Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links
The Healing Process
It’s always impossible to determine exactly what contributed most effectively to healing any injury. My calf strain went from feeling like I’d been kicked hard in the back of my leg to feeling remarkably well in just over a week. I’m able to take walks with the slightest limp and can ride my spin bike (affiliate link) with no pain. Running is out of the question for several more weeks (dorsiflexion of my left foot causes calf pain), but without any races on the docket, I’m okay with that.
I was feeling enough better by Monday afternoon that I didn’t make an appointment with my physical therapist. I followed the standard treatment using RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) plus two additional items.
I took Advil for the first four days and I also applied Charlotte’s Webb CBD creme (affiliate link) to my calf twice a day. I had only used CBD creme once, and with very good results, after getting a sample at a bike race. Luckily, I had recently purchased CBD creme to have on hand in case my knee started acting up as I add miles and elevation to my cycling spring training.
Of course, I am not a doctor and I’m not prescribing this treatment plan, but it’s what worked for me. RICE is a standard method of treatment for strains and I’ve been advised by doctors in the past to take Advil for similar injuries. I’m glad I stumbled across the CBD creme and had some on hand as it has really seemed to expedite the healing.
Overview of the Week
Before discussing each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from this past week. Scroll beyond the infographic for daily details…
Sunday
Rest day
Thanks to a still tender left calf, I had no choice but to take a rest from doing cardio. On the positive side, the swelling was finally gone and I could put weight on that leg.
Monday
Strength training: 1 hour of upper body and core
I was able to comfortably, albeit slowly, walk one of my clients approximately a half mile round-trip to and from his house to the gym for his workout.
Tuesday
Walking: ½ mile
• Average pace: 21:00 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 134 feet
• Start time: 6 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 40° and cloudy
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, down jacket, gloves, mittens, and ear warmer headband
Cycling: 7 miles
• Average speed: 15.3 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:29 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63°
• What I wore: bike shorts and tank
The first thing I noticed when I got up was that I could put full weight on my left leg without any pain! Feeling positive, I decided to do a ½-mile test walk before firing up my spin bike to also give cycling a try. Both went well, but only because I kept my speed slower than normal and kept my left foot completely flat on the pedal (no dorsiflexion or plantar extension). I was thrilled that I felt absolutely no pain in my calf during either activity.
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 1 mile
• Average pace: 19:05 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 41 feet
• Start time: 4:37 PM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 50° (feels like 45°) and sunny
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, fleece jacket, gloves, and visor
While strength training I added some leg exercises back into my workout without pain. I was super pleased with how quickly my calf was healing, so pleased, that I decided to double my walk distance from the day before.
During the mid-afternoon I recertified in CPR, AED, and first aid, all required to hold my personal training and running coach certifications.
Thursday
Cycling: 18 miles
• Average speed: 15.54 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 5:57 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 62°
• What I wore: bike shorts and tank
Kim and I kept our workout streak going with a fun early morning virtual ride. My goal was to ride until 7 AM as long as I didn’t feel any calf pain and I was thrilled to meet that goal.
Friday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Balance and stretching: 45 minutes
Saturday
Travel day
Walking: 1 mile
• Average pace: 19:05 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 105 feet
• Start time: 6:18 PM
• Location: son and d-i-l’s neighborhood
• Weather: 54° and cloudy
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, down jacket, and gloves
We started spring break with a drive to see Pablo and his humans in Charlotte, NC. After dinner, we took Pablo on a hilly short walk through his neighborhood.
Last Week’s Blog Posts
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…
- • Sunday – Weekly RunDown: February 26 – March 4 / Starting Out Strong, Until…
- • Tuesday – Training Tip Tuesday: Schedule Your Workouts
Questions
- • Have you used CBD cream or other topical agents? ~ I hadn’t tried CBD creme until that one time last spring, but I’d used Aspercreme, IcyHot, etc.
- • What was your favorite workout of the week? ~ I always look forward to riding with Kim, and of course, if you could count my walk with Pablo a workout, it would rank right up there as a favorite!
- • Did you run in race this weekend? ~ No
And that’s my rundown… Have a great week!
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I’m linking up with Deborah at Confessions of a Mother Runner and Kim from Running on the Fly for their Weekly Run Down. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but those of the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a small commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.
Hooray for quick healing. Hope your calf continues to improve.
