Training & Nutrition - Pulled calf muscle rehab?

Monday night I did a dumb thing. I played basketball with virtually no warmup.

About 10 minutes into the first game I decided I would steal a pass.

I was successful, for a change, but, about 2 steps into stealing it I heard a nasty pop in my left leg.

Fortunately we were playing the short court, so I hobbled the 10 steps or sp for the layup then sat down.

It really didn't hurt much at first. After sleeping on it a night, hurt quite a bit, but, hobbling around loosens it up and it feels better. After 3 days it is healing pretty well and I am considering some easy miles on the wind trainer to loose it up more.

Good idea or bad?

Wait.......Do not ride until your left leg feels the same as your right leg. Utitlize, RICE, Massage, advil, stretching after the muscle is warm. I am healing from a hamstring injury right now. It started on Saturday and I knew that I was in trouble by Wednesday. I am almost recovered now and am happy that I took some time off the bike.

Well, I did get back on for some short light spins and this morning my leg below the muscle pull was swollen up pretty good. Did a little research and realized that I just might have some clotting going on.

So, I went down to the ER at about 6 tonight. Sat there for a few hours and got it ultrasounded.

I do have a few surface clots in small veins, but nothing deep that could cause trouble or even kill me!! So, it's double up on the aspirin, elevate it, ice it and burn up a few days worth of sick time.

Thanks for the reply. Wish I would have had that advice a few days ago. Might have saved me a 100 copay tonight.

It sounds like you tore it:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/legpainandinjuries/a/calf-strain.htm

Not to bum you out, but if it's Grade 2, you're out at least a month, and if it's Grade 3 you might need surgery. Do NOT push it - go to a sports medicine expert and get it checked out.

yeah, that pretty much describes it to a tee. If I would have to guess, it's a grade 1, possibly a mild 2. I would think that a grade 3 would be much more painful. The next day I was able to walk decent distances with very little discomfort.

My hamstring injury is now pain free. I am going to continue to take it easy for the next couple of days. I feel very lucky that my injury was not worse or that I did not make it worse.