It's normal to experience pain -- sometimes all over your body -- in the days following a marathon. You've just completed an extremely difficult physical feat and your muscles will need some time to recover. However, severe pain in just one calf could indicate a problem in need of medical attention. Your doctor can provide an exact diagnosis and prescribe a proper course of treatment.
Marathon Recovery
Plenty of rest and a gentle return to exercise is the key to proper marathon recovery. You should rest for at least three days after your marathon before trying to run again, according to running expert Hal Higdon. After that, follow your taper plan in reverse; if your last run before the marathon was three miles, for example, begin with that distance. Bike, swim or walk for cross-training, and don't push your pace too hard at first.
Pulled Calf Muscle
Two types of mild muscle strains occur in conjunction with exercise. Delayed-onset muscle soreness shows up 12 to 48 hours after a workout and is usually treatable with home remedies such as massage; you also don't have to stop exercising if this pain occurs, unless it's severe. If your calf pain started during the marathon, you may have pulled or strained the muscle; in this case, try the "RICE" method -- rest, ice, compression and elevation. Take time off from workouts, keep your leg elevated, apply ice several times a day and use a compression bandage for swelling. See a doctor if the pain persists or is severe.
Hyponatremia
Muscle cramps or weakness -- along with symptoms such as lethargy, confusion and appetite loss -- may signal hyponatremia, a condition to which marathon runners are prone. Hyponatremia occurs when your blood-sodium levels are too low; when this happens, your cells begin to swell. The condition may subside on its own, but severe cases can lead to brain swelling. If you're diagnosed with hyponatremia, your doctor may recommend cutting back on fluid intake; you may also need an intravenous sodium solution to rebalance your blood sodium levels.
Vein Problems
Rarely, some runners may suffer from vein issues that create problems in the legs. A report in the May 2008 issue of "European Journal of Medical Research" suggests examining runners with leg-pain complaints for conditions such as deep vein thrombosis or small saphenous vein insufficiency; the authors found a case of such problems in a distance runner with no history of vein issues. If left untreated, the blood clots formed in a person with deep vein thrombosis can move into other areas of the body, potentially causing brain, heart or lung damage.
