Symptom: Calf pain

Introduction: Calf pain

Calf pain: Pain or tenderness of the calf muscle behind the lower leg. See free access online books about Calf pain below. See detailed information below for a list of 29 causes of Calf pain, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Calf pain: full list

Causes of Calf pain:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Calf pain. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Calf muscle stiffness - usually from exercise or exertion
• Calf muscle injury
• Strain
• Torn muscle
• Circulation disorders
  • Venous insufficiency
  • Chronic venous insufficiency (see Venous insufficiency)
  • Arterial insufficiency - usually from atherosclerosis
  • Arterial thrombosis (type of Thrombosis)
  • Intermittent claudication
  • Thrombophlebitis
  • Cellulitis
  • Deep vein thrombophlebitis
  • Deep Venous Thrombosis (potentially serious cause)
  • Varicose veins - often causes aching calves.
• Plantaris tendon rupture
• Gastrocneimius medial head rupture
• Pseudothrombophlebitis syndrome
• Popliteal cyst - also Baker's cyst
• Compartment syndrome
• See also causes of calf swelling, leg pain, calf symptoms, etc
• Deep venous thrombosis
• Ruptured Baker's cyst
• Referred sciatic pain
• Muscle tension

See full list of 29 causes of Calf pain

» Review Causes of Calf pain: full list

Calf pain: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Calf pain, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Calf pain: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Calf pain and Leg pain (9 causes)
• Calf pain and Pain (9 causes)
• Calf pain and Nerve symptoms (8 causes)
• Calf pain and Sensations (8 causes)
• Calf pain and Swelling symptoms (6 causes)
• Calf pain and Leg swelling (5 causes)
• Calf pain and Skin problems (5 causes)
• Calf pain and Skin symptoms (5 causes)
• Calf pain and Leg symptoms (5 causes)
• Calf pain and Chills (4 causes)
• Calf pain and Circulation symptoms (4 causes)
• Calf pain and Cramping leg pain (4 causes)
• Calf pain and Ankle swelling (4 causes)
• Calf pain and Coldness (3 causes)
• Calf pain and Cramps (3 causes)
• Calf pain and Fever (3 causes)
• Calf pain and Sweat symptoms (3 causes)
• Calf pain and Arm pain (3 causes)
• Calf pain and Calf swelling (3 causes)
• Calf pain and Oedema of the lower extremity (3 causes)

See full list of 308 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Calf pain

Home Diagnostic Testing and Calf pain

Home medical tests possibly related to Calf pain:

• Sleep Disorders: Home Testing
  • Home Sleep Tests
  • Sleep Apnea Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Leg pain (193 causes)
• Pain (3014 causes)
• Leg symptoms (1076 causes)
• Sensations (3186 causes)
• Nerve symptoms (3495 causes)
• Common symptoms (4555 causes)
• Limb symptoms (1032 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Calf pain

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Calf pain:

• Calf swelling (18 causes)
• Calf symptoms
• Calf pain (29 causes)
• Calf bruise (9 causes)
• Calf itch (16 causes)
• Calf coldness (10 causes)
• Calf burning sensation (14 causes)
• Calf rash (17 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Calf pain

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Calf pain from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Calf pain. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Calf pain

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Calf pain

RLS sleep disorder causing night-time leg sensations often misdiagnosed: A common but relatively unknown sleep-related disorder called Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is often misdiagnosed. The typical symptoms are night-time...read more »

Leg cramps at night a classic sign: The symptom of having leg muscle cramps, particularly at night, is a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes. However, there are also various...read more »

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see ...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Calf pain

Diagnostic tests for Calf pain:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Calf pain. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Watch walking and nature of any limp
  • Examine lumbosacral spine if suspect calf pain is referred from spine
  • Inspect calves for size and symmetry, any bruises, swellings, discoloration, ulcers or rashes
  • Inspect pattern of any visible or bulging leg veins

See full list of 24 diagnostic tests for Calf pain

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Calf pain. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had the calf pain? - to determine if acute or chronic e.g. if sudden and severe calf pain not related to trauma must consider acute lower limb ischemia (sudden obstruction of blood supply from thrombosis (clot) or embolism (plug).
• Where exactly do you experience the pain? - if deep and very localized and not generalized must consider bone tumor, fracture or rarely infection; if superficial must consider muscular pain.
• Did the pain follow trauma or activity? - if not must consider a vascular cause of calf pain e.g. vein or artery blockage or rupture.
• Is the site of the pain the same as the site of the trauma? - if not the calf pain is referred e.g. from spine or hip.
• Is the pain related to movement? - if pain is related to movement may be due to bone or joint problems; if pain is not related to movement the pain must arise from a soft tissue lesion e.g. artery or vein blockage.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Calf pain (17 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Calf pain) may include:

