my calf muscle feels like it is in knots and it is painful.... any suggestions...?

Answer 1

Try the application of heat. A hot water bottle to the area or a soak in a relatively hot tub. That should relax the muscles enought that you can stretch the knots away.

If you have some sort of heat rub (like Myoflex or Absorbine Jr.) then I would recommend that. Not only will it help 'cause it heats up but the massaging to rub it in will help too. Some even have acetaminophen (one brand would be Tylenol) in it. WARNING: Do not apply heat after you've applied the heat rub. It will cause a burn to the area.

Is the leg red & swollen? Bigger than the other side? If this is true, you might have a blood clot and that needs looked after.as soon as possible.

Answer 2

Be careful here...it might be a blood clot, and stretching it out will loosen the clot and result in possibly death.
Ask yourself a few questions.
How long has it felt that way? Is there any bruising?
When you say 'it feels like' is that by examination of the area with your own hands, or does that refer to the sensation you are experiencing.
Can you link this to any activities that may have caused a cramp?
The problem here is that it is awkward for you to examine the calf effectively by yourself.
Do you have full use of your leg? is it weight bearing? how weakened is it?
I'm assuming that it is painful beyond what you have normally experienced, this leads me to assume that the problem is more than just a cramp.

If it is a cramp, it's simply a matter of stretching the affected muscle, while contracting the opposing muscle, so stretch the calf while contracting the shin. Drink a couple of glasses of water, maybe take a pain killer, take a quarter teaspoon of table salt, rest.


But if it is more than a cramp;
* it could be a torn achilles tendon, which would severely limit mobility and weight bearing function of your leg.
* it could be a blood clot in the greater saphenous vein
* it could be a torn z disk
* it could be a badly located muscle cramp causing impingement of a nerve.
* the calf is generally made up of the gastrocnemius and the soleus muscles, there is also the plantaris muscle and a bunch of other muscles in the area, any of those could be torn causing the experience of the feelings.

But generally I would suggest having a professional examine it if it feels a bit out of place beyond the normal, just to rule out any life threatening conditions such as blood clot, to rule out any possibly permanaently debilitating conditions such as a torn achilles tendon.
If you go to your GP (doctor) he/she will probably refer you to the physiotherapist, costing about $50.00 for the GP and about $50 for the physiotherapist, hopefully you can claim some of it back from your health fund or from your government medical schemes. If I wanted to I would have to pay $46.00 to the GP and claim back $31.00 costing me $15 for the GP. The I would have to pay $45.00 for the Physiotherapist but I can't claim any of that back. So a total of $60.00 to check if it is anything serious. However, if it does happen to be a blood clot, then it is a lifethreatening situation, so the GP would send me to the hospital, get ultrasounds, then depending on what they find... blah blah blah it could be something, it could be nothing.
Good luck

Answer 3

Sounds like a Charlie Horse. Don't know why we call them that, but we do. I used to get them quite often, especially at night.

You need to eat more potassium rich foods (baked potato, banana, etc.) and drink more water. Also start taking a multi vitamin like One a Day or Centrum. Stay away from the Mega vitamins sold at places like GNC and other supplement stores.

You body is telling you that you are deficient in certain vitamins and minerals. Also it is a sign you are dehydrated. Meanwhile, try stretching it out and massaging it ..... it should go away in a while, but don't be surprised if they come back if you don't start giving your body what it needs.

Answer 4

Eat a banana drink a glass of water, and try to stretch the muscle out gently.

Answer 5

I am a pharmacist and have helped many kinds of muscle cramp and spasm problems with calcium-magnesium-zinc tablets taken with meals 3 times daily. Clear this with your doctor first if you are being treated for any kind of serious medical condition and taking prescription meds.

Answer 6

There are several reasons that might cause this. Did you buy new shoes recently?....yes that can cause it!, but if not, then increase your calcium intake....tetany (contraction of the muscles is caused by insufficient calcium intake) and another suggestion is drinking tonic water....the quinine in tonic water relieves the muscle spasms.

Answer 7

Sounds like you need either iron or potassium. That should help.

Answer 8

OUCH!
SOUNDS LIKE MUSCLE CRAMP
MASSAGE WITH BABY OIL
HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY DOCTOR IF IT PERSISTS

Answer 9

eat bananas until it quits hurting it just means your low in potassium.

Answer 10

sitting on u'r azz too long stretch it.