My calf started to have sharp pains, to the point of limping. It eased over about three days and went away...for one day! I was out doing my normal exercise walk yesterday and it was so stabbing, I had to motorcycle back.

Calcium-Magnesium-Phosphorus? Electrolytes, esp Potassium?

TIA!

47 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

My calf started to have sharp pains, to the point of limping. It eased over about three days and went away...for one day! I was out doing my normal exercise walk yesterday and it was so stabbing, I had to motorcycle back.

Calcium-Magnesium-Phosphorus? Electrolytes, esp Potassium?

TIA!

Could be a hydration issue...

Could be a pulled calf muscle...

Could also be a circulation issue.. i.e. DVT - check of any swelling - if you suspect a DVT in the slightest, go to ER and get yourself checked out.

Usually these things pass in a few days if nothing you remember caused it. You may be dehydrated, suddenly more humid and hotter in Pattaya, drink more water and 2 electrolyte powders a day, for at least a few days. I'm even adding salt as Thai electrolytes seem to be low salt high sugar, important when exercising

Sounds like Shin Splints. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_splints

20 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Sounds like Shin Splints. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_splints

So not calf

Calf is muscular, shin is skeletal. Both part of the lower leg.

OP said sharp pains in the lower leg. He didn't say it was cramp (muscular). So...

He can investigate shin splints and make up his own mind.

1 hour ago, VocalNeal said:

Calf is muscular, shin is skeletal. Both part of the lower leg.

OP said sharp pains in the lower leg. He didn't say it was cramp (muscular). So...

He can investigate shin splints and make up his own mind.

Shin splints tend to occur at the inner edge or front of the lower tibia - i.e. the shin... The Calf is at the back of the leg... Anterior shin splints and calf pain an occur with Shin-splints though I think that is not so common and accompanies pain at the shin.

Had a mate in similar circumstances - pain in the upper calf, discomfort, sometimes sharp, sometimes a dull-ache.

Enough was enough and he took himself to hospital - they found a DVT - further investigation (contrast enhanced CT Scan) showed a Pulmonary Embolism - he had no symptoms of that, very early stages - but was smart to go to the hospital when he did.

I've pulled my calf muscle when playing football - it felt like someone stabbed me in the calf.

I've had shin-splints - it feels like the muscle is tearing off my bone at the front, lower shin - though I'm aware of the existence of anterior shin-splints (which is more rare) - I've never felt pain at the calf during shin-splints.

I've had a DVT - it felt like a dull-ache behind the knee and I ignored it for too long - some are more painful, some are asymptomatic.

Ops issue could be anything - given the risk of what it 'could' be - a visit beyond ChapGPT, Google and This forum is perhaps called for.

With calf pain need to rule out DVT. See a doctor.

Peripherslal arterial disease also a possibility.

Either way, not something to try to self treat.

13 hours ago, Sheryl said:

With calf pain need to rule out DVT. See a doctor.

Peripherslal arterial disease also a possibility.

Either way, not something to try to self treat.

I agree a trip to bangkoik hospital is not a bad idea

At worse you get to look at the prety nurses and get told there is nothing major

At best there is an issue and they can help you right away

16 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

I agree a trip to bangkoik hospital is not a bad idea

At worse you get to look at the prety nurses and get told there is nothing major

At best there is an issue and they can help you right away

Don't you mean...

... "at best you get to look at the pretty nurses and told there is nothing major"...

... "at the worst there is an issue and they can help you right away"...

🥸

32 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Don't you mean...

... "at best you get to look at the pretty nurses and told there is nothing major"...

... "at the worst there is an issue and they can help you right away"...

🥸

Not really

Going to the hospital paying the money just to be told that you need to drink more water or take it easy is a pain

However, finding out that there is something wrong and getting it treated to me is the best thing.

But to each their own I can xsee it your way also

I have had similar for 6 weeks recurring calf pain, one day ok next when out walking I get a muscle spasm to the extent I can hardly walk. I had a scan at Bangkok Jomtien to check for DVT but it was clear, muscle strain was diagnosed. Remedy was extra strong tablets to relieve any swelling and rest, a week later, not much different tbh. Tried hot and cold compresses and also a support stocking as well.

There are dozen things that could be a causing it, if it were me I'd give it a few more days, do a lot of stretching, take some anti-inflammatories, and if that doesn't help go to a good ortho or a good hospital.

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

There are dozen things that could be a causing it, if it were me I'd give it a few more days, do a lot of stretching, take some anti-inflammatories, and if that doesn't help go to a good ortho or a good hospital.

As a someone with a lot of experience with this kind of issue I totally agree. Give it 1-2 weeks.

I had the same symptoms with the addition of my legs falling asleep when walking. MRI revealed I had severe spinal stenosis at L3,4, and 5. Six weeks ago I had decompressive laminectomy spine surgery and my symptoms are totally gone and I’m back to walking 3 miles a day. My suggestion if it continues get an MRI.

Thanks to all you fellow sufferers!

For now, I'm treating it as if it were DVT meaning I'm taking 162mg of aspirin four times a day.

I see my GP on the 26th, fingers crossed till then. Dvt has an 85.4% survival rate!

Maybe try diclofinac? But is on receipt and from doctor.

I also saw for sale in pharmacy , at least here "my country", but very tiny tablets then doctors.

Maybe Thailand they sell it with out receipt? Ask the pharmacist.

So you have to see him first.

6 hours ago, Dirk Z said:

As a someone with a lot of experience with this kind of issue I totally agree. Give it 1-2 weeks.

As someone with experience of these things...

... DO NOT WAIT !!!!

Calf pain 'could' be a DVT - I know plenty of ppl who had DVT's & Pulmonary Embolisms - the latter potentially deadly...

