Long term calf injury

johnjohn3423

I have had a cycle related injury for the past 2 years and I am looking for the name of a good physio in Dublin.
I have gone to about 4 physios to try and get the problem sorted but they haven’t been able to diagnose what the problem is let alone cure it.
None of them recommended a scan on it.

I am posting here in the hope that somebody may have come across the problem before and can point me in the right direction.

I started cycling about 3 years ago and was hoping to do the etape du tour. The pain looking back on it started from the start but I thought it would wear off once I got used to the bike.
The injury is a pain in the upper part of my left calf; this originally would only come on after maybe 20 miles of a cycle.
But gradually over time the pain got worse and it forced me off the bike as it became almost constant while cycling.
I haven’t cycled in about a year now and the discomfort is there nearly constantly in the leg. Although the discomfort is minor its still there when im sitting down etc.

I have got the settings on the bike checked by the guys out in cyclesuperstore and in the shop I bought the bike off originally so I don’t think it was brought on by that.


So any ideas?

Lumen

Consult your GP.

kennyb3

Lumen wrote: »

Consult your GP.

Do you really think this will work?

In fairness the guy has seen 4 physio's and i do feel sorry for him. I dont want to get into the whole medical advice debate but I think its fair enough to ask if there is anybody out there who knows a physio who is particularly aware of cycling and the relate injuries ( a more specialist).

I ve had the same issues with physio's myself - most are rubbish and i ve gone to 2/3 and got all different diagnosis.

Lumen

@kennyb3

So he has seen 4 different physios and you are suggesting he goes to another physio rather than a GP?

He's been off the bike for a year and still suffers constant discomfort. It's not even a sports issue any more.

There is a reason the labels on over the counter medications say "if symptoms persist, see your doctor".

First hit on Google for leg pain wrote:

Other common causes of leg pain include:

* Atherosclerosis that blocks blood flow in the arteries (this type of pain, called claudication, is generally felt when exercising or walking and relieved by rest)
* Blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) from prolonged bed rest
* Infection of the bone (osteomyelitis) or skin and soft tissue (cellulitis)
* Inflammation of the leg joints by arthritis or gout
* Nerve damage -- common in diabetics, smokers, and alcoholics (symptoms include numbness, tingling, or a sensation of pins-and-needles)
* Varicose veins

Less common causes include:

* Benign tumors or cysts of the femur or tibia (osteoid osteoma)
* Drugs such as allopurinol and corticosteroids
* Legg-Calve-Perthes disease -- poor blood flow to the hip that may stop or slow the normal growth of the leg
* Malignant bone tumors (osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma)
* Sciatic nerve pain (radiating pain down the leg) caused by a slipped disk in the back.
* Slipped capital femoral epiphysis -- usually seen in boys and overweight children between 11 and 15 years old

So no, I don't think asking for information in an internet cycling forum is a better idea than seeing a GP

kennyb3

Lumen wrote: »

@kennyb3

So he has seen 4 different physios and you are suggesting he goes to another physio rather than a GP?

No just simply that i hope someone might be able to point hime in the way of a specialist in the area of calf injuries - be they a physio, gp, team doctor, sports injury therapist or whatever.

Robfowl might come along and bash me but as far as muscle injuries go most gp's will tell you to rest and/or see a physio (my experience only)

teufelswerk

kennyb3 wrote: »

No just simply that i hope someone might be able to point hime in the way of a specialist in the area of calf injuries - be they a physio, gp, team doctor, sports injury therapist or whatever.

Robfowl might come along and bash me but as far as muscle injuries go most gp's will tell you to rest and/or see a physio (my experience only)

I agree, I think suggesting a gp is a disservice to the guy. In my experience it could be as useful getting advice from people with similar pains as the gp will only refer him to a consultant. At the end of the day, with injuries like this it's hard for anyone to pinpoint your problem as you have to describe where the pain is coming from which always leads to subjectivity.

Lumen

teufelswerk wrote: »

I agree, I think suggesting a gp is a disservice to the guy. In my experience it could be as useful getting advice from people with similar pains as the gp will only refer him to a consultant.

"Only?". This is the way that the health system works.

You have a health problem, you see your GP, who has your full medical history and can assess the appropriate course of action. In some cases they will look through a glorified phone book, give you a couple of names and numbers, write an intro letter then off you go to a specialist.

I don't go to my GP when my legs are sore from cycling, but the OP has been off the bike for a year and still experiences near constant leg pain. If that's not a reason to see a doctor as an act of basic due diligence I don't know what is.

Aside from that, most insurance companies will require a GP referral before they will cover the costs of treatment.

johnjohn3423

Thanks for the responses.
I forgot to say that after I seen the first physio I went to a Sports Medicine Specialist and he just sent me to another physio.

The reason I posted up here is that I have tried 4 physios plus a Sports Medicine Specialist and have had no luck with them.
I do not have any more physios to try that I have been recommended by friends.

I have spent close to a grand between everything trying to get this fixed, so I am not prepared to go to some random physio/Dr out of the phone book on the hope that they might know what’s wrong with my leg, because my experience tells me that they wont know what’s wrong with it.

As I said above I have discomfort in the leg, but I would not describe it as a pain.

Lumen

johnjohn3423 wrote: »

I have spent close to a grand between everything trying to get this fixed, so I am not prepared to go to some random physio/Dr out of the phone book on the hope that they might know what’s wrong with my leg, because my experience tells me that they wont know what’s wrong with it.

You've spent a grand on physiotherapy and you're still in near constant discomfort.

A visit to the GP costs about £50.

What do you think your GP is there for?

bcmf

try a good doctor who is deeply involved with sports at all levels and is currently 'away' till Sun.

Can I drop any bigger hints....

Where are you based op?

teufelswerk

Lumen wrote: »

"Only?". This is the way that the health system works.

You have a health problem, you see your GP, who has your full medical history and can assess the appropriate course of action. In some cases they will look through a glorified phone book, give you a couple of names and numbers, write an intro letter then off you go to a specialist.

I don't go to my GP when my legs are sore from cycling, but the OP has been off the bike for a year and still experiences near constant leg pain. If that's not a reason to see a doctor as an act of basic due diligence I don't know what is.

Aside from that, most insurance companies will require a GP referral before they will cover the costs of treatment.

Sorry I missed the "been off the bike for a year and still experiences near constant leg pain" part and was going with the "I am posting here in the hope that somebody may have come across the problem before and can point me in the right direction" part of his OP.
That's what I meant by a disservice to suggest a GP as I imagine he's using peoples suggestions in conjunction with seeing a specialist/physio

kennyb3

bcmf wrote: »

try a good doctor who is deeply involved with sports at all levels and is currently 'away' till Sun.

Can I drop any bigger hints....

Where are you based op?

+1

johnjohn3423

bcmf wrote: »

try a good doctor who is deeply involved with sports at all levels and is currently 'away' till Sun.

Can I drop any bigger hints....

Where are you based op?

Im based in Dubiln.

Lumen

To clarify, the Charter says:

Cycling Forum Charter wrote:

We appreciate the temptation to seek other peoples experiences for low level physical problems that present themselves. But no one here is in a position to physically assess and diagnose you. You risk greater harm than good.

However, I don't see any issue with asking for recommendations for qualified professionals to help sort out the issue.

BostonB

See a GP for a different perspective. I'm guessing they'll just refer you to a physio though. I saw a few physio's till one got my shoulder issue exactly right. I dunno what the others were doing.

RobFowl

Difficult problem as you seem to have been pushed from pillar to post. At this stage I think you need a second opinion from a fully accredited sports medicine specialist. You'll know them because they have FFSEM after their name. If its ok with the mods I can PM you a few names you can ask your GP to refer you to.

FTR I'm a GP with an interest in Sports medicine

kennyb3

RobFowl wrote: »

Difficult problem as you seem to have been pushed from pillar to post. At this stage I think you need a second opinion from a fully accredited sports medicine specialist. You'll know them because they have FFSEM after their name. If its ok with the mods I can PM you a few names you can ask your GP to refer you to.

FTR I'm a GP with an interest in Sports medicine

Fair play, i need to bend your ear myself, i take it you ll be busy in the morning so i ll catch you saturday week. hope your enjoying the RAS