You may have a persistent, throbbing cramp-like . Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. For some injuries, such as a torn tendon, surgery may be considered. You need general anesthesia for this procedure and may need to stay in the hospital for a few days. Cheng Y, Yang H, Sun Z, Ni L, Zhang H. Surgical Treatment of Gastrocnemius Muscle Ruptures. A muscle strain is an injury to one of your muscles that causes it to tear. This occurs when your calf muscle protrudes underneath your skin, creating a visible bump. Walls RM, et al., eds. Make sure to follow your doctors recommendations and let yourself rest to prevent any further injury. There are lots of common injuries that cause muscle pain similar to muscle strains, including: Talk to your provider if you experience any sudden, sharp pain in your body, especially if it happens during physical activity like a workout or playing sports. Most Grade I or Grade II strains begin to feel better within a few days. Sprains, Strains, and Other Soft Tissue Injuries. Accessed April 27, 2018. Severe strains sometimes require surgical repair. Chronic muscle strains and pulls develop gradually over time. Acute strains can be caused by one event, such as using poor body mechanics to lift something heavy. Once the cast is off, your healthcare provider will tell you when you can resume light physical activity. Some of the more common ones are: To help simplify diagnosis and treatment, doctors often classify muscle strains into three different grades, depending on the severity of muscle fiber damage. Learn about symptoms and treatment. A severe strain can cause. Have you ever injured this part of your body before? Bite marks in the area of soreness. This content does not have an English version. Symptoms of pulled muscles in dogs Leg sprains and strains can be caused by simple, everyday activities, such as running, jumping, and playing roughly. The doctor also will ask about your symptoms, especially any decreased muscle strength or difficulty walking. Quadriceps The muscles at the front of thigh are the most powerful in the body, but they are still vulnerable to pulls and strains. A muscle strain, or pulled muscle, occurs when your muscle is overstretched or torn. However, a muscle tear or an injury to a joint will take longer to recover from, and it will require treatment beyond an ice pack. Find a Qualified Telehealth Provider Now and Connect Live, 10 Tips for Protecting Joints With Psoriatic Arthritis, New Treatments Relieve Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal. You use crutches or an assistive device to move around. Orthop J Sports Med. the affected area feeling warm to the touch. Spasms. Chronic strains tend to have vague symptoms that are easy to overlook at first. Muscle Tweaks generally hurt and ache. A groin pullcan be quite painful, interfering with your ability to walk, navigate stairs, or even drive a car. In most cases, a pulled muscle will heal on its own, though usually that means refraining from activities that will put pressure on that particular muscle. Symptoms include: leg pain or discomfort that may feel like a pulled muscle, tightness, cramping or soreness. Theyre common in athletes and people who are especially active. Hear from real doctors who treat orthopedic conditions and perform surgery. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have symptoms of a severe muscle strain or tear including severe, disabling pain. What are the Symptoms of a Calf Strain. Initial treatment includes rest, ice, compression and elevation. Athletic dogs get strains, but this injury also can happen when a. Bleeding in or around your strained muscle. You may feel a pop, usually at the back of the thigh, when the muscle tears. Theyre one of the most common injuries people experience. Pulled Calf Muscle: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment - Knee Pain Explained Home Diagnosis Diagnosis Guide Diagnosis Chart Knee Symptoms Front Knee Pain Lateral Knee Pain Medial Knee Pain Pain Behind Knee Kneecap Pain Calf Pain Burning Knee Hyperextended Knee Knee Locking Leg Cramps Knee Pain Bending Pain Kneeling Pain At Night Pain On Stairs The adductor musclesare especially important to athletes like sprinters, swimmers, soccer players, and football players. Compress the muscle with an elastic bandage. Other signs of a pulled calf muscle include: A severe pull in your calf muscles can leave you with feelings of sharp pain. Regeneration of Skeletal Muscle After Eccentric Injury. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. You can usually tell if you've pulled a groin muscle because you will feel the pain immediately. The chances are greater among athletes who continue to play the same sports and people using the same muscles over and over again. Accessed 5/29/2021. Possible shoulder pain. Are there any activities I should avoid while Im recovering? Accessed 5/29/2021. There are three basic muscles that make up the hamstring in the back of the thigh. While you may initially consult your family physician, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in sports medicine or orthopedic surgery. Safran MR, et al. Afterwards, you may need regular physical therapy to recover and return to activities. You may want to write a list that includes: Your doctor may ask some of the following questions: Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. Over-the-counter pain medications like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) are commonly prescribed. Pulled Hamstring: A Pain Real Pain in the Leg! Muscles located in the Back of the thigh are the Hamstring muscles. . A mild strain can leave you with pain and feelings of pulling within the lower half of your leg. A severely pulled calf muscle can result in partial or complete tears. Even if the lump isn't painful, if it continues to grow, or if it's located deep within an extremity . When a tendon is torn, the symptoms are generally more severe. The adductor muscles pull the legs together. Just because an injury is common doesnt mean your situation isnt unique. The chief symptom of a strained or torn hip flexor is pain in the area at the front of your hip where it meets your thigh. Sometimes called pulled muscles, strains commonly occur in the lower back and in the muscles at the back of the thigh (hamstrings). Orthopaedic Surgery. A physical therapist can help you to maximize stability and strength of the injured joint or limb. (2013). The hip flexors are a group of muscles toward the front of the hip.They help you move, or flex, your leg and knee up towards your body. Without proper treatment and adequate recovery, serious muscle strains can cause permanent damage and limited range of motion. https://www.apta.org/. People often report the sensation of pain as the feeling of being "stabbed." Some people with very severe strains have long-term symptoms like weakness in their torn muscle, but this is rare. If you have a Grade III strain in your leg, the torn muscle may need to be repaired surgically by an orthopedic specialist. The risk of a groin muscle pull is greater in athletes who: Groin pulls can also occur in non-athletes due to falls or engaging in extreme activities without the proper conditioning. Muscular Calf Injuries in Runners. Refusal to put any weight on one or more limbs. When you overuse a muscle, the strands of muscle fiber are stretched beyond their limit and tear apart. If there is severe pain from a grade 3 injury, a prescription opioid drug like fentanyl or Oxycontin (oxycodone) may be used for a short period to help minimize pain. This content does not have an Arabic version. When to seek help Urgent advice: Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. When it comes to sports, injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. Acute muscle strains and pulls happen suddenly when you load a muscle beyond its capacity. Other conditions can be confused with a groin pull, and they may need different treatments. Take hip strain quiz What makes you more likely to have it? If you have a severe strain (Grade 3), you might need surgery to repair your torn muscle. Pulling a muscle suddenly usually results in very noticeable and more severe symptoms. Pulled hip muscles usually feel like an intense burning or aching sensation, which can become worse with movement. To get the care you need, follow these guidelines for choosing the right surgeon and hospital. Examples of causes include: Several factors increase the risk of pulling a muscle, including: Muscle imbalance, which causes one group of muscles to overcompensate for another group. Chest. But if you use them for too long or suddenly jerk on them too hard, the elastic fibers in the bungee cord will start to pull apart. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Ending the Opioid Crisis - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. Pulled calf muscles may be chronic from long-term injury or acute from brief overpulling. Muscle Strains in the Thigh. But your muscle needs to heal, and giving it that time is the best way to make sure youll be able to get back to what you love as soon as its safe. Your favorite pair of jeans have plenty of flexibility to them because youve stretched them out over years. Need a Telehealth Visit? This is a common injury, especially among athletes and runners. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Sports like sprinting, football, and soccer can easily cause a . This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Strains can develop slowly over time or happen very suddenly. Sudden pain in the back of your lower leg. Strains injure tendons that link muscles and bones. Increasing your overall flexibility will also protect your muscles from future injuries. Sit with your feet together and knees bent. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. A sensation of being hit on the back of the lower leg. One exception is a Grade III plantaris strain, which usually is treated without surgery. Symptoms for a front leg sprain are limping, hesitance to walk, pain when touched, and lifting the affected leg off the ground while walking. Most people with a pulled calf muscle report not being able to continue with their activity immediately following the injury. A pulled groin muscle is usually self-apparent. Difficulty tensing your calf muscles or standing on toes. He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. Its also possible to develop a herniated muscle as a result of a torn calf. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. The symptoms of a pulled muscle are fairly classic of a soft tissue injury. No need for water and no stomach discomfort. Stretch one leg out to the side, keeping your other leg under your torso. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Muscle strains are common, painful injuries. Theyre the same injury with the same symptoms and treatments. Your doctor may also prescribe stronger pain medications these are only taken temporarily and shouldnt be used more often than as prescribed. Your doctor will also look for signs such as swelling and bruising. With rest and proper treatment, most groin pulls will heal on their own within four to six weeks. How exactly were you moving when the injury occurred? When you have a migraine, you'd try anything to feel better. Pain/ache in the calf, usually mid calf. THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. This article describes the symptoms of pulled groin muscle as well as the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery times. Are unable to walk or bear weight on your leg. A muscle strain, or pulled muscle, occurs when your muscle is overstretched or torn. Paralysis generally . A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. In general, almost all Grade I strains heal within a few weeks. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. You may think you pulled a muscle during a physical activity, but if you experience these other symptoms at the same time, make an appointment to see a doctor: Bruising Swelling Signs of infection, like itchiness and red, raised skin. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. In the leg, muscle strains happen when a muscle is either stretched beyond its limits or forced into extreme contraction. The calf muscles are in your lower leg behind your shin bone and extend from the base of your thigh down to your heel. General principles of orthopedic injuries. Most people can recover by resting their muscle and using at-home treatments like ice and over-the-counter medicine. Other common symptoms Any movement that forces you to extend your calf muscle or put added pressure on it will let you know in a hurry if there's been a pull. Make a donation. A torn calf muscle may require surgery. For immediate self-care of a muscle strain, try the R.I.C.E. 7,752,060 and 8,719,052. 2nd ed. All rights reserved. Hyland's quick-dissolving tablets melt in your mouth instantly to relieve symptoms of pain and cramps in legs and calves, pain in limbs and joints, and cramps in your feet. Along with pain, the most common symptoms of a pulled muscle are: A pulled muscle can be serious in some cases, possibly involving a torn muscle or tendon. There may also be a popping sound or snapping sensation. 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