Advice on "Calf Strain" for almost 3 months

[ALF350]

In early May, I tore my left calf muscle jogging uphill. I went to my GP a week later because it wasn't getting better and I was on crutches for about 2 weeks, which helped to heal the right calf. While on the crutches , my left leg was becoming quite sore and decided to stop using them when the pain from pounding on my left became really sever.

I went to the doctor for my follow-up on the right calf tear and told him about the pain in my left leg. He said it was strained from overuse and that it would go away when I started walking normally. I thought this made sense and tried to walk normally.

Here are the symptoms on the left calf: It get's really sore and inflamed without noticeable swelling a couple days a week. When It first started, it was hard to walk and I noticed it was really painful to push on the brake and push off of my toes while walking. The pain seemed to be where the tendons meet the calf muscle and down the right edge of the back of my leg.

I have been in physical therapy for 7 weeks. I keep thinking it's