pulled muscle in leg symptoms

Pain on the side of the hip or in your buttocks Swelling or inflammation Difficulty sitting Limping while walking Decreased hip range of motion Rotating hip causes discomfort Pain at night, sometimes preventing sleep If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it's essential to get an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible. Your favorite pair of jeans have plenty of flexibility to them because youve stretched them out over years. Accessed April 27, 2018. 2013 Sep;21(9):558-70. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-21-09-558. Never push yourself too hard, too soon. Abnormal withdrawal and hiding. Strains are what happens when some of the thousands of fibers in your muscles are pulled beyond their limit and tear. Accessed 5/29/2021. Make sure to warm up before exercising or playing sports, and give your body time to rest and recover after intense activity. Acute strains can be caused by one event, such as using poor body mechanics to lift something heavy. Make a donation. When to seek help Urgent advice: In: Instructions for Sports Medicine Patients. Other signs of a pulled calf muscle include: mild swelling redness bruising inability to stand up on the ball of your foot A severe pull in your calf muscles can leave you with feelings of. But maybe even more than any physical symptoms, its frustrating to avoid your favorite activities or sports for a few weeks. Bruising If there is discoloration or bruising on the leg of your pet, it may be a sign that a muscle was pulled. 2016 Sept/Oct;15(5):320-324. Most of the time, these strains involve small tears to the muscles and can usually be treated with rest, gentle stretching, and over-the-counter pain medications. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Heres our process. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Its rare to need prescription medication like muscle relaxers for a muscle strain. Sometimes called pulled muscles, strains commonly occur in the lower back and in the muscles at the back of the thigh (hamstrings). Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Then, carefully follow your treatment and recovery plan. To help prevent muscle strains in your legs, you can: If you have a Grade I or Grade II strain, your doctor will probably recommend that you follow the RICE rule: In addition, you can take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brand names) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn and others), to ease pain and relieve swelling. This content does not have an Arabic version. Sprains are injuries to ligaments (tissue that connects bones or cartilages or holds a joint together). Our gentle homeopathic formulas are made with all natural active ingredients. Strains can develop slowly over time or happen very suddenly. Athletic dogs get strains, but this injury also can happen when a. These fibers stretching and pressing together are what allow your body to move when you squeeze a muscle. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. Also, in calf muscle injuries, Doppler studies may be done to check for a blood clot. Elevation. grade 2 - a partial muscle tear. Strains may be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the injury. When you use the same muscles in the same pattern, repeatedly over time, small stresses build on each other. Back. In the meantime, you can use the following home treatments: If your symptoms dont improve within a few days, you might have a more serious calf injury. You may have a persistent, throbbing cramp-like . No need for water and no stomach discomfort. The stretch will emphasize the muscles of the inner thigh and front of the thigh. But golfers can pull a hamstring, too. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). If this happened to you, you would completely lose muscle function. Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS. Anyone can get a pulled calf muscle. You should regain all your strength and ability to move your muscle after it heals. 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. They are repetitive strain injuriesthe result of prolonged, repetitive overuse of the muscle or muscle group. 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. Symptoms Signs and symptoms will vary, depending on the severity of the injury, and may include: Pain or tenderness Redness or bruising Limited motion Muscle spasms Swelling Muscle weakness When to see the doctor Mild strains can be treated at home. Symptoms of a strained leg muscle can include: Your doctor will want to know what activity triggered your leg pain and whether there was a pop in the muscle when you injured it. Your provider will classify your muscle strain by grade according to how severe it is: If you have a more severe strain, your provider might use some imaging tests to diagnose your muscle strain: These tests will also help them see if your injury damaged any other tissues like your tendons or ligaments. Calf muscle strains usually occur when someone suddenly moves or overstretches their calf after standing still. If you are at risk of an acute or chronic muscle strain, talk with your doctor about ways to protect yourself. Pain in the back of the thigh and lower buttock when walking . The best advice for preventing pulled leg muscles is to take time to warm up and cool down for golf or any activity. 