So… back in early June I was on my regular 7.5 mile run and in the last 1/4 mile had a sudden cramping/muscle pain right behind the top of my fibula/back calf area. Fairly localized. Brings me to a walk and can’t run even after massaging and trying to stretch it out.
Have been seeing a PT who works with runners and she says the fibula is being pulled posterior originating either in the foot or hip…she suspects foot. I’ve tried different shoes (Asics DS trainers) strectching and massage as well as PT stuff.
I’m able to run for around 30 minutes and then it acts up like clock work. Not sure, but looking at my workout log it seems to correlate perhaps to more biking–more injuries seem to have popped up in early spring.
Sorry for the long post but I was wondering if anyone has experienced this and if it just takes time to heal (I’ve also taken 2.5 weeks off of running with no help) or if anyone had anything to recommend/try.
does it feel like a cramp in the large part of your calf?? Is it located to the lateral (outside) of your leg?? And does it occur every time you run about the same time?
I’m not a Dr. (but I play one on tv)
this happened to me last March-- first a pulled musc. then went to an orthopod a Month later after it kept pulling EVERY time I ran-- diagnosed with a stress fracture–went to the macdaddy Podiatrist in our area and he wasn’t certain it was a stress fracture-- wanted more EXPENSIVE tests-- no go on that-- so treated like a stress fracture and a BOOT for one month-- now it hurts like a burning down the lateral side of my leg along the fibula–the peroneus muscles–and usu after hard cycle on indoor bike-- wondering if the cleat needs to be adjusted or if the Q angle of the bike is an issue. So i do some cross fiber massage and ice and ibuprofin…
it might be compartment syndrome. It’s were your muscle swells up and puts pressure on the sheath surrounding the muscle.
It an overuse injury and will take a while to repair if that’s what you have.
Does it hurt during your strike and recovery phase of running only? If so you probably have a problem with your extensor digitorum muscles. Its a very deep muscles which lies in behind you peronous
do plenty of stretching and core strength work. Anti inflammatorys during the day and ice straight after exercise will help keep the swelling down
Pain is on lateral side just behind and a centimeter or two below the head of the fibula. Comes on usually around 30 min. It has gotten better and I’ve been able to run with a slight tightness in that general area for 40 min recently. It feels muscular to me not like a stress fracture–doesn’t seem quite that localized.
Pain is during loading of the leg prior to push off.
I did do a brick today, 50 mile ride and wanted to run 5 miles afterward. I made it to about 4 and change or so when it kicked in and I didn’t want to push it.
I tried lowering my seat just a touch. I read in some article that if you have a slight leg length discrepancy (don’t think I do) or you are reaching to far down that can give you posterior knee pain if your hams are tight. I felt like I did get more power on my ride today.
Sounds (from my internet lurking) like a chronic peroneal muscle strain/tendonitis. The peroneus longus will load the medial foot at push off, and sounds like it is being overworked. Need to address your foot mechanics since this should have healed by now. A chronic compartment syndrome, as mentioned by another poster, is possible, although more unlikely based on your description(s).
This could be a few things but the fibula/tibia articulation is actually a moving joint. The movement between it is very small, but it can become fixated or “locked up”. This can be “adjusted” by a chiro. You’ll hear the same popping sound as with a spinal joint manipulation. If this is what it is the pain will disappear fairly quickly, usually after one to three treatments.
Another possibility is popliteus tendinitis. Sometimes these two conditions can be associated with each other.
Need to address your foot mechanics since this should have healed by now.
I had myself video taped on treadmill and I wasn’t pronating with the new shoes (with the old shoes, Mizuno Maverick III, had very slight pronation on left foot). Any ideas off hand what/where the mechanics would be flawed/need to be checked out?
The peroneus longus muscle is a secondary evertor of the foot during stance phase and main stabilizer of the 1st ray/medial column during push off. If you have a forefoot varus (big to up, little toe down), the P. longus will get overworked. Rearfoot valgus/“pronation” may do the same. Try a simple forefoot wedge under the metatarsal heads (skinny part towards little toe, wedge towards hallux). Wedge should be about 4-6 mm at apex.
Common peroneal nerve entrapment near the head of the fibula is a possibility, but that is usually with external (i.e. badly applied cast) forces. Popliteal pain is more localized behind the knee usually and not radiating lateral down the leg (along the peroneal muscles).