Interesting leg pain

[irishScott]

So I'm pretty sure I pulled something while rowing a couple of weeks ago, but the pain has been mild at worst and I'm on a college campus, so I still have to walk at least a couple of miles a day whether I want to or not. Obviously I'm not hitting the gym or anything using that region, but I don't have the option to sit still.

Suffice to say it's not debilitating, and will probably go away on it's own. I'm just curious. The pain is a shooting pain on the extreme right of my right calf, practically on the side. Weird thing is, once I walk a decent distance on it the pain goes away completely. Only comes back if I stop using it for a minute and then resume. Goes away just as quickly. Pain mildly shoots from just above my ankle back to my mid-calf (in terms of height).

Went hiking and caving with it last weekend with no apparent worsening of the condition.

Any ideas?

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Sounds like it might be tendonitis.

I had tendonitis in my calf a few months ago, albeit a much duller pain that what you're describing. The reason it feels better after a bit of exercise is because of the increased blood flow to the tendon and surrounding muscles.

Mind you, I only experienced mine while running, not walking, and it improved to the point of being painless 30-45 minutes into the run.

Edit: *Light* stretching on your soleus and gastrocnemius should be OK.

 

[Titan]

Sounds like a tendon - I have had numerous tendon pulls and describe it as a bad ache that spikes when you strain it. They take a while to heal but you're best off using it lightly to keep it stretched and try not to tear it anymore.

Contrasted to ligaments with that sprained ankle feel like (balloons) inflamed in the joint. Those take way long to heal and it's important not to tear them.

Yours in in the calf so I'm guessing tendon. Either that or deep muscle tissue and/or nerve damage.