yeah something bad clearly has happened. stay off it, ice it, and make sure you don't miss that appt

Here's some thoughts based on my similar experience last fall. I had a light injury to my right calf during a 50 mile trail run. A month later I took off fast in a 10k race and felt a pop as the calf tore twice as bad. After the race I was limping horribly, and saw a doctor the next day. He explained I had likely tore the plantaris muscle, which is a smaller, relatively unimportant muscle in your calf.

The first PT I worked with did some ice and ultrasound to speed healing, then sort of forgot about me. I started running again after being off 4-6 weeks except for some biking. But I kept tearing the same calf every week or so when I'd do something sudden, like step down from a ladder. I was told that scar tissue forms in the muschle then rips again when stressed.

Finally early in January I found another PT that specializes in athletes. By now my right leg was much weaker than the left, probably from overcompensating with my left leg, and my gait was messed up. The new PT got me going on a detailed routine of stretches and strength building exercises, both of which I had neglected most of my life previously. While I had been scared to use my calf since the injury, the more I worked it now the better it felt. My legs are actually feeling better now than ever before.

I would see a doctor, verify the degree and location of your injury, make sure you're confident with your PT's recommendations, and be disciplined about any exercises you're assigned. Depending on the level of your injury it may take weeks or months to heal but, though it sure doesn't seem like it now, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

TK5 get to a specialist. I had tightness in my calf muscle. It forced me to cut a couple of workouts short. I had two weeks until Austin Marathon so I was already tapering. Good thing I had already qualified for Boston because at Mile one in Austin something popped in my leg. I finished the Marathon by walking/running. I needed a finishing time to complete the Marathons of Texas challenge. I was able to see a specialist in Houston and was diagnosed with a ruptured medial head of the gastroc tendon. I am out 3-5 weeks with no running, anti-inflamatories and RICE. I wear an ace wrap everyday and have very little pain until I attempt to push off with my toes. Good luck to you.

tk5,,, I feel your pain.. Are you able to run? I'm just getting back from a torn meniscus and all I can say is take it nice and easy.. I ran a 1/2 marathon 6 weeks after surgery and wound up in worse shape... good luck and keep stretching....

TK5,
I'm not sure if your calf injury was as bad or not as bad as mine but to answer your questions I could walk without a limp after a few days but my injured calf felt different than the other one for a couple months; weaker and looser. I was able to run without re-injury after about 3 months, after I had started doing stretches and strength exercises. At 4 months now it's improved to where I don't notice a difference between sides. I'll be much more careful about warming up before my next race.