Yes on cbd on my neuroma. It didn’t help though.
My workouts are not fun but I did walk 2 miles while my friends ran 3.
No race though I was supposed to. I volunteered instead.
I hope you enjoyed volunteering at the race you were supposed to run. That’s got to be hard, but good for you!
I’ve had good results with CBD cream as well. Glad to hear your calf is making good progress. I’ll bet Pablo was thrilled to see you!
Thanks, Marcia! Yes, Pablo was thrilled to see us and have “all of his people” together. 🙂
So glad your calf is feeling better. /there has been a lot of debate again recently about ice. I am definitely more a heat therapy person but you have to do what works for you. The compression sleeves also feel good. Sound like you are on your way to a full recovery
Oh wow, I haven’t heard about the ice versus heat debate. I was always taught to apply ice for the first 48-72 hours to keep the blood flow away to reduce swelling and then apply heat at 48-72 hours to increase blood flow to promote healing. I attended a first aid class with the American Heart Association on Wednesday and they are still recommending ice right after the injury. Things change so quickly that you never know what they’ll be recommending in two years at the next recert class.
Glad to hear you’re healing up so well! I’ve never actually used CBD cream, but I know some people have good results with it. It’s probably the combination of everything you’re doing that’s promoting your quick healing. Glad you can walk and cycle… the running will be there eventually!
Thanks, Jenny!
Great to hear the calf is feeling so much better! I’m gonna hit-up that site and check out the cream. It might be a good product to add to my arsenal. Thanks for the weekly fitness fun!
Thanks, Kim! And yes, I always enjoy our workouts!
You know I’m a fan of CBD salve–but the brand I used to love went out of business. Very strange. I’m using another brand, NuuMe CBD which works well but not as well as the other. It makes me wonder if there was a secret ingredient (like THC, lol) in the other brand. Anyways, glad to hear your calf is calming down nicely. I swear, we aging runners are so fragile!!! So much maintenance required, lol
LOL on the possible THC secret ingredient! After emailing with you and learning that your preferred brand had been discontinued, I chose Charlotte’s Webb because two other friends recommended it. And yes, the older we runners get, the higher maintenance we become. 😉
I think it’s amazing how quickly you seem to be healing — that’s great!
I really enjoyed our walk at the lake and as usual wished I’d had more time. It wasn’t really taxing either but it wasn’t completely flat.
How nice to be with Pablo & his humans again!
Thanks, Judy! I learned this evening that I’m still not ready to run when we were crossing the street and I had to hurry up to get across before the sign turned to don’t walk. When I took a few quick quasi-running steps I felt pain in my calf.
It’s great that you take the time to stop and enjoy a walk when traveling to and from visiting your mom. We tend to barrel on through and as a result have never stopped to visit Natural Bridge State Park.
Very interesting that CBD worked so well for you! I just tried some Voltaren for my piriformis pain, but I’m not sure it is really a body part that has been shown to be helped by it. (I mean, how does the medicine get all the way through my big bump of skin…). I’ve never used it for any other body parts, but it works for my husband. I would like to try some CBD and see if it might work for me!
Lisa @ TechChick Adventures recently posted…Weekly workouts – Race day??
Yes, it really seemed to speed things along, but I was also very good about icing and resting it early on. I also think the compression sleeve helped a lot. Other than CBD creme being somewhat expensive, I don’t think it would hurt to give it a try, especially if you already have some from when your husband used it.
Sweet Pablooooo!
I’m glad your leg is feeling better. Calf injuries are tough (and annoying).
Love that you and Kim have your streak going strong! I ran and hiked this week. Next week i will add n strength again.
Jenn recently posted…ready for a low-key spring break
Pablo was sooo happy to see us!
Yes, try to get your strength training back into your routine. You’ll feel so much better!
I’m so glad your calf is feeling better. Was it OK after the hilly walk?
I haven’t tried CBD cream, but I gave some to my Mom to try.
Love your weekly “meet-ups” with Kim
Yes, I was pleasantly surprised that the hills didn’t bother my calf – of course I took the uphills nice and slow.
Such a cute photo of Pablo 🙂
So glad that your calf is feeling better! I’ve tried CBD cream a few times but it didn’t make much of a difference in my soreness level, especially on my legs.
Thanks, Kim!