Both calves ache

[Ditapage]

I had pain in both calves suddenly come on yesterday. When I first stand up from a sitting position, there's a tight pulling sensation-ache when I put pressure on them and start walking but it improves as I'm walking and with stretching, too. If I sit down though I'm back to square one again when I stand up.

They're not hard but if I press/push the flabby part of the calf, it's painful. Not excruciating, sharp or shooting, more like dull aching.

I can't stop tensing, flexing, poking and prodding and fixating on it either. If I flex my leg and point my toes upward, I feel an intense pulling sensation in both.

It's driving me crazy and worrying me. For the ladies: I also have my period so I'm not sure if it's related.

Can anyone help? I'm not having clot anxiety because I have no symptoms of that and it's exactly the same feeling in both legs. Thanks for reading.

[Lukas]

Did you do much exercise yesterday? it sounds like you've possibly pulled them and they get stiff if you sit too long x

[Ditapage]

Thanks for your reply, Lukas. It's the simple answer isn't it? The one health anxiety never allows for. Thank you!

I am not the world's best exerciser especially since my anxiety turned into depression. But I have been doing squats which might have caused the strain since those muscles definitely get used. Its also the muscles I use when I drive stick, which I always do, and I tend to tense up my lower leg muscles.

The problem with health anxiety is I want it to heal right away and apparently strains/pulls/stiffness doesn't. Since it came on I've been tensing and stretching like mad to check if it's better which can't be helping. It doesn't ache if I walk on tiptoes so the trouble is in putting weight on them.

[Ditapage]

Update for the benefit of anyone else ever experiencing tight calves for longer than a day: it's much better day 3, after applying ice and not tensing or stretching it. Ice worked better than warmth did. Although it could've been a combination of hot baths and ice packs. Calves feel floppy again not like bricks. (Which should've been a clue that they were stiff ;))

[Lukas]

Hey Ditapage glad to hear you're doing better,
You could of even got cramp in them as that leaves them horrifically tender afterwards(i speak from experience :roflmao:)

[Bike Rider]

The squats will cause that, especially if you dont perform them correctly.

Tight calf muscles, pure and simple. Get a sports deep tissue massage or a "grid" foam massage roller.
https://tptherapy.com/product/GRID_FoamRoller

Good Luck.