I had upper calf pain = DVT & PE

Mate had calf pain = DVT & PE

Its not uncommon - the only sensible advise is to get calf pain (especially if upper calf) checked out - anything else is being cavalier with the risks.

Statistically 1 in 4 people will have a thrombotic event in their life time - that's not being alarmist - its just saying 'be sensible'.... Theres no downside to getting it checked out - investigation / doppler ultrasound on the leg is inexpensive.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Thanks to all you fellow sufferers!

For now, I'm treating it as if it were DVT meaning I'm taking 162mg of aspirin four times a day.

I see my GP on the 26th, fingers crossed till then. Dvt has an 85.4% survival rate!

Are you in the UK or Thailand ?

IF in Thailand - do not fly to the UK.

12 hours ago, Jumbo1968 said:

I have had similar for 6 weeks recurring calf pain, one day ok next when out walking I get a muscle spasm to the extent I can hardly walk. I had a scan at Bangkok Jomtien to check for DVT but it was clear, muscle strain was diagnosed. Remedy was extra strong tablets to relieve any swelling and rest, a week later, not much different tbh. Tried hot and cold compresses and also a support stocking as well.

You did the right thing - best to get it checked out.

Do not overlook a perforator vein issue. This is tied to the risk of DVT. (If you have DVT you will often have the localised redness and feeling of burning.) If you are physically active and do not have a history of circulatory issues, it is most likely a muscle or connective tissue issue. You may have sprained the muscle, or it really is a perforator vein problem. The pain will be sharp when doing moderate to heavy exercise, like climbing the stairs. The DVT ultrasound often won't pick it up unless the technician is aware of the potential. It takes an experienced physician using the ultrasound tool to examine the calf muscle to identify. When it is identified, treatment is quick and is usually minimally invasive. Treatment is the same as with varicose veins. If it is a large perforator, then out patient surgery may be required. However, in most cases, the sclerotherapy takes care of it, and the pain resolves in a month or less.

On 2/9/2026 at 1:16 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

My calf started to have sharp pains, to the point of limping. It eased over about three days and went away...for one day! I was out doing my normal exercise walk yesterday and it was so stabbing, I had to motorcycle back.

Calcium-Magnesium-Phosphorus? Electrolytes, esp Potassium?

TIA!

See a doctor

On 2/9/2026 at 5:19 PM, VocalNeal said:

OP said sharp pains in the lower leg. He didn't say it was cramp (muscular). So...

He can investigate shin splints and make up his own mind.

No, he said: "My calf started to have sharp pains"

2 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

See a doctor

May I suggest you walk 10,000 steps a day , surely that's not too much to ask instead of sitting in that chair please !!

On 2/9/2026 at 1:16 AM, unblocktheplanet said:

Calcium-Magnesium-Phosphorus? Electrolytes, esp Potassium?

TIA!

Translation. I'm broke

6 hours ago, Celsius said:

Translation. I'm broke

Not at all. In fact, all these are more expensive than my B250 hospital visit!

I take a wide range of supplements, always have, and wondering if that particular balance is out of whack, possibly too much Mg.

6 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

May I suggest you walk 10,000 steps a day , surely that's not too much to ask instead of sitting in that chair please !!

Thank you! I walk at least 4 clicks a day. (No idea about steps, it's hard enough to dodge the traffic!) Shopping is six clicks. But I'm a writer and I compute. Dunno.

Doctor on the 26th, as I said.

11 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Do not overlook a perforator vein issue. This is tied to the risk of DVT. (If you have DVT you will often have the localised redness and feeling of burning.) If you are physically active and do not have a history of circulatory issues, it is most likely a muscle or connective tissue issue. You may have sprained the muscle, or it really is a perforator vein problem. The pain will be sharp when doing moderate to heavy exercise, like climbing the stairs. The DVT ultrasound often won't pick it up unless the technician is aware of the potential. It takes an experienced physician using the ultrasound tool to examine the calf muscle to identify. When it is identified, treatment is quick and is usually minimally invasive. Treatment is the same as with varicose veins. If it is a large perforator, then out patient surgery may be required. However, in most cases, the sclerotherapy takes care of it, and the pain resolves in a month or less.

This is very helpful, thanks. I never have had any circulatory or cardiac issues. (There's always a first time, eh.)

Yes, the pain is more severe on foot flexion. I will make both GP and u/s tech aware of the possibility of perforative vein as well as DVT.

After sclerotherapy, is it possible to function normally right away?

Great info!

I don't think I've ever experienced a sprain. But I would expect muscle strain or the like to show immediate pain. This was just walking in a mall and got worse and worse.

When I was recently at a beach, I thought how unnatural it is for city people. We are always walking on flat surfaces. Even when we go to a park, we walk on the path. Our floors are flat. There's no natural movement for the foot, ankle, leg muscles.

12 hours ago, xtrnuno41 said:

Maybe try diclofinac? But is on receipt and from doctor.

I also saw for sale in pharmacy , at least here "my country", but very tiny tablets then doctors.

Maybe Thailand they sell it with out receipt? Ask the pharmacist.

So you have to see him first.

Thanks. I read a study on DVT with low dose (~170mg) and high-dose (~300mg) aspirin. Both are equally effective in DVT. For some reason, pharmacists here really don't want to sell aspirin, some telling me I needed a prescription.

I'm doing that method until I see my doc in two weeks.

16 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Thanks. I read a study on DVT with low dose (~170mg) and high-dose (~300mg) aspirin. Both are equally effective in DVT. For some reason, pharmacists here really don't want to sell aspirin, some telling me I needed a prescription.

I'm doing that method until I see my doc in two weeks.

Yeah, I don't understand the issue with aspirin here. I prefer it to paracetamol for headaches etc, and it can have other benefits, but it's tough to buy in Thailand.