also try massage, acupuncture, or yoga. If you still hurt, your doctor may suggest a steroid shot.

Chronic Compartment Syndrome

Inside your legs are pockets of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. Excessive activity, like too much running, can cause bleeding or swelling inside them. If you have chronic compartment syndrome, a pressure buildup inside your muscles causes your blood flow to go down. Your calf may cramp or hurt when you move. You may see swelling or a muscle bulge. A break from the activity can help. In severe cases, you might need surgery.

Varicose Veins

If you stand or walk a lot, the pressure on your legs can cause varicose veins in one or both calves. These thick, bulging veins can cause pain, burning, swelling, and itching. Compression stockings can help. So can movement and exercise, which help pump blood from the calf. You can also prop up your leg when you sit, and try not to sit or stand for too long. Your doctor may also treat it by closing up or shrinking the veins.

Bone Infection

Although it’s not common, germs sometimes get into your bones and cause an infection, known as osteomyelitis. When the infection is in a lower leg bone, you’ll notice redness, swelling, and warmth in your calf. You may also have a fever and fatigue. If lab and imaging tests confirm that you have a bone infection, you may need antibiotics for treatment.

Neurogenic Claudication

The most common cause of this problem is spinal stenosis — a narrowing of spaces in your spine that puts pressure on nerves. You can have pain, tingling, or cramps in your legs, as well as your hips and bottom. It could get worse when you stand or walk, but will stop if you sit or lean forward. If you have neurogenic claudication, you may need surgery to ease the pressure on your nerves.

The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

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Portland, OR 97209

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