A bruised muscle in the calf occurs from direct blows or impacts to the back of the leg. Patients can locate the painful area immediately after injury, in either the gastrocnemius, or large, central calf muscle, or the soleus, a long, slender muscle closer to the outside of the leg. Low-grade bruises, or contusions, produce few symptoms and little disability, while high-grade bruises generate pain and hinder movement. Treating the muscle tissue for bleeding and inflammation will bring pain relief and foster recovery.
Exercise Limitation
Movement of moderately bruised muscles can renew bleeding and reignite inflammation. Until these acute symptoms disappear---usually between 48 and 72 hours after injury---patients should rest the affected calf muscle from all physical exertion. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS, the timing and degree of exercise resumption depend on the nature of the contusion. If all motion hurts, individuals should seek pain relief through rest. If only certain exercises cause pain, such as standing on the toes, patients should avoid them and continue to use and condition the rest of the muscles.
Inflammation and Pain Relief
People who injure a calf muscle should apply ice packs during the acute phase of symptoms, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Twenty-minute sessions of ice therapy can provide drug-free pain relief as often as necessary throughout the day. Elevating the bruised muscle above heart level will further decrease swelling. Patients can also take acetaminophen or another over-the-counter pain relievers for continuous analgesic action.
Leg Support
Support for recovery takes several forms, which are meant to reduce stress on the injured area and restore muscle strength and flexibility. Patients who walk with a painful limp should use crutches, the AAOS advises, to avoid further calf muscle damage. Ace bandages may suffice for less severe conditions. When gradually beginning to walk and stretch again, hot pack applications prior to exercise can support muscle flexion and extension by increasing suppleness, reducing the risk for re-injury. When returning to sports or activities that expose the bruised muscle to impacts, patients can wear protective padded wraps.
Surgical Drainage
Internal pressure in the muscle tissue and surrounding blood vessels can block adequate blood and nutrients from reaching the injury site. The UMMC reports that such instances, called compartment syndrome, are rare but usually need medical treatment when they do arise. Extreme bleeding, swelling and re-injury may all warrant surgical drainage to release this pressure and restore normal body function.
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