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two weeks ago I did something to my leg, not sure what.
24 hours after a not particularly demanding ride I started getting cramps in my calf.
2 days later these stopped but I am left with a dull ache behind my knee, top of my calf.
when I bend my leg it feels like there's something there, but no swelling, no discolouring etc, so I don't know if it's just a pulled muscle...
but now two weeks on it is still there, and I want to get out on the bike again.
--do I wait, give it another week or so?
--or just get back on the bike and do a gentle ride to start off again?
I don't want to make things worse but at the same time it's not bad enough to warrant a trip to minor injuries etc.
what do others do in these situations!?
any advice?
Give it another week of rest and try icing it a few times a day if you can, or hold cold water over it when in the shower.
Then try some different gentle exercises on it other than cycling.
If it's still the same after that and you still can't figure out what's causing it then book an appointment with a physio.
Soft tissue injuries can take 6-12 weeks to heal, sometimes even longer.
If it’s hurting to move it, then keep it mobilised without putting too much strain through it. Putting more strain through it is likely to reopen any tears before they have healed and prolong the recovery time.
If it’s getting to six weeks after the injury and there’s no improvement at all, then I’d make an appointment to see your GP or physio. A routine one will be fine, more time won’t do any harm.
Thanks @Kramer and @Keva, good to know, more patience needed on my part then by the sounds of it, the odd thing is I don't remember on the ride doing anything to cause it!
Walking is fine, going up and down stairs ok too, so I guess I just keep on mobilising and not pushing it.
It is frustrating though 🙁
If it’s not hurting to walk or go up stairs, then I’d try a gentle bike ride.
The rule of thumb with soft tissue strains and sprains is if it hurts don’t push through it.
NB it’s different for things like arthritis and back pain where often pushing through is the right thing to do (within reason).
I'd ride that and see what happens - one should be careful with injury, but it sounds like nowt tbh, and cycling is easy on the calves. Easy ride and assess.
I've spannered myself various different ways over the years and every time I have been to see a physio about something they've encouraged keeping mobility up as much as possible.
Obviously what is best will depend on the specific injury but as a general rule I try to keep moving (doing *something* even if that is just stretching, walking, light weights etc. Rather than riding) as gently as necessary....unless that's clearly making it worse.
Just a random guess but maybe try lowering saddle? Any unusual calf pains for me have been too high saddle (or too far back) which aggravates tendons where hamstring becomes calf.
I *think* what to avoid is too much aggressive stretching or massaging of affected area if that is the case, your best bet is alternating hot and cold or maybe rolling muscles either side of affected area to remove some tension, e.g. the calf and hamstring.
cheers for the reassuring words folks, much appreciated, thanks for the replies and thoughts--I veer between thinking I am being overly cautious or wisely being patient!!