My calves hurt. :( I exercise a lot, but this doesn't happen very often AT ALL because my calves are pretty developed and dependable.

It's been going on for about.. three day's maybe. No, I'm not resting. Yes, I'm icing, taking the occasional ibuprofen.

I just did some research about it online and some sites are saying I should take up to 5 day's off?! Um. No. So what do you think? It's this funky pain that's the worst in the center of my calf and then spreads out from there. It's almost like a cramp that never loosens up unless I've got the endorphins flowing and can't feel it.

I can exercise fine, but it's kind of a nagging sensation. I've been doing a lot of long runs (lasting more than an hour), biking a lot, doing a lot of hills etc., so I know exactly where this pain is coming from, but what should I do?

A five day rest is eternity. Maybe I could spare a day at most? The weather is too nice to rest. Would more swimming help? Can I just do the classic "R.I.C.E" thing only without completely resting? Massage maybe? I'm desperate, the outdoors are calling to me, while the couch is seducing my calves. :D

ke rest until the soreness largely subsides. you could have a muscle tear in there that is trying to heal.

What about "active" rest? Like exercises that don't use your leg muscles as much...maybe swimming or rowing? Also, (you probably know this but just in case) ice after exercise is good but it also helps to heat - and stretch - beforehand.

I've heard good things about deep tissue massage - well, by "good" I mean extremely painful in the short run but worth it afterwards. You might try looking into that.

But I'd add that you sound like you're someone who knows what you're doing - you have to listen to your body and trust your instincts. The longer you run (or bike) through pain, the more likely it becomes that it'll turn into something serious. And really, 5 days isn't that long - I've heard it takes I think two weeks before you start losing any fitness.

(The hypocrite in me would like to add that I've been running through similar pain in my hamstrings for about a month - but I only have three weeks left of my collegiate track career, then I can take off as much time as I need. :D )

~Hannah

If the pain continues, you should see a doctor. I ignored knee pain for several months, now I can't run for at least the next month and possibly the next several months. I can't even use my legs when I swim, becasue it aggravates my knee problem.

delayed onset muscle soreness. (google it)

you got the DOMS. :D

you have to rest until it goes away- overtrained. some light stretching is good.

delayed onset muscle soreness. (google it)


Thanks that helps. I think I will.. (hate to say it).. take it easy and see what happens.

Good Luck to you!Hope it feels better sooon!!


-Chelsea

Thanks that helps. I think I will.. (hate to say it).. take it easy and see what happens.

Just work around it, still train your hamstrings, quads. on the leg curl machine.

I use to compete in powerlifting with a best squat of 465lb in the 148 lb class.
But I kept training even though my knees hurt so bad I couldn't walk sometimes.

Now my knees are shot! I can't even squat an empty oly bar 45lb. hell! I can't even squat..... down to pick up something I dropped with out my kness sounding like Rice crispys you know Snap, Crackle, Pop LOL
If it hurts to do it, don't do it, just find something else for a while, but you shouldn't have to stop training.

Just work around it, still train your hamstrings, quads. on the leg curl machine.

I use to compete in powerlifting with a best squat of 465lb in the 148 lb class.
But I kept training even though my knees hurt so bad I couldn't walk sometimes.

Now my knees are shot! I can't even squat an empty oly bar 45lb. hell! I can't even squat..... down to pick up something I dropped with out my kness sounding like Rice crispys you know Snap, Crackle, Pop LOL
If it hurts to do it, don't do it, just find something else for a while, but you shouldn't have to stop training.
I have a member at the gym whos 15 year old son is playing football.
He ask me how far his son should go down in the squat. I told him and he said his coach told him if he doesn't go 'down all the way' he will not play!
There are so many uneducated coaches out there it is unreal and the kids pay for it - one day.

Thanks that helps. I think I will.. (hate to say it).. take it easy and see what happens.

You're quite welcome.

when you have overtrained to the point of muscle soreness that's doesn't go away and actually gets worse after a day or two, you got the DOMS :-/

I like saying that.

there's really nothing you can do, but drink water, eat juicy fruits and make sure your potassium is good.

it'll go away and it'll take more training for it to happen again, which is the good part. You runners are always trouble!:angel:

i always get that when i do a hard workout when i havent been.

like the other day it was so pretty outside i suddenly felt like..going for a 2 mile run! caffine was involved of course.

now my legs have been feeling icky since, but i like it because if i stretch out (like doing pilates) it feels SOO good, haha.

but since you seem to exercise a lot more then i do i would go get checked out :/

Update:

I rested completely the day before yesterday and I did half of what I normally do today (plus a good deal of walking). I still am feeling sluggish- the pain in my calves has been replaced with lead it seems like. Whatever- I'm going for a long run tomorrow and if the pain comes back then I'll rest the following day. I think I'm going to race next Saturday, so for now I'm just going to have to deal with this. :cool: