Calf Injuries for Masters Level Explosive Movements ...

[asimov]

Its THE only way. The sprays, junk like that, are no good.

Don't know about your second question. Would depend what exactly is causing your injury. Have you actually had it checked out by a doc/ physical therapist, did not see that in your original post.

A HGH injection may be a temporary solution. For my friend it was permanent because his was a straight muscle injury. Mine was only temporary because the tricep pain was just a symptom of a bone spur in my elbow. The HGH gave me great relief, but there was no way it was going to keep the pain from coming back. I had a structural issue that HGH wasn't going to overcome. The running times article you linked mentions something called "compartment syndrome." You may have a structural barrier there. Do you stretch the area as much as those articles suggest?

[chijoe]

Its THE only way. The sprays, junk like that, are no good.

Don't know about your second question. Would depend what exactly is causing your injury. Have you actually had it checked out by a doc/ physical therapist, did not see that in your original post.

A HGH injection may be a temporary solution. For my friend it was permanent because his was a straight muscle injury. Mine was only temporary because the tricep pain was just a symptom of a bone spur in my elbow. The HGH gave me great relief, but there was no way it was going to keep the pain from coming back. I had a structural issue that HGH wasn't going to overcome. The running times article you linked mentions something called "compartment syndrome." You may have a structural barrier there. Do you stretch the area as much as those articles suggest?

I've been checked out by at least 3 physical therapists and there is no compartment syndrome. That disorder is a function of the front of the calf (from what I'm told) not the back of it where my problems occur. I do stretch quite alot on a daily basis so it's not that.

Mechanically, my problems involve the combination of both eccentric and concentric contractions w/the calf muscle. When sprinting on ones toes (as opposed to the heal to toe movement of distance runners), one's foot lands on the ground ball of the foot first, then heal lands (the 'eccentric' movement - kind of like a 'negative' in lifting), next then the 'concentric' movement takes place (akin to the push movement in weight lifting) whereas the explosive action pushes the body from the ball of the foot forward. It's this explosive combination of both eccentric and concentric contractions w/the calf muscle that causes Micro tears in the calf muscle near the tendon. My guess is that there is alot of scar tissue there from the years of re-injury that's not helping either. I've had it on both calves but this particular episode started in February and won't let up.

I'm looking for ways to force the injury to hear and then to strengthen the area w/regards to explosive movements so that it won't happen again.

[chijoe]

I've just returned from a visit with one the Hollands PhD (Limburgh) sports Doctors who's an authority in calf injuries among athletes.

He examined my case to the best of his abilities and then effectively told me that there is nothing I can do, and that no matter what I do to treat this thing that it'll never get better.

He ruled out HGH or any of the other substances as he diagnosed the issue as a chronic MicroTear and proceeded to tell me that this is THE most difficult problem to solve, and that although there are things (negative training, stretching, clinical massage) that I could do which might improve it but that I could never be sure it wouldn't fail me at any time in the future.

Now .... as doctors in Holland go (per the medical systems in a socialized country) I'm not entirely sure I believe him. It's kind of the way things work here in Holland, they take the low hanging fruit and send the tough patients home or away since they take up too much of their time.

So .... I'm kind of fishing for suggestions and then options/alternatives and support in all of this, since this guy effectively told me it's time to hang it up.

Thoughts, suggestions, anything ?

[asimov]

^ In high school, I had a chronic knee issue and a orthopedic doc told me to "hang it up." One college and a 8 year pro baseball career I'm glad I walked out of that office thinking, "**** this guy." And he was good, too.

I've had some great docs in my time. And even the very best have admitted to me that they don't know everything. Head docs from the Reds and the Mariners couldn't figure out how to solve my shoulder issues, but ultimately a high school athletic trainer suggested a simple change in my rehab approach that led to me getting past that problem.

I don't see any risk in trying something like a direct HGH injection; or trying out that 2 shot Test Enanthate deal to spur some water retention in you. As long as you get these things from a safe source, and do things the right way there is no harm in trying, IMHO.