Muscle tear during running

Question
QUESTION: Hello: I am 64,and have been gradually getting back into running.I ran 15 miles a week for ten years,but stopped 15 years ago.Two weeks ago,I found my left calf muscle just above the Achilles was very sore and painful after a run,and I have had pain ever since.I just got home from the doctor's office,and he delivered a bombshell when he examined my calf.He said I had a stepped tear (or it felt like that to him) in the calf muscle,and I would likely not be able to run again.He said there was a window of 2-3 days which I had missed where I could have been treated.I find this devastating news,as I was making real progress in my running.I asked if physiotherapy would help,and he said yes,it was worth trying,so he gave me a referral.Do you think he is right,and I will have to give up running? Thanks!

ANSWER: Michael, That's really too bad. I would imagine that physiotherapy would be able to help you. I am not familiar with the term "stepped tear".  I've asked other experts and they aren't either. Would you please get a more detailed description from your medical doctor? This will allow me to answer your question more completely.

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Physio referral   QUESTION: Sorry,I was going to ask him to give me a copy of his diagnosis for my personal health file,but I guess I was still in shock.I recall him calling it a stepped tear,I believe.I am attaching what he scrawled on the physiotherapy referral,if that helps.Thanks!

Answer
Thank you for the attachment.  I'm not sure what he means by a "stepped tear", but from your description it sounds like a second degree tear.  I definitely recommend you see a physiotherapist and not just one. I recommend seeing at least 3 physiotherapists if you aren't happy with the prognosis they give you.  Physiotherapists all have different backgrounds.  Depending on where and when they went to school and what they've done since to stay current on the scientific literature will play a major factor in their ability to help you. I would be very surprised if you're not able to run again.  You will have to build back up slowly. In the mean time try to swim or bike to keep up the cardiovascular endurance that you've attained.  Please follow-up again with any more quesdtions and when you are getting closer to running so that I could help guide you or give you feedback on how the physiotherapist tells you to start running again.