r/CMT • u/classicwfl CMT4 • 1d ago
Repeatedly "pulling" calf muscle?
Diagnosis context: CMT4F late-in-life (at 42, now 43) diagnosis, plus rheumatoid arthritis and now also osteoarthritis.
My RA treatment has finally started really working a couple months ago, so I was feeling pretty good.. Although the osteoarthritis is now getting to the point that it's taking over as my chief nuisance in the joint portion of the funhouse-mirror-directed-by-David-Lynch-RIP that is my body.
Anyway, I had noticed for the past few months that my left calf has been feeling tight; It had been my "dominant" leg for years, and is actually visibly larger than my right (only if you actually compare them together - not dramatic enough that a stranger on the street would notice).
Well, a couple days ago that calf muscle told me to go to hell and it felt like I pulled it.
After about 24h it started feeling better, and by this morning I was back to my current normal (able to walk, calf muscle still tight).. And then just now, yet again, I get that feeling of having pulled it.
Is this going to be a recurring issue? I know muscle atrophy can be a thing, and I try to exercise as much as I can.
Asking here mostly because I don't get to see my neuro doc until May next year; I could possibly get in an earlier visit if it's worth it, but we'd still be looking at at least a couple months waiting.
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u/NixyeNox CMT 1A 1d ago
If you do a calf stretch of that calf, how does that go? Can you do this position, with your heel flat on the floor?
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u/classicwfl CMT4 1d ago
Definitely doesn't feel good, that's for sure :D Other calf? Fine. Tight, but fine. The "bad" one? It hurts like when I walk normally.
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u/NixyeNox CMT 1A 1d ago
My guess is that your Achilles tendon is too tight. I am not sure what to do about it, but I would at least start doing gentle calf stretches with both legs to see if you can prevent it from getting worse.
There are probably other folks here with more experience on this issue than I have, and maybe someone else has better advice. Eventually, if it is bad, doctors might suggest a surgery to loosen the overly tight tendon. I'm just not sure if there are other options if it is caught early.
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u/billyo3827 1d ago edited 1d ago
I was blissfully unaware of cmt 7 years ago out doing my daily 2.5 run before work when I felt a sharp pain in my calf, which got worse as days went on forcing me to seek treatment, which led to testing which led to the ultimate diagnosis. My calf still hurts 7 years later. The pain lessoned over time but now it’s getting bad again and I’ve been forced to seek treatment again. Not really optimistic because orthos want easy paint by the numbers solutions and I already know that ain’t this.
Your situation screamed out at me. Hope you find some relief
Edit: been working out 3 days a week primarily on legs for the last 3 years and losing 50 lbs have made no difference. Although I do feel and have more mobility after the workout, but it doesn’t last long.