View Full Version : Three days away from Maine trip: tore a calf muscle!
dessertrat
10-01-2008, 13:49
:mad::mad::mad::mad:
I was just walking down the stairs and felt it tear. Now I am limping. I was supposed to head for the AT in Maine on Saturday, and was looking forward to it in a big way.
Drat.
Go get it checked out. May just be a strain. HAppened to me one time. Couldnt put any weight on my leg for a day. Hung out for 24 hours or so, and was all set.
Anyway, that was sort of a ramble, but bottom line go get it checked out.
Feel better!!
Blissful
10-01-2008, 14:57
I am SO sorry!!!
Ice, ice, ice. And Advil.
dessertrat
10-01-2008, 15:57
I just came from the doctor's office, saw a Nurse-Practitioner there who confirmed that it's likely to take at least two or three weeks to get better, if not longer. Ice, advil, elevation, etc. It doesn't hurt unless I try to walk on it and propel myself forward. (I have a very funny limp).
john gault
10-01-2008, 16:00
I'd rather limp through Maine than sit on the couch, especially since it's all planned:sun
dessertrat
10-01-2008, 16:04
The way I am limping, I would not rather, though. I think it would aggravate it, and could get a whole lot worse over 100 miles of hiking
Cookerhiker
10-01-2008, 17:13
Man, what a bummer. You're making the right decision in forgoing Maine for this trip; Maine's too rugged for an injury like that.
Can you hike something less strenuous? Parts of the AT without the long ascents/descents and rough terrain of Maine like Shenandoah or the AT in MD and southern PA? There's also the Laurel Highlands Trail (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateParks/parks/laurelridge.aspx) which despite its location on a PA ridgeline, is not very rock-strewn and fairly easy.
Do you like to cycle? Cycling shouldn't put too much pressure on your calf. Come on out west and try the Great Allegheny Passage (http://www.atatrail.org).
splash1986
10-01-2008, 17:18
Let it heal. If you push it, you may injure if far worse.
Just Plain Jim
10-01-2008, 17:35
As a [29 year] jogger, I have found, that in the long run, it's best to take it easy for awhile.
Homer&Marje
10-01-2008, 17:40
RICE
Rest Ice Compression Elevation. Too close to the trip to heal properly though, big bummer.
NICKTHEGREEK
10-01-2008, 17:48
Tough it out, gnaw it off at the knee and strap a leki pole in place of that leg.:D
Seriously, hope the recovery is fast, be careful of cold weather after it heals, try to remember to warm up before striding out.
:mad::mad::mad::mad:
I was just walking down the stairs and felt it tear. Now I am limping. I was supposed to head for the AT in Maine on Saturday, and was looking forward to it in a big way.
Drat.
Kind of a Nancy Kerrigan moment. Why? Why?
skinewmexico
10-01-2008, 18:35
Mine took several months to heal. Good luck.
leeki pole
10-01-2008, 18:58
You've got the trip planned. I've run through injuries like that (ITBS, achilles tendonitis, arthritis in my hip) with pain for sure but it's funny how the body heals itself with exercise. I've got 30,000 plus miles in my running log, not counting hiking miles. Everybody's different, I know that, but I'd go for it. It could be just a strain, and make sure you get enough fluid intake. Many calf injuries are due to dehydration. I'm just a dumb old runner, not a doctor so listen to your body and do what you feel is best for you. Good luck to you.
I pulled my calf muscle on top of Katahdin's Tableland. It was painful to make the summit and even more painful coming down. Next day it felt better - for about 20 min! Hiking out the Blueberry Ledges trail I felt it pull again - very similar to the feeling I had when I tore my hamstring last summer while attempting to water ski. That injury still bothers me from time to time in the form of a burning sensation at the site of the tear.
Don't push it. Maine will still be there next year.
the goat
10-01-2008, 19:49
better than it happening in the middle of nowhere, maine.....
Weather will be grim north of Route 2 until next week sometime.
I pushed back to Friday, so I can avoid some of the snow.
Tend your body, I'll go get filthy for you.
leeki pole
10-02-2008, 10:45
Weather will be grim north of Route 2 until next week sometime.
I pushed back to Friday, so I can avoid some of the snow.
Tend your body, I'll go get filthy for you.
Snow already? Holy cow, move South my friend. We've got low temps in the 40's (cold for us) and highs in the 70's. It scared me when I hiked Maine in late September a couple of years ago and I already saw snowplows on pickup trucks.:D Our last decent snow was in 2001. You guys are tougher than me.
Saint Alfonzo
10-02-2008, 12:46
I feel your pain.I attempted to do the 100 mile wilderness 3 weeks ago, and failed.Its my own fault,i tried to hike with a bum knee.That lead to all the other little disapointments i experienced. So i called my son, he agreed to bail out the old man, and meet me at Crawford Pond.I had a good hike up to that point, but i was not going to do the White Cap area or Chairback in that condition.For once i took my own advice,
weasel and bunny
10-02-2008, 14:30
It doesn't hurt unless I try to walk on it and propel myself forward. (I have a very funny limp).
Walk backwards through Maine. J/K Sux man
dessertrat
10-04-2008, 18:19
It is starting to get better, I am walking now with a limp but without using my trekking pole for support, as I was the first couple of days. I think it might be good enough to hike on in a couple of weeks if it continues to improve at this rate, but I fear that Maine may be too cold, and the days too short, by the time I get both a free week in my calendar and feel up to the hike. I may do Northern VA again, or head down Damascus way in November, since I've never been there.