Where can pain in the calf occur?
Pain on the outside of the calf can have several causes:
- Tensions: Pain on the outside of the calf is often caused by tension in the muscles located there. Typically, the muscles affected are the peroneal muscles. If such tension is present, a hard muscle strand can usually be palpated on the outside of the lower leg.
The cause of the tension can, for example, be malpositioning of the feet (knee-lower foot, flat foot) or malpositioning of the legs (knock-knees, bow legs). The malpositions lead to pathological movement sequences, which result in overloading and incorrect loading of the musculature. These can then react with cramps and tension, which can be very painful.
- Connective tissue, muscle fascia, nerves: If it is not the muscle itself that causes the pain, it can also come from the connective tissue or the muscle fascia on the outside of the calf.
Heavy strain, for example during extensive sporting activity, can irritate the structures of the lower leg and cause pain. Compression of nerves can cause particularly unpleasant complaints, which can radiate into the foot.
- Other causes: Of course, inflammation due to previous injuries in the lower leg area can also explain calf pain. Then, however, there are usually also other signs of inflammation, such as swelling, redness and overheating of the affected region.
In addition, peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) can be ruled out by differential diagnosis, especially in patients with preloaded legs.This leads to severe pain in the lower leg due to reduced blood circulation in the muscles, which, depending on the extent of the vascular occlusion, may occur at rest or only after exertion.
Pain on the inside of the calf can also have various causes:
- Tensions: In principle, the same applies to pain on the inside of the calf as to external calf pain. Pain on the inside of the calf often affects the gastrocnemius muscle or the toe flexors. These can be overstressed by heavy strain, extensive sporting activity or in the context of incorrect posture and can react with tension and cramps.
This usually manifests itself in pulling or drilling pain, which becomes stronger during movement and strain.
- Connective tissue, muscle fascia, nerves: Even calf pain on the inside of the calf does not necessarily have to originate in the muscles, but can also originate from other structures. Heavy strain can irritate nerves and connective tissue, which can explain the complaints.
- Other causes: Of course, inflammation due to previous injuries in the lower leg area can also explain calf pain. Then, however, there are usually also other signs of inflammation, such as swelling, redness and overheating of the affected region.
An important differential diagnosis is also peripheral arterial occlusive disease (pAVK), which can cause severe lower leg pain.
Pain in the calf area can be caused by impairments of the Achilles tendon or the muscles that merge into the Achilles tendon. In most cases, this pain (Achillodynia) is caused by tension in the muscles of the calf. Tension in the area of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles in particular can cause severe pain.
Due to the fact that these muscles make a major contribution when walking, pain in the calf occurs especially during movement. In general, it can be assumed that the Achilles’ marriage itself does not have to be affected to cause such symptoms. In most cases, the symptoms felt by the affected patients are rather caused by the connective tissue surrounding the Achilles tendon.
Another cause of calf pain is the inflammation of the Achilles tendon. This disease is one of the most common causes of pain above the heel and in the calf area. Both overstrain and physical changes (such as muscle shortening) can be responsible for the development of the inflammatory processes in the Achilles tendon area.
Patients suffering from Achilles tendon inflammation usually experience severe pain above the heel and in the calf area. In addition, the inflammatory processes can lead to redness of the skin surface and swelling within the tissue surrounding the Achilles tendon. In contrast to simple Achillodynia, pain occurs at rest and under stress in the presence of Achilles tendon inflammation.
Diseases of the Achilles tendon that lead to pronounced pain in the calf area can be treated either with or without medication. For acute pain relief, it is recommended to take a light painkiller (analgesic). Above all, medicines containing the active ingredient paracetamol or ibuprofen are particularly suitable for treating pain in the heel and calf area.
Patients suffering from an Achilles tendon inflammation should however prefer ibuprofen-containing painkillers. The reason for this is the fact that ibuprofen has both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, slight impairments of the Achilles tendon that cause pain in the calf can be treated by using kinesiotapes.
