Grade 3 calf muscle tear - any advice?

[cashmax]

Whilst skiing (my bindings were very tight for reasons that I won’t bore folks with) I hit a hole in poor visibility and stopped dead without my skis releasing. Huge pain in my calf, but skied down no problem. I couldn’t walk, but was able to ski ok, so carried on for 4 more days.

On returning home I had a fair bit of swelling so got it checked by my local physio who was doing free ultrasounds. (training) She was chuffed to identify what she called a grade 3 calf tear, with a huge hematoma. (which I guess is the swelling)

My basic googling tells me that this is more like the separation of the two muscles where they join to the tendon than a normal tear. After a week, I have no pain and can walk fine. I was wondering if anyone else has had anything similar and could advise if there is anything I need to be/not be doing?

[GiantCardboardPlato]

Firstly impressive/scary looking ultrasound.
Secondly I’d suggest maybe loosen the bindings on your skis for the summer
Thirdly i have no actual advice sorry

[goingonholiday]

Mrs goingonholiday has similar in both calves from tennis injuries historically. She now has very weak calf muscles full of scar tissue. She says get on the phone to a physio asap. Your number 1 priority now is to avoid scar tissue. Once it scars thats it, the only option is put up with it or an op which is unlikely to be recommended unless you are a professional athlete, even then they often don't work.

Your GP should refer you but if you can, pay for interim physio because scar tissue will form before the NHS kicks in.

She said timing is key, not too soon after injury but not too late once scars have formed!

[didelydoo]

Had the exact same thing, hole was a little bigger. I avoided things that hurt and carried on more or less as normal, started loading it as soon as it wasn’t sore too. Was a year back, still have a hole, but it isn’t an issue, and my calf is a s strong as ever

[spikeyhead]

I tore mine running a couple of months ago.

Lots of calf raises and time on an elliptic helped, but go and seea physio before doing anything

[Peanut Gallery]

Tore my right calf muscle twice - interesting colours on the sole of my foot.

Physio gave me a load of stretches and excersizes, they really helped, no surgery needed.

Glad you can walk, I hobbled for ages and couldn't drive for a good month. (Couldn't stand on the brake in an emergency)

[Jamescrs]

Not specific to the injury but I wold say if you are going the physio routte go privately if you can rather than waiting for an NHS referal, the NHS referal will take an age then you will likely get a phone appointment assessment and they will email you excercises before you actually see anyone.

Even when I wanted to see a sports physio privately over a knee issue a couple of years ago the wait was a week going private, all local physios were fully booked already.

[cashmax]

Thanks for the input guys. The strange thing is that I have no pain, I walk 5 miles at a pretty strong pace everyday and cycle 10KM off road every day. Can do everything I could before without any issue and have no weakness.