TORN GASTROCNEMIS
HELP–I AM NOT THE AVID SPORTS FANATIC BUT I HAVE A SIMILAR INJURY TO ONE. I WAS WALKING AT WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN POW, FELT LIKE SOMEONE KICKED ME IN THE BACK OF THE LEG. I COULD NO LONGER PUT ANY WEIGHT OR FLEX MY FOOT TO WALK. DR. SAYS TEAR DUE TO OVERUSE STRESS. WHO KNEW THAT JUST WALKING COULD DO SOMETHING SO DRASTIC. ITS BEEN A WEEK NOW AND I STILL CAN’T WALK PROPERLY, CONSTANT PAIN AND UNABILITY TO RETURN TO WORK. SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME HOW LONG WILL THIS GO ON AND IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO TO GET BACK TO DOING WHAT I LOVE TO DO? THAT IS TAKING CARE OF OTHER PEOPLE.
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HELP, TORN GASTROCNEMIS
1 Comment found
DSA
Hi there, indeed the most common description of calf tear is like being kicked from behind. tears are graded 1 – 3 (in the UK), the higher the number, the worse the injury. Grade 1’s take around 3 – 4 weeks to heal enough to return to activity, grade 2’s six weeks or so, grade 3 tears where the tissue is completely ruptured requires surgery. Ironically grade 3’s can sometimes be painless – there’s nothing there to cause pain. With 1’s and 2’s, you are looking at 3 – 6 weeks rehab time, with therapy, (NMT, massage, physio – whatever) exercise rehab etc. Bear in mind as the tissues heal, the body lays down scar tissue (which needs attention) and the muscle will naturally shorten, so a return to full normal activity needs to be gradual so as not to re-injure the area. From what you say, it sound like your tear is more than grade 1. My advice is to see a professional ASAP.