5 days ago, i was steppind down stairs and i felt something tear in my calf. I was in so
much pain that i could not stand or walk. i started the R.I.C.E. method almost immediately
and every day it got better. Yesterday, my daughter noticed that the back of my calf and
the front of my shin was black from bruising.I ended up going to the E.R. because I was
concerned of a bloodclot. The physician said that i ripped my planteris muscle right off
and that it had little function and not to worry about it.When i get up in the morning it feels
prety good and 10 minuted later it is quite painful and it gets more painful as i walk (as
the day goes on).MY question is, how long does this last,what can I do to speed up the
healing, and how long will I have to not run? I will be able to run again won't I? It is hard
to think that I will because it is so difficult to walk.
Hi Mary.. While it is true that the Plantaris muscle contributes little to function, it is also the
case that often, it is the medial third of the Gastrocs that fail rather than the Plantaris.
Either way, this seems to settle down, and eventually, you will be able to walk painlessly
and also run. I think you should go see a PT/ATC to help you manage this stage of your
recovery. I have found that taping the calf with elastic tape that compresses the lower leg
helps a lot. Much of your pain is due to the edema that is pooling in the leg. Use ice and
elevate like crazy for now, and follow the advice of a therapist as you recover to decide
when exactly you should return to running.
Good Luck
Neil
