gastrocnemius injuries

[wolf63]

A few years back I tore the calf muscle in my right leg - it was awfully sore. I thought that I had been shot as I heard a loud pop and then a searing pain in my leg. I got physiotherapy including ultrasound and it cleared up within a few weeks.

For a couple of years after this I seemed to have problems - the muscle not tearing but feeling bunched up and ready to pop. Not always the same leg but always the calf. Then it disappeared for about 4 years.

Coming back from my taxing shift in our local Oxfam bookshop this afternoon the muscle started hurting - feels like a knot. I am not really too sure whether to exercise the leg, stick ice on it or rest it.

I don't want to go see my doctor - I am laying low just now because I always seem to be there about my mental health problems or the myriad of other stuff he gives me pills for.

Any ideas of how to treat this? My brain is mush these days and I have absolutely no idea what I had to do last time. I did, however, remember the word gastrocnemius might come in handy in a pub quiz at some time.

Susan ;-)

[Sqad]

Sounds like a similar episode to your previous episode.
I would suggest, rest for at least 48hours, ice pack overnight and Ibuprofen 600mgms twice daily.

[wolf63]

Doctor S

I take Lithium and can't take ibuprofen so will paracetemol do?

Resting it is not a problem. ;-)

[Sqad]

wolf ..far be it from me to question the diagnosis of 2years ago but it did sound like a rupture of the Plantaris tendon. The treatment is basically the same.

[Sqad]

wolf....not as good, but OK take Paracetamol.

[wolf63]

Sqad - is that the same as my achilles tendon? They checked that out. The physio said that she could actually feel the tear during her painful prodding of my leg.

Thanks for your advice.

Know anything about Feline Asthma? I am off to capture said feline to give him his steroid inhaler. He's probably hiding in a wheelie bin!

:-)

Susan

[Sqad]

LOL...No to Feline Asthma.

No, the Achilles tendon and Plantaris Tendon are different, but the symptoms of tear are very similar.

[anneasquith]

wolf. just because you have mental health problems shouldnt stop you seeing your g,p,,thats their job, hope you feel better soon.

[wolf63]

anneasquith - sorry I was being flippant. I am bipolar and when I am in a 'bad place' I am never away from my GP. I was there a week ago getting my diabetes checked out - he is easy to talk to and I trust him.

Thanks sqad - there is a bag of frozen berries that I don't want in the freezer so I will use them and then have a good reason to bin them.

Thanks to both of you.

[boxtops]

wolf, I've got another bag of same in my freezer - if you want I'll send 'em over... ;-)

Sounds v. painful, I hope you will be OK.

[anneasquith]

wolf , you werent flippant,but your g,p, is the expert and knows you, just dont want you to stay away because you have mental health problems, and i do hope you feel better soon, did you find your cat?

[wolf63]

boxtops - why did I buy frozen berries? Could it be due to 'reduced' sticker on the front.

anneasquith - I found out many years ago that not talking about mental health issues only made the problem seem much worse. I have a good psychiatrist and GP and good friends and family.

The cat will be hiding somewhere upstairs. He is only 5 and I can picture me, in 10 years or so, still having to catch the monster twice a day for his inhaler. The inhalers cost quite a bit of money so I am glad that I have pet insurance.

I better go and try and grab him. He's faster than me.

[boxtops]

wolf, I picked mine, I can't resist freebies like blackberries, particularly when nobody else is taking them..... I will make a crumble, you have stirred my conscience!

I don't know how you manage your cat with the inhaler, it's hell on wheels just giving mine their flea treatment. You watch out for your leg while you're foraging under the bed for him! I know what you mean about insurance - Rover's kidney tablets cost nearly fifty quid a box but I get it all back (after the excess).

[anneasquith]

is your leg no better wolf ? did you ever go to the doc. ?

[wolf63]

anneasquith - I iced it and stayed off for it and thought it was getting better. But as I wandered down the street to get up my emergency prescription after running out of antidepressants the muscle bunched up again.

This is the first time in many months that my mental health has been stable and I go and do this.

But I think that I will live and if it is not better on Monday I may go see my GP or a physiotherapist.

Thanks for asking. :-)