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gradstudentclimber
May 6, 2004, 5:45 PM
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I have a weird calf bruise from heel hooking over a roof that just got worse this morning with a new bruise appearing. If anyone can help me diagnose it and save an expensive trip to the doctor for a one-minute poke-and-prog(nosis), I'd appreciate it.
Two weeks ago I had some time to kill and stopped by the Galyan's store in Omaha, Nebraska to climb their wall. It has a pretty big overhanging roof, so with hands on jugs underneath the roof I hooked my right heel (using the handy-dandy Mad Rock Flash molded hooking heel) above the roof and cranked up to the next hold. I completed the move just fine, felt no pain, and lowered. Upon reaching terra firma, the pain began. Not too bad at this point, but later touching the area hurt pretty bad. Laid off climbing for a week.
Then on Saturday of last week (four days ago) noticed a really juicy bruise four inches in length and two in breadth about six inches above the ankle. Didn't tell my wife about it because then my trip that day to Blue Mounds would have been in serious question. :-) Performed fine at the crag, with only pain occurring when walking or scrambling uphill.
Now, this morning, another bruise mysteriously appears on the left side of my right calf. Five inches long and one inch in breadth.
Do I have something torn and bleeding in there? What should I do about it?
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petsfed
May 6, 2004, 6:14 PM
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It is my expert opinion that you...
Have been abducted by aliens!
In all seriousness, a bruise on your calve, without any pain at the time you thought it started, is indicative of something far worse than a botched heel hook. Consult a licensed physician at your soonest convenience.
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cloudbreak
May 6, 2004, 6:18 PM
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So what your saying is you bruised a weird, young cow while you were hell hooking?!?
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gradstudentclimber
May 6, 2004, 6:23 PM
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In reply to: So what your saying is you bruised a weird, young cow while you were hell hooking?!? |
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moeman
May 6, 2004, 6:45 PM
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In reply to: In all seriousness, a bruise on your calve, without any pain at the time you thought it started, is indicative of something far worse than a botched heel hook. Consult a licensed physician at your soonest convenience.
I agree. It could be something a lot worse than a bruise, so why risk it? You probably just pulled something nastily, but who knows? What if it were a blood clot? If it still hurts in a couple days, definately see a doctor.
But since you are a grad student, couldn't you just go to some on-campus health center (Student Health) for a free and convienient poke & prog?
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gradstudentclimber
May 6, 2004, 6:57 PM
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In reply to: But since you are a grad student, couldn't you just go to some on-campus health center (Student Health) for a free and convienient poke & prog?
Good point, and timely, too, as tomorrow's the last day of the semester. Even though here at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln they call it the "University Death Center," I'll give it a shot. They did a great job picking the gravel out of my palms following my uneven application of pressure on the old bicycle brake levers during my undergrad years ... stupid van driver, who does he think he is backing out of a parking spot in front of me?
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kinslerar
May 6, 2004, 7:02 PM
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It sounds like your bruise is just healing and the blood that collected at the contusion is being broken down and draining down your leg. If it isn't causing you pain when you contract and stretch your calf muscle I wouldn't worry about it too much.
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gradstudentclimber
May 6, 2004, 7:07 PM
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In reply to: It sounds like your bruise is just healing and the blood that collected at the contusion is being broken down and draining down your leg. If it isn't causing you pain when you contract and stretch your calf muscle I wouldn't worry about it too much. |
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davidji
May 6, 2004, 7:43 PM
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In reply to: That's exactly what I'm saying! I was describing a new cow-tipping technique we've developed here in Nebraska |
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luke
May 7, 2004, 1:56 AM
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ok, so it is unrelated, but years ago a friend of mine came to class one day with a hickey. we teased him a bit, and his girlfriend a bit more, especially when the next day it was bigger. two days later it was about half the size of a dinner plate and we checked him into the hospital with a platelet count of about 3% of what it should be. Turned out he had some weird thing go wrong that messed with the platelets - if he had got a serious injury at that time he might have bled to death because the blood wouldnt clot.
Oh, and I'd get the bruise checked out. Sounds like you did injure something in there, and although there is likely nothing they can do, you'll feel better just knowing.
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jason1
May 7, 2004, 6:53 AM
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have you been taking Ibprofin? If so knock it off... you're probablly taking to much. large abnormal bruising can definatly be caused by ibprofin, and other non-steroidals.
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gradstudentclimber
May 7, 2004, 7:50 AM
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In reply to: have you been taking Ibprofin? If so knock it off... you're probablly taking to much. large abnormal bruising can definatly be caused by ibprofin, and other non-steroidals.
Many thanks to everyone who wrote to share their advice on calf health and cow tipping. :D
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gradstudentclimber
May 8, 2004, 2:32 AM
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It wasn't a blood clot! I'm fine.
The doc said the older bruise must have been a blunt trauma from the original heel hook, and the new bruise was from a vein that was slightly damaged by the heel hook, and got more damaged and eventually popped as I weighted it walking, riding and climbing.
I got in and out of the health center in 30 minutes without an appointment, and my student fees cover it. Quite the deal!
Thanks to everyone for sharing advice.
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