Leg not Working properly

[Supernick]

Hi All,

Know that you shoudn't seek mediacal advice on an answer forum, but this isn't that serious. Basically, I was playing football at the weekend and someone kicked me extremely hard right in the calf. I tried playing on for 10 minutes but it was too sore so I came off. Since then it has really seized up, and 24 hours later feels like when you've had really bad cramp and can't extend your leg. There's no visible bruising but it's sore to touch, and I can't walk on it. Any ideas on the likely problem? And also ways of making it better?

[littlemissx]

no idea with medical things but as for making you feel better.... some nice young girl to give you a massage???

[Supernick]

Ahhh the solution to ALL problems ;)

[GraceAnais]

when i was 17 i wacked my calf really hard after falling off a stage (don't ask.) it didn't bruise either but was extremely sore to touch. i didn't think much of it at the time, but was still in pain months later and went to the doctors. they said that i had hit a nerve in my leg...hence the numbness. years on and it is still sore to touch. my advice is just to rest it...at the time the doctor told me if i had rested it for longer afterwards it wouldn't have caused me so many problems later on!

[Supernick]

Mmmm. Perhaps my strategy thus far of trying to 'stretch it out' and walk on it as much as possible as you would with cramp is not the way forward. I'm liking the massage idea though, even though it is probably too sore. Perhaps I'll settle for the usual male response of lying on the sofa and whining that people should be making me cups of tea, and running a nice bath. Time to find a girl.

[littlemissx]

i'll be your girl supernick ;o)

[GraceAnais]

well it looks like you've already found a girl to give you a massage, but on a more serious note, i'd suggest resting it!! get any willing slaves to make you tea, run you baths etc and sit back and chill. what with the winter nights drawing in this is possibly one of the best times to claim your 'invalid' status and enjoy the rewards that it can bring!!!

[Supernick]

Thanks GraceAnais - I think that's probably sensible advice, although I am desperate to play football for my company in the big grudge match tomorrow. Barring miracles though I can't see it happening. :(

Littlemissx - the question is, do you give a good massage??

[GraceAnais]

look supernick, you have to forget the game of football...there will be plenty more!!! soon after my own leg injury i fell up a set of stairs and bashed it again. this only added to the original injury (i had it x-rayed and now have an extra bit of bone in my leg from where all the blood formed around it-nice) the main problem i've caused myself is that i can no longer kneel on my leg without it being painful. which does affect your ability to perform certain sexual positions. so there's a thought.

[Supernick]

Yes, well worth thinking about Grace ;) I wouldn't like to explain that to a girl I'd met. I'll do the mature thing and get on with some work instead.

[Gevs1966]

Basically, you've got a dead leg. Treatment for this is RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) Hot and Cold treatment is also effective. Personally I would do the following..

Strap Ice tightly around the affected area (do not put ice directly onto the skin though, wrap in a cloth or something, if you have no ice a packet of frozen peas is just as good). Lie down with your iced leg raised up on the arm of the couch for about 20 mins. Follow this with a hot bath for about the same period of time and gently massage the injury while in the bath. (emphasis on the word gently!!). Repeat the procedure with the ice once more and then wear a compress or tubigrip style bandage and sit back with your leg up.

Repeat as and when convenient (especially with the ice and compression) but do not use ice for more than 20 mins at a time and leave half an hour or so between each ice period!

Dead legs can last a couple of days or up to a couple of weeks depending on how bad the original impact was and the treatment given but the above works for me.

[Supernick]

Cheers Gevs. I'll give it a go tonight and see if things improve. Ice, bath (littlemissx massage), ice again. That's my night sorted.

[Gevs1966]

Is it any better today then Nick?

[Supernick]

Better yes, but I couldn't really do the whole hot/cold thing because an old flatmate invited me down the pub. I iced it when I got back though. Tonight I should be able to give it a better go though, as it's still pretty painful.

[littlemissx]

i can give a very good massage nick ;o)

[Supernick]

Well it's still sore so perhaps you should pop round sometime ;)

[littlemissx]

oooohhh.... what are do you live in nick??? ;o)

[Supernick]

The tropical hotspot that is Berkhamsted (near Hemel Hempstead and Watford). You?

[Supernick]

Feels like a bit of a Blog now.

Day 5 - If anything lef has got worse. After a hot bath where I massaged it last night, this morning a big yellow bruise the size of a beermat is coming up, and the calf feels incredibly tight like a sausage waiting to burst. Nice.

[littlemissx]

a bruise is always a good sign!