• Symptoms of sciatica (spinal canal stenosis)? - e.g. back pain radiating down legs, weakness, burning, numbness in legs, may be associated with bowel and bladder symptoms if severe.
• Symptoms of acute lower limb ischemia? - e.g. sudden severe calf pain, pallor of skin, paresthesia or numbness of lower leg, paralysis or weakness of leg.
• Symptoms of chronic peripheral vascular disease? - e.g. pain in buttock, thigh and calf, especially when walking up hills and stairs, persistent fatigue over the whole lower limb, impotence is possible, if severe pain occurs at rest especially at night.
• Symptoms of varicose veins? - e.g. swelling of feet, leg fatigue, leg heaviness, itching.
• Symptoms of deep venous thrombosis? - e.g. diffuse leg swelling, leg warmth, ankle pitting edema.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Calf pain (17 listings)

Stories from Users for Calf pain

Real-life user stories relating to Calf pain:

• "Bone pain", muscle pain, fatigued
• Stabbing Pain In Lower Calf
• Guitarist/Server with painful muscles/nerves
• 4 years of sharp calf pain
• calf pain and lost hope
• Muscle Pain moving round body, HELP!
• Calf pain... diagnosis needed!!!!
• 7 year old with cronic calf pain
• Muscle pains
• calf pain
• calf pain
• Calf and Hamstring Atrophe
• muscle pain and headaches
• muscle pain and cardiomyopathy
• Swelling and pain in calf - torn muscle?
• Calf pain - very localized and severe
• muscle burning/pain
• Burning Pain in Calf Muscle
• Odd calf pain.....
• Muscle pain-can someone help??

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Calf pain or relevant symptoms:

• Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Circulation) (171)
  • Chest pain and shortness of breath
  • Hand numbness
  • Purple-blue skin color
  • Need help with diagnoses
  • Anxiety and high BP
  • More user stories
• Musculoskeletal (Muscles, joints and bones) (405)
  • Joint and muscular pain after taking chantix
  • Arm pain after sneezing
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Joint swelling, stiffness, severe foot pain
  • Muscle twitches/spasms
  • More user stories
• Integumentary (Skin) (244)
  • Itchy red bumps all over body? Hives?
  • Sensitive Skin to Touch
  • Painful skin and no answers!!!
  • Pinprick red dots, itchy skin, wrongly diagnosed
  • Skin blisters, joint & muscle pain, Photos..
  • More user stories
• Neurological (Nerves) (357)
  • Could this be MS?
  • Numbness and tingling all over
  • Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
  • Eye twitch
  • Essential tremor
  • More user stories

Videos for Calf pain

Patient Surveys for Calf pain

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about diseases related to your Calf pain
  Take Survey  View Results

Causes of Calf pain listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Calf pain as a symptom include:

• Baker's cyst of knee (and rupture)
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Peripheral vascular disease

See full list of 29 causes of Calf pain
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Calf pain:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Calf pain as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Piperazine oestrone sulfate
• Genoral
• Femoden
• Oral Contraceptive
• Minulet

See full list of 69 medications causing Calf pain

Organs affected by Calf pain:

The list of organs typically affected by Calf pain may include, but is not limited to:

• Bone
• Calf
• Calf muscle
• Calf nerves

Detailed list of causes of Calf pain

The list below shows some of the causes of Calf pain mentioned in various sources:

• Arterial insufficiency - usually from atherosclerosis
• Arterial thrombosis
• Baker's cyst of knee (and rupture)
• Calf muscle injury
• Calf muscle stiffness - usually from exercise or exertion

See full list of 29 causes of Calf pain

How Common are these Causes of Calf pain?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Calf pain. Of the 29 causes of Calf pain that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 1 causes are "very common" diseases
• 0 causes are "common" diseases
• 0 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 0 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 29 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 29 causes of Calf pain

Conditions listing symptoms: Calf pain:

The following list of conditions have 'Calf pain' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

I

Causes of Calf pain Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Calf pain based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: