Calf muscle is actually a group of muscles at the back of the leg below the knee. Many people exercise this muscle group to highlight its shape and form. A well toned calf muscle is a goal of many runners and bodybuilders. But, excessive exercise puts strain on this muscle. It can cramp and cause pain. In severe cases, the muscle may become chronically weak. Injuries can snap the muscle out of its connection with the Achilles tendon and this causes excruciating pain. Calf muscle injuries take months or even years to heal completely.
Calf pain causes and symptoms :
- Calf muscle strain : In this, the muscle tears in small locations. It causes swelling and pain during motion. One may have difficulty in putting weight on the injured leg. Calf muscle strains occur due to repetitive stress on the muscle and it is unable to heal itself.
- Achilles Tendon injury : This tendon is the connector between calf muscle and the heel. Achilles tendon may get strained due to running and other such activities and the pain that is caused often radiates to the calf.
- Muscle cramp : A cramp can affect any muscle. The only direction is to heal it by eating a healthy diet which replenishes water content and electrolytes in the body.
- Swelling and water retention : Certain medical conditions can cause fluid to be retained in the body. This excess water or fluid can deposit underneath the skin, particularly in areas of belly, upper arm and lower leg. This can cause pain and marked swelling.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) : People who travel for very long hours in flights or do sedentary work for long hours may suffer from deep vein thrombosis. It is a rare condition which often cause pain. One may feel the pain as an ache deep within the thighs and lower leg.
- Compartment Syndrome : This is a dangerous condition in which the person may feel constant and intense pain. This can be caused by a variety of triggers, but the main problem comes from nerve damage due to entrapment.As such, calf muscles and surrounding region may swell and entrap nerves. Blood flow to the nerves is drastically reduced which can lead to complete nerve damage.
Home remedies for calf pain relief:
- Foods that increase the strength of blood vessels and improve blood flow usually help to alleviate calf muscle pain. So, one should eat all kinds of berries, plum and lime. Take some chili peppers in diet. They raise the heart beat rate and improve blood circulation.
- Saffron and ginger can also relieve muscle pain in the body. If the calf muscle pain is due to the muscle, then it can relieved by eating these two substances. There are many more herbs that can provide relief from muscle ache and tension.
