Pain in the calf
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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[Reason number 1. Chronic failure of veins
Venous insufficiency is the stasis of blood flow in the veins and muscles of the shins (sinuses). The cause of this stagnation may be a violation of the function of the pump of muscles and veins located in the shin. This happens if a person has stood on his feet for a long time and if at the same time he also has excess weight called phlebopathy.
Chronic venous insufficiency is also caused by a deficiency in the valves of deep veins. This condition can be after a vein thrombosis, as well as with varicose veins with insufficient valves.
When the blood is in excess, it can stretch the thin venous walls and the muscle tissue that surrounds them. This causes ischemia of the vessel walls, as well as severe pain in the calf. Such a pain is usually dull, a person feels a bursting in the calf. Pain can become stronger with a standing position sitting or standing. Pain can become less or even stop when a person has a good rest (at night) and will change position. If a person experiences chronic venous insufficiency, he may have swelling of soft tissues in the lower leg region. This symptom can be supplemented by one more - caviar spasms, prevailing at night.
Reason number 2. Acute insufficiency of veins
It is also called acute venous insufficiency or deep vein thrombosis (localized in the tibia). Blood flow in this case is difficult. The pains at the same time are bursting, strong, they can decrease if the leg is lifted up. Then the blood flow is normalized. The muscle increases in volume, thickens, the subcutaneous pattern may appear more clearly.
The way in which localization and strength will be pain depends on the location of the thrombus. The more veins will participate in the process of thrombosis, the more acute can be the pain in the caviar. It can be strengthened by flexing the sole and ankle, and also in the place where it is pressed onto the skin.
Reason number 3. Chronic arterial insufficiency (arterial insufficiency)
The reason for its development is the occlusion of arteries due to the inflammatory process of autoimmune origin. Or because of atherosclerotic changes. Then the muscles lack oxygen, the oxygen starvation of muscles and veins occurs, the acid in the muscles accumulates, the pain receptors are irritated, which leads to severe pain in the calf muscles.
Then a person can be diagnosed with a syndrome of so-called "intermittent claudication". In the initial stages, the pain in the calf is not strong, and the longer the process is delayed, the greater the pain. As additional symptoms, people can feel chilliness, cold extremities - hands or feet, pale skin, hair loss. The code in the caviar area can become thinner, scaly.
Reason number 4. Acute artery failure
Acute arterial insufficiency is a situation where arteries are clogged due to a blood clot in the vein or embolism. The result may be limb ischemia. Pain in this case can occur even in a state of rest, when a person hardly moves. The pains become intense, the limb becomes less sensitive, this sensitivity can be lost at all. The person moves with even greater difficulty, paralysis of gastrocnemius muscles, contractures of muscles develops.
Reason number 5. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
This disease is also called radicular syndrome. This is a very common cause of pain that appears in the area of the muscles of the calf - the second most common of all caviar pains. It arises from the squeezing of the spine cord nerve root in the place where the spine leaves the vertebral canal. Then the pain can be given to the caviar if the inflamed nerve fibers reach its location. Nerves can be affected by compression, they generate pain impulses, muscles tint and contract. Because of this, muscular dystrophy develops with cystic and fibrous growths.
In the muscle can be observed dense patches, clicking on which, a person increases the pain impulse. Pain in caviar may become less intense after exercise, heat, massage.
Reason number 6. Peripheral polyneuropathy
This condition, which causes a person to have pain in the gastrocnemius muscle, can occur after diabetes mellitus transferred by the patient. This can also be the result of exposure to the body of toxins, as well as ethanol. When a person suffers from polyneuropathy as a result of diabetes, pain can occur mainly at night, as well as in the morning. They can disturb a person even in a state of rest. These pains can be localized in the lower parts of the legs and hands. In humans, as an additional symptom, skin cramps can run, skin can be burned, legs and arms grow dumb. A person with pain can feel muscle weakness, fatigue, sensitivity to vibrations.
The pains in caviar can be very strong. When the vegetative nerves are affected, this leads to violations of venous outflow, trophic ulcers and vascular disease, the so-called vascular component of pain.
Reason number 7. Neuritis of the tibial nerve
This condition is supplemented by severe pain, which disturbs a person in the form of seizures. They pass along the nerves - this pain in the calf can be traced by the method of palpation. When there are no seizures, there is no pain in the calves either.
Reason number 8. Pathology of knee joints
Knee joints can be pathological in nature. This phenomenon can be called osteoarthritis. His symptoms are pain in the calf muscles, pain in the area around the joints, which are especially troublesome in cases of severe physical exertion. Pain is located on the anterior and posterior region of the knee. These pains become stronger when walking, standing (long).
When a person ascends and descends the stairs, the pain intensifies. According to this characteristic symptom it can be determined that a man develops pathology of the knee joints. Even when a person stops moving, the pain still does not pass.
If the inflammation develops actively, the pain further increases when the person moves. In the morning, joints are stiff. The gastrocnemius muscle is constantly tense, it hurts when it is touched, it feels very dense.
Reason number 9. Dermatomyositis
Another name is polymyositis. This inflammation of the muscles of the calf is of an autoimmune nature. Side effects are pain, severe and blunt. They intensify even more when a person moves and when an ankle is in a state of shaking. At the same time there is muscle weakness and intoxication, nausea. Muscles can swell, when they are pressed with a finger, a person is very hurt. It takes a little time - and the muscles tighten, they feel nodes, develops fibrosis. This condition can be a consequence of a cold, exposure to parasites, injuries, overexertion.
Reason number 10. Fibromyalgia
It is a disease of the muscles of the autoimmune nature, which in rare cases is accompanied by pain in the muscles of the calves. Pain in the calf can be strong and permanent, with weakness in the limbs. In the morning, muscles can be "wooden", a person can feel stiffness and pain. With palpation, the muscles of the calves can be very painful, especially at certain points.
Reason number 11. Stretching and / or rupture of the muscles of the calf
This condition can be characterized by severe pain in the calves. In particular, where the muscle is damaged, the pain in the calf can be dramatically increased. Especially when driving. Symptoms such as inflammation of the muscles of the calf - myositis can be attached to pain symptoms.
What does caviar consist of?
Caviar - that is, the muscle of the posterior surface of the leg in the region of the shin - consists of two muscles. This gastrocnemius muscle and soleus, which is located deeper. These two muscles are connected by tendons, which are attached to the heel bone, this forms the Achilles tendon. The calf muscles enable the ankle to move, that is, the ankle joint. Then the person gets the opportunity to walk, maintain balance and amortize during the movement.
The gastrocnemius muscle is supplied with blood through the system of arteries, which begin from the area under the knee. In the gastrocnemius muscle are also the nerves that come from the tibial nerve. If you touch these nerves, the person will be very, very hurt. In general, pain in caviar can be caused by the following reasons.