Calf Pain
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Pain in the calf
Pain in the left calf
Pain in the right calf
Aching in calf even when resting
Calf hurts even when I don't move it
Calf muscle pain
Pain in the back of my leg
About the Symptom
Calf pain may affect either or both calves. The calf is the back of the lower leg. The pain may be pressing, sharp or dull in nature.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Swelling of the affected area
- Lower leg edema
- Edema
- Infections in the past 3 months
Possible Causes
Generally, Calf pain can be related to:
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
A condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually affecting the legs. The blood clot impairs blood circulation. Sometimes, the clots can dislodge and travel to an artery in your lung, which is a medical emergency.
- Leg Cramps
Leg cramps are episodes of sudden pain in leg muscles caused by involuntary contractions (shortening) of the leg muscle. Most leg cramps happen in the calf muscles and, less commonly, in the feet and thighs.
- Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back. Stenosis, meaning narrowing, can put pressure on the spinal cord or the nerves that connect the spinal cord to muscles.
- Lumbar Vertebrae Disk Herniation
- Arteriosclerosis Obliterans
- Neuropathic Pain
- Lumbar Spondylosis
- Hypothyroidism
- Osteoporosis
- Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Are you experiencing calf pain?
- Do you have calf pain even when resting?
- How is your calf pain now?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how severe was your calf pain at its worst?
- When did you first notice the calf pain?
Reviewed By:
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Jan 30, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- My calf hurts
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FAQs
Q.
What Is the Cause of Calf Pain in Just One Leg?
A.
Injuries from sports, nerve damage in the lower back, blood clots, varicose veins and skin diseases can cause calf pain in just one leg.
References:
Gasparis AP, Kim PS, Dean SM, Khilnani NM, Labropoulos N. Diagnostic approach to lower limb edema. Phlebology. 2020 Oct;35(9):650-655. doi: 10.1177/0268355520938283. Epub 2020 Jul 6. PMID: 32631171; PMCID: PMC7536506.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Lee SJ, Kim OH, Choo HJ, Park JH, Park YM, Jeong HW, Lee SM, Cho KH, Choi JA, Jacobson JA. Ultrasonographic findings of the various diseases presenting as calf pain. Clin Imaging. 2016 Jan-Feb;40(1):1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.09.015. Epub 2015 Sep 24. PMID: 26490092.
https://www.clinicalimaging.org/article/S0899-7071(15)00245-4/fulltext