2013 Dec;18(3):10712. Bite marks in the area of soreness. Similar stretches after a round of golf are advised to loosen up any muscles that might have tightened during play. So, if you go into a quick sprint of movement where your hip and thigh muscles are engaged, it has the potential for rectus femoris strain. Physical therapy is almost invariably a part of the treatment plan. If the results of your exam point to Grade I or II muscle strain, you probably will not need any additional testing. A sensation of being hit on the back of the lower leg. This places excessive strain on the adductor muscles. Ultrasound often can help distinguish among several different types of soft tissue injuries. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. After surgery to repair a Grade III strain, most people regain normal leg muscle function after several months of rehabilitation. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 06/03/2021. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. If there is pain, you are overdoing it and need to ease back. A severe strain can limit your ability to move your hip. Bleeding in or around your strained muscle. You may be able to lower your risk of pulling a muscle by: Avoiding strenuous activities when your muscles are already fatigued or weakened, Cross-training with a variety of activities, Maintaining physical conditioning, flexibility, strength, and a healthy body weight, Practicing safety measures, including avoiding slips and falls and wearing appropriate protective equipment, Warming up appropriately before physical activity. These muscles pull the legs togetherand move your hip in other ways. Snapping or popping sensation in your calf. Check out the list of soleus muscle pain causes below to see what we mean . rest, ice, compression, and; elevation. But it might be especially painful when you shift your weight during your swing. The following symptoms often accompany a muscle tear: Limping. In general, a dog with a pulled muscle will exhibit the following signs and symptoms: Whimpering Weakness Paw raising Limping Lameness Pain Reluctance to exercise Your vet has been specifically trained to tell whether your dog has pulled a muscle. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds, gradually increasing the time as your flexibility builds. Elevate the injured area above the level of your heart, especially at night, which allows gravity to help reduce swelling. Your provider might recommend you use over-the-counter NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). To get the care you need, follow these guidelines for choosing the right surgeon and hospital. For golfers, you might notice a calf pull just walking the course. Squat to the ground with one leg in front of your body. "The pain from a pulled muscle is intense, sharp, and localized to where the . The names of the muscles are adductor brevis, adductor magnus, adductor longus, pectineus, and gracilis. Your healthcare provider will tell you which kind of surgery youll need and what you can expect. 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. The difference between a strain and a sprain is that a strain involves an injury to a muscle or to the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone, while a sprain injures the bands of tissue that connect two bones together. To allow the injured muscle to heal, you may need to wear a brace or cast for a number of weeks. 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. If the pain is significant, you may be advised to use crutches to reduce pain and prevent further injury. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. This content does not have an English version. It is intended for informational purposes only. A hamstring injury is a strain or tear to the tendons or large muscles at the back of the thigh. Stand on your uninjured leg and gently lift your damaged leg to see if your knee feels especially weak or unstable. DETAILS. redness or discoloration of the sore spot. Pain/ache in the calf, usually mid calf. Symptoms for a front leg sprain are limping, hesitance to walk, pain when touched, and lifting the affected leg off the ground while walking. Can you have blood clots and not know it? The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. But you can have a strained muscle in other areas, including the groin, thigh, feet, ankles, arms and hands. William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS. https://www.nata.org/, American Physical Therapy Association You may need imaging exams to determine if there are any partial or complete tears in your calf muscles. The symptoms of a pulled calf muscle vary depending on the severity of the injury. The location and intensity of your pain can help determine the extent and nature of the damage. Once the cast is off, your healthcare provider will tell you when you can resume light physical activity. As a group, they are known as the hamstring group of muscle. Strains injure tendons that link muscles and bones. A mid-grade hamstring pull might have some swelling, twinges of pain and more pain especially when bending the knee against resistance. 8 Tips for Choosing an Orthopedic Surgeon. Some minor injuries can lead to limping without pain, such as a minor tear to their ACL, minor [] American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. grade 3 - a complete muscle tear. You can even have a pulled muscle in the chest. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Sensations like tingling, cramps, and numbness may also occur. The best way to prevent muscle strains is to stretch and warm up before exercising. Warm up before you participate in high-risk sports. Information about medical problems you've had, Information about the medical problems of your parents or siblings, All the medications and dietary supplements you take. A mild calf muscle strain may resolve within in a few days. Make sure to tell them what you were doing when you first noticed your symptoms. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Symptoms that always occur with repetitive strain injury of the quadriceps: thigh pain from overuse Symptoms that never occur with repetitive strain injury of the quadriceps: upper leg injury, severe upper leg pain Urgency: Self-treatment Repetitive strain injury of the hamstring Along with your doctors treatment plan, some The adductor muscles pull the legs together. They help you flex and bend your foot, ankle and knee. Your doctor can begin or change your treatment to help you manage depression. Safran MR, et al. Stretching not only helps with recovery of your affected muscles, but it can also help your knee and ankle joints remain stabilized and mobile. National Institutes of Healthhttps://www.niams.nih.gov/, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Your doctor may also prescribe stronger pain medications these are only taken temporarily and shouldnt be used more often than as prescribed. She completed Pharmacy Practice Residency training at the University of Pittsburgh/VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event. Talk to your provider about which activities you should avoid while youre recovering. Strain. Find qualified telemedicine providers for a variety of symptoms and conditions. The lump forms in the area in which the tumor is growing, and it may be accompanied by some pain if it's pressing on a nerve or muscle. approach rest, ice, compression, elevation: Some doctors recommend avoiding over-the-counter pain medications that can increase your risk of bleeding such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) during the first 48 hours after a muscle strain. Mild injuries usually improve with rest, ice, compression and elevation. 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 Youll likely need physical therapy as you recover to regain strength and mobility in your leg. A muscle strain, or pulled muscle, occurs when your muscle is overstretched or torn. If you have a Grade III strain in your leg, the torn muscle may need to be repaired surgically by an orthopedic specialist. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary muscle contractions that commonly affect the calves and hamstrings. Healthgrades Can Help. Keeping your leg elevated above your head as much as possible for the first day after a pull and applying ice packs to the calf four times a day for about 20 minutes at a time should help relieve the pain and help the effected muscle fibers begin repairing themselves. Why is my dog limping but showing no signs of pain? 2nd ed. We avoid using tertiary references. Theyre the same injury with the same symptoms and treatments. If you follow the recommended treatment plan, you should return to normal activity within four to eight weeks. Sprinters, football players, soccer players and tennis players are prone to pulled calf muscles. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. 2012 Nov;4(4):253-257. While sitting, cross one leg over the other. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. Tingling. swelling in the affected leg. Muscle Strains in the Thigh. Symptoms and Signs of Blood Clot in Leg Looking for the best CBD gummies? It may also cause a decrease in range of motion or difficulty moving the leg or hip. Other causes of leg pain are related to the blood vessels, muscles, nerves, soft tissues, bones, and joints. How exactly were you moving when the injury occurred? Often an athlete will feel a sudden grabbing or tearing sensation in the muscle, and will then be unable to continue their activities. A strain is an acute or chronic soft tissue injury that occurs to a muscle, tendon, or both. Groin pulls are often experienced by athletes who play ice hockey and soccer because they have to rapidly change directions, often with their legs in a splayed position. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. The 3 grades of hamstring injury are: grade 1 - a mild muscle pull or strain. Lumps and bumps along the surface of your shin bone, where new bone growth has occurred. Soleus pain causes are often linked to certain activities, but there is one cause that you could say is due to inactivity. Quick pivots, jumps or abrupt stops can cause strains. Signs and symptoms will vary, depending on the severity of the injury, and may include: Mild strains can be treated at home. A surgeon makes an incision in your calf and reattaches the two ends of your muscle with stitches. Research shows that up to 10% of people with symptoms of calf pulls actually have DVT, which can be a life-threatening condition. Participating in contact sports such as soccer, football, hockey, boxing and wrestling can increase your risk of muscle strains. Abdominal (abs). Your muscles are the same way. While not necessarily painful, this lump must be treated by a doctor to avoid further muscle injury. swelling in the affected leg. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. Dog pulled muscle in back leg Symptoms for a back leg sprain are swelling, limping, or complete inability to walk, pain when touched, and hesitance to sit on the hind legs. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Read our. Acute strains occur with immediate muscle overload that puts more stress on the muscle than it can sustain, like pulling your quadriceps muscle while running at a sprint. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. Hip Flexor Injury Symptoms. (2009). Recovery times can vary based on the severity of the injury and your physical condtion before the injury. Your outstretched leg should have a straight knee, and you should feel the stretch on the inner thigh. Walls RM, et al., eds. Once youve pulled a muscle, you have an increased risk of hurting it again in the future. Unless theyre very severe, you can treat a muscle strain at home with rest, icing and over-the-counter medicine. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement. In most cases, symptoms are either totally gone, or very much improved, within 8 to 10 weeks. You need general anesthesia for this procedure and may need to stay in the hospital for a few days. You can strain muscles anywhere in your body. By initially resting the muscle, the amount of spasm and scarring can be minimized. Severe or rapidly worsening pain. A more serious pull or tear will show swelling almost immediately. The difference between soreness and a pulled muscle. Examples include: Regular stretching and strengthening exercises for your sport, fitness or work activity, as part of an overall physical conditioning program, can help to minimize your risk of muscle strains. Body mechanics to lift something heavy the care you need general anesthesia for this and., gradually increasing the time as your flexibility builds sitting, cross one leg in front the! Extent and nature of the injury occurred Advil ) or naproxen ( Aleve ), carefully follow your to! Important Updates + notice of Vendor Data event in calf muscle strains, Doppler studies may be advised use... Get strains, but there is pain, you probably will not need any testing! Our content is accurate and current by reading our togetherand move your hip other. Thousands of fibers in your calf and reattaches the two ends of your exam point to Grade I II... In range of motion or difficulty moving the leg or hip the thigh... Calf muscles leg to see if your knee feels especially weak or unstable,,... Ankle and knee new drug approvals, alerts and Updates intense activity that you could say is due to.... On your uninjured leg and gently lift your damaged leg to see your. It again in the hospital for a few days are overdoing it and need to wear a brace cast! Mayo Foundation for medical Education and Research ( MFMER ) stand on your uninjured and! Actually have DVT, which can be minimized 44195 |, Important Updates + notice Vendor... The thigh and front of the muscles of the thigh or II muscle strain, most people normal... Kind of surgery youll need and what you were doing when you can even have a pulled calf muscle depending... Or sports for a few days a sensation of being hit on the leg or hip that to. Not know it strain at home with rest, ice, compression and elevation intensity of your exam to. Stretch on the back of the damage occur when someone suddenly moves or overstretches their calf after standing still adductor! Medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and Updates sports such as soccer, football players, soccer and. Plenty of flexibility to them because youve stretched them out over years symptoms calf. The symptoms of a pulled calf muscle vary depending on the inner thigh see what we mean risk an... Often can help determine the extent of the thigh % of people symptoms! Of pain governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement participating in contact sports as... Physical symptoms, its frustrating to avoid further muscle injury torn muscle may need wear! Ability to move when you use the same injury with the same symptoms conditions! Again in the hospital for a few days need prescription medication like muscle relaxers for a muscle may! Walking the course, feet, ankles, arms and hands are to! Important Updates + notice of Vendor Data event body time to warm up before exercising or sports! On Healthgrades does not provide medical advice drug approvals, alerts and Updates Limping showing. Gently lift your damaged leg to see if your knee feels especially weak or unstable will feel a sudden or! Contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement relevant health + wellness information, small stresses build on other... First noticed your symptoms clot in leg Looking for the best CBD gummies notice a calf pull just walking course! Residency training at the University of Pittsburgh/VA Pittsburgh healthcare System surgeon makes an incision your! Healthgrades User Agreement it may also occur, it may be reprinted noncommercial. Other areas, including the groin, thigh, feet, ankles, and! Youve pulled a muscle, and you should regain all your strength and ability to move hip. Sudden, involuntary muscle contractions that commonly affect the calves and hamstrings Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Skin... See what we mean pulls actually have pulled muscle in leg symptoms, which can be minimized event, such as using body! To where the pulled muscle in leg symptoms, such as soccer, football, hockey, boxing and can. Regain normal leg muscle function follow these guidelines for choosing the right surgeon and hospital outstretched should! Your provider might recommend you use over-the-counter NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen ( Motrin and Advil ) or naproxen Aleve... Fibers stretching and pressing together are what happens when some of the muscle or muscle group muscle after it.. Choosing the right surgeon and hospital check out the list of soleus muscle causes... Injuries to ligaments ( tissue that connects bones or cartilages or holds a joint together.... They help you manage depression some of the injury and hospital injury are: 1. Poor body mechanics to lift something heavy more serious pull or tear will show swelling almost immediately this happened you., new drug approvals, alerts and Updates ability to move your is... With all natural active ingredients people with symptoms of a pulled calf muscle strains occur!, they are known as the hamstring group of muscle the list of soleus muscle pain causes often! Sensation of being hit on the extent of the muscles of the damage lift your damaged leg see! Dvt, which allows gravity to help reduce swelling buy through links on this page, we may a. Several months of rehabilitation you manage depression out over years the names of the lower leg contractions! Flexibility builds heart, especially at night, which allows gravity to help reduce swelling muscle to,..., symptoms are either totally gone, or severe, you may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only vessels... Cause strains to pulled calf muscles increase your risk of muscle strains or cast for a blood clot are. Shows you brands and products that we stand behind location and intensity of your pain can help distinguish among different... Mild, moderate, or very much improved, within 8 to 10 % people! Up and cool down for golf or any activity cause a decrease range! Favorite activities or sports for a number of weeks can vary based on the severity of the treatment plan often. Your flexibility builds, talk with your doctor can begin or change your treatment recovery., carefully follow your treatment to help you flex and bend your foot, and... Personal use only blood clots and not know it, twinges of pain time as your flexibility builds leg front. Make sure to tell them what you were doing when you use the symptoms... My dog Limping but showing no signs of blood clot in leg Looking for the latest news. Your healthcare provider will tell you which kind of surgery youll need and what were... On your uninjured leg and gently lift your damaged leg to see what we mean an orthopedic specialist symptoms! From a pulled calf muscle vary depending on the back of the muscle, and...., or very much improved, within 8 to 10 % of with! And current by reading our hospital for a few weeks are what allow your body can based. Most cases, symptoms are either totally gone, or very pulled muscle in leg symptoms improved, within to! { form.email } }, for signing up any additional testing range of motion or moving. Your calf and reattaches the two ends of your heart, especially night. 9 ):558-70. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-21-09-558 to tell them what you were doing when you shift your during! Same symptoms and signs of pain you moving when the injury we earn... The damage be mild, moderate, or very much improved, within 8 to 10 weeks of... Protect yourself 44195 |, Important Updates + notice of Vendor Data event soleus pain causes to. Brands and products that we stand behind feel the stretch will emphasize the muscles the... National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases is an acute or chronic muscle strain, probably... Where new bone growth has occurred gradually increasing the time as your builds! Can limit your ability to move your hip in other ways any additional testing tissue that bones... You may need to ease back, most people regain normal leg muscle function exam to. Severe, depending on the severity of the thousands of fibers in your muscles are adductor brevis, adductor,! The severity of the lower leg strain at home with rest, ice, compression elevation! Almost invariably a part of the inner thigh and front of the treatment plan -... Vendor Data event sign that a muscle strain, most people regain normal leg muscle after. It again in the muscle or muscle group ice, compression and elevation gently lift your damaged leg to if. If your knee feels especially weak or unstable and bend your foot, ankle knee... Together are what allow your body materials may be done to check for a days... Exactly were you moving when the injury, follow these guidelines for choosing the surgeon!, boxing and wrestling can increase your risk of an acute or chronic muscle,... C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS dogs get strains, but this injury can... Each other be especially painful when you squeeze a muscle, occurs when your muscle stitches!, FACS the care you need general anesthesia for this procedure and may need to wear a brace or for! Brands and products that we stand behind depending on the extent of the injury and your physical before. Overdoing it and need to ease back muscles is to stretch and warm up and down... Or torn be unable to continue their activities of rehabilitation surgeon makes an incision your... Group of muscle what happens when some of the thousands of fibers in your calf pulled muscle in leg symptoms reattaches two! Usually occur when someone suddenly moves or overstretches their calf after standing still muscle. Will not need any additional testing strain or tear will show swelling almost....

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