Calf Muscle Pain

What is calf muscle pain?

Calf muscle pain is a dull ache or sharp pain in the back of your lower leg, behind your shinbone (tibia). Calf pain can feel a little different for everyone. If you get lower leg pain when you’ve been doing something physical like walking or running, the cause is generally muscular. But if the pain in your calf comes on suddenly without a clear cause, it could be a serious health issue, like a problem with your blood vessels.

You can typically treat mild calf muscle pain at home with rest, ice and other simple measures. But if you have skin discoloration, swelling, or sudden or severe pain in your calf muscles, you should see your healthcare provider right away. You may have a health condition that requires urgent medical attention.

Why do my calves hurt?

Calf pain causes may include:

• Cramps: Leg cramps and calf pain at night occur when your muscles suddenly contract, causing muscle spasms. It may last for just a few seconds, but you can feel sore for hours afterward.
• Strains: A pulled calf muscle, or a calf muscle strain, occurs when you overstretch your calf muscles. Severe overstretching can cause a torn calf muscle.
• Intermittent claudication: Narrowed arteries prevent your calf muscles from receiving enough blood, which deprives them of oxygen. This can cause calf pain when walking or exercising. The name of this condition is peripheral arterial disease.
• Tendonitis: Tendons attach your calf muscles to bones in your leg. Tendonitis (tendon inflammation) can put pressure on your calf muscle or make it painful for your muscle to work.
• Contusions: A direct blow to a muscle, like a kick in your calf, can damage your muscle tissue without breaking your skin. Calf contusions usually cause bruising and soreness.
• Compartment syndrome: Severe contusions can lead to compartment syndrome, a dangerous condition that prevents blood from getting to your leg muscles.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Pain in your calf muscle can be due to a blood clot in your lower leg.

Risk factors for calf pain

Anyone can get pain in their calf muscles. It’s more common in athletes and people who participate in a lot of physical activity and put excess stress on their calf muscles. People over age 65 are also at a higher risk of lower leg pain due to muscle weakness, certain health conditions or if they’ve been inactive.

Other factors that can make sore calves more likely include:

• Certain medications, including cholesterol-lowering drugs
• Diseases like hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland), liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Edema (swelling due to fluid buildup) in your lower leg
• Heat exhaustion
• Low electrolytes due to dehydration or dialysis (a procedure to clean your blood)
• Pregnancy
• Short or tight calf muscles
• Smoking or using other tobacco products

How is pain in the calves treated?

You can usually treat mild calf muscle pain at home using the RICE method:

• Rest: Avoid walking or running with pain in your calf muscles. Don’t push through the pain, which can make the problem worse.
• Ice: Put an ice pack or cold compress on your calf muscles for 20 minutes every two hours. Don’t apply ice directly to your skin.
• Compression: Apply a compression bandage or wrap to your calf. Compression helps reduce blood flow to the painful area and minimizes swelling.
• Elevation: Lift your leg into an elevated position, preferably above the level of your heart. Support the entire length of your leg with pillows, blankets or cushions.

If you have sore calves from a muscle cramp or feel a painful knot in your calf muscle, it may help to gently stretch your calf.

Your healthcare provider may recommend additional treatments depending on the cause of your lower leg pain, including:

• Pain relievers
• Physical therapy
• Soft cast or boot to immobilize your lower leg, in the case of a strain or tear

When to worry about calf pain

You should contact your healthcare provider if you have:

• Problems moving or walking
• Severe or sudden lower leg pain
• Skin discoloration in your legs, feet or toes
• Swelling in your calf or anywhere in your lower leg