A week ago Tuesday I injured myself running. I was doing a track workout and on the 1 mile cooldown headed back home I felt something
off. By the end of the day, my right calf was absolutely killing me. It felt like a cramp that wouldn't go away and the next day the pain was very intense. The pain didn't really go away Thursday or Friday (it no longer felt like a cramp but it was still a dull, intense, pain and was now spreading up to my posterior). Friday afternoon I finally went to the doctor and after some x-rays and an MRI was diagnosed with a torn calf muscle. Not much can be done for it other than rest, so no running for at least 3 weeks, but probably closer to 4 or 5.
Sunday and Monday the pain was even worse. Last night I finally got a semi-decent night's sleep - didn't wake up in pain until 3:30 a.m., so that was a win! Once I woke up and realized I wasn't going to get back to sleep I went to the gym and alternated between the steam room, hot tub, and then sitting in the pool in 15 minute intervals. I was resting in a chair by the pool and asked an older guy climbing out if he could hand me a little stool so I could put my foot up. He could tell I was in pain and asked what was wrong. After I told him he said he had been a chiropractor for 43 years and recommended something called "arnica gel" and that it would help with the pain (he also confirmed my suspicion that the IcyHot I had bought was sort of worthless (his exact quote was, "That doesn't do sh!t!") so I went right to the pharmacy this morning to buy some. So far, so good! Much quicker pain relief than the Vitamin M I had been living off of since last Wednesday.
I had been hobbling around the house with a cane for the past few days but it looks like this might be the first day I won't need it.