Pain in the calf muscles

Fatigue of the legs at the end of the day is a natural phenomenon. They either do not pay attention to it, or write off on uncomfortable shoes and heavy loads. Unpleasant sensations, heaviness in the legs, pain in the calf muscles - none of these symptoms causes alertness until repeated often enough. Why do legs hurt even when motor activity is not too high? What is the reason for the periodicity of pain in the legs? Questions like these arise from almost everyone, and it's time to respond, at least to some of them.

For the most part, unpleasant sensations in the legs caused by usual fatigue pass quickly and do not even leave behind memories. But there are cases when pain in the legs, are the constant companions of life. Pain in the calf muscles should not be ignored even when it occurs for the first time. Any painful feelings should be considered as the first alarm bell of our body.

[1],

What causes pain in the calf muscles?

The main causes that lead to pain in the legs can be divided into two categories:

• Natural muscle behavior in response to fatigue or direct exposure (mechanical reaction);
• Diseases, the main symptom of which is muscle pain in the lower limbs.

Natural muscle behavior in response to fatigue - a slight feeling of heaviness, a slight swelling of the upper tissues, a slight pain in the calf muscles. This is the result of accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles, a prolonged pressing effect on soft tissues and vessels with uncomfortable shoes, or wearing high-heeled shoes.

See also: Shoes that are harmful to health

The resulted unpleasant sensations quickly pass or take place, if to legs to give a raised position (above a level of a head to provide the best outflow of blood) and acceptance of a cool foot bath. It is better if you put a contrast shower in your legs.

Another variant of the natural behavior of the calf muscles is what we used to call "pulled the muscle." At the moment of sharp movement the muscle does not have time to relax and its strong tension occurs. For example, as a result of not walking fast, the foot suddenly turns and immediately there is a sharp pain in the ankle joint. Or, during the running, there is pain in the calf muscles. Such a reaction will be an indicator that the warm-up was not performed efficiently enough, the muscles in the first case were not trained, in the second - they were not "heated up", which led to the disruption of their work.

The described pains are characterized by the following common features:

• sudden appearance;
• are not long-lasting;
• are removed without the use of medicines;
• do not have a certain cyclicity (they can never happen again).

To reduce the soreness of sensations, in these cases, can be a tight bandage, the imposition of cold and giving the foot maximum immobility.

Diseases that cause pain in the calf muscles

Among the diseases that can cause pain in the calf muscles, as one of their symptoms, are:

• phlebeurysm;
• thrombophlebitis;
• atherosclerosis;
• diseases of the spine;
• neuralgic diseases;
• inflammation of the muscles;
• infectious diseases;
• myopathies

[2], [3]

Phlebeurysm

Complaints about the constant weight in the legs, the feeling of opening the calf muscles, which does not stop even in a state of rest, are characteristic of one of the most common vascular diseases - varicose veins.

The movement of blood along the vessels, with age, slows down. Genetic predisposition, a sedentary lifestyle, work associated with prolonged stays on the legs, improper lifting of weights, heavy weight, pregnancy and childbirth in women, improper metabolism - all these and many other causes lead to deformation of the veins and, as a result, deterioration of the blood supply to the muscles of the lower extremities. The pain in the calf muscles is the result of stagnant processes, blood is poorly flowing, and consequently, the muscles do not receive enough oxygen for good performance. Hence the feeling of flailing in the legs.

Thrombophlebitis

The constant pain in the gastrocnemius muscles of a pulsating nature, changing over time to a pain resembling a burning sensation, is a clear sign of one of the most common vascular disease - thrombophlebitis. Pay attention to the fact that pain with thrombophlebitis permanent, stop (removed), only by means of drug treatment. If you have such pain, you should immediately seek help from specialists.

Atherosclerosis

Feet freezing, even in summer heat, calves of legs as if pulled, compressed. To these unpleasant sensations periodically joins pain. So shows another enemy of our health - atherosclerosis. In the process of this disease, the walls of the vessels are deformed, because of the deposition of fatty (cholesterol) plaques on their internal surfaces, which complicates the normal current and the outflow of blood from the lower limbs. The deposits of cholesterol seal the vessel from the inside out, hence the feeling of the stiff, compressed muscles of the shin. Again, as in the above-described diseases, normal blood circulation is disrupted. The constant shortage of "food", high pressure inside the vessels cause pain in the calf muscles, which, in course of time, also acquires a permanent character.

[4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]

Neuralgic diseases

Sometimes the pain in the legs, up to severe pains, can have nothing to do with the muscles and vessels of the legs themselves. Neuralgia - diseases associated with inflammation of the peripheral nerves. You can often hear "something in the leg came in." So, once "enters", then there is neuralgia. Signs of the manifestation of pains of a neurological nature are their unexpectedness and short duration. They appear paroxysmally, "entered" and, in a few minutes, "let go", the pain in the calf muscles will appear, they, as if twisting for a moment, then disappear.

The apparent mildness of the manifestations of the described symptoms should not lead you to the conclusion about the safety of such manifestations. If the described cases have occurred in your life at least once, do not wait for the next one. Address to the doctor - to the neurologist or to the neuropathologist. This will help you avoid an unexpected and unpleasant "encounter" with the manifestation of neuralgia in the future.

Diseases of the spine

Pain in the calf muscles can be the result of one of the diseases of the spine. When the pain does not just appear, but "shoots" in the foot, this is a vivid example of problems with the spine. This "behavior" is inherent, for example, the displacement of vertebral discs. The spine itself , at this moment, you can not be bothered, but with such alarming bells he lets you know that a threat has appeared.

[10], [11], [12], [13], [14]

Myositis

The strongest pain in the calf muscles is likely to cause, probably, myositis. Myositis, most often, occurs as a response to a transmitted infectious disease, such as influenza. Myositis may be caused by injury to the gastrocnemius muscle, severe overexertion, or incorrect distribution of a large load on the muscle (in women, for example, long walking on the hairpin can cause). The causes of myositis can be parasites (parasitic myositis), such as trichinella, toxoplasma.

The pain that causes myositis, it is impossible to mix with anything, - aching, sharply increasing at the slightest movement. Palpation (palpation) of the muscle is painful, seals, knots and tightness are felt. In cases with parasitic myositis, pains of masticatory muscles and tongue, a rise in body temperature are characteristic .

What if there is pain in the calf muscles?

The above examples are sufficient to make the final conclusion - pain in the legs just does not arise. There are no pains that could be called trivial. If there is pain in the calf muscles - you know, your body gives you instructions for action and even shows a specific place, which is worth paying close attention to. Listen to yourself, be attentive to everything that happens inside of you, any disease is easier to prevent than to become a victim of a long struggle with it.