To know when to call for help

[MahMahMahMahCorona]

I think I've pulled my calf muscle - badly. Single mum to two dc and i cannot walk. Got up from the chair I was sitting on earlier and felt like something corkscrewed up the back of my left calf. And now it's agony despite being on ice for over an hour.

I can barely walk to the loo and am terrified of trying to get upstairs (can sleep on sofa) - what do I do?

Are you sure it’s not your Achilles??

Hey @Rinoachicken - I'm hopeful that as it isn't as far down as that (I think the Achilles is more at the back of the foot / heel???) and it is more pain halfway up the calf that it's my calf?? I just don't know. I'm in such agony and I don't know who to call. Thank you for your message. I think an Ambulance would just laugh at me but I'm so worried that it might need treatment 😢

I'd call a relative / friend / DCs father / neighbour and ask for help if you don't want to call 111.

Call 111. They will decide if you need an ambulance.

Snapped Achilles. That’s exactly how people describe it, like a corkscrew. I feel for you it always seems like terrible pain. Get to A&E as you need to do something about it soon as at moment it’s still up in your calf

Wouldn't an Achilles pain feel lower down towards the back of the foot? I'm utterly terrified now - I just worry it might well be that and I might just need it checked 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

I actually feel so so shaky and sick with the pain
I think you might be right

Do you have someone who can stay with your children so you can get it checked? Pain so bad it's making you feel sick should probably be checked.

Are you struggling to rotate foot?

Please call NHS111 now or work though the web service to get a call back. You've experienced great pain and an acute impairment to mobility. This is urgent, and you do not need to be going though it alone.

Just done and 111 having gone through all motions for 11 mins are getting me a call back - thank you. I feel like such a fraud 😳

@Beldon yes it isn't easy to rotate it. Have taken ice pack off and now it's just agony up the calf 🤦🏼‍♂️

Look after yourself

Awww this sounds awful for you. I bet you can’t even reach painkillers. I would call a relative tbh, you can’t stay like that all night,

Oh OP, that sounds sore, I hope they get you sorted ASAP

The Achilles tendon holds your foot on to your leg, it goes from your heel to your calf. When they go, people describe it like feeling as though an elastic has snapped and pulled down your whole leg, or like your leg has fallen down a hole. It wouldn't surprise me at all if it was your Achilles.

Bless you. You are totally doing the right thing, you need to be seen. If you can then get a friend round now to watch kids so you are ready to go when you get call back. Ice back on whenever you can

Hope that you are getting help op. Please don't suffer alone x

Sounds horrible. 111 will probably ask you if you have taken painkillers so get the max dose of ibuprofen and paracetamol in you now, and keep it up and iced. Not much they can do for you, but if you can't weight bear you might need crutches . Good luck.

A nurse has called back and she thinks I probably need an X-ray - she also thinks it might be sciatica related. I've had an awful three weeks of pain in my left buttock and apparently a "jump" to the left calf isn't unheard of in terms of either Achilles or sciatica. Naproxen isn't even touching the sides of the buttock pain (diagnosed as "a pain in the arse" by my GP hence the naproxen) - I thought it to be a physical manifestation of the stress I've been under recently.

I'm in so much pain I'm shivering - the lovely nurse said a doctor will call within the hour. I've now got my best friend coming round just in case I need to go to A&E.

Honestly thank you. I kept saying I don't want to waste anyone's time but I just can't cope with this pain 😳😳😳

Sounds like when I tore my calf muscle - I remember the feeling as the muscle in the the back of my leg feeling as if it was being unzipped from the heel up. It was very very sore but I could walk with difficulty. Can you really not even stand on it for a moment so as to go up stairs one step at a time?

Sorry x-posted OP. That sounds a bit more involved!

With the pain, try to use breathing exercises whilst you are waiting. Long slow breath in and long slow breath out. I know it's not much but you need to try everything!

I think you should go to A&E at the very least they can give you some IV painkillers.
I think it’s your Achilles too.

I’ve also been in the same position, acute severe pain and on my own with a sleeping dd. Mine was my gall bladder, hope you get some help soon it’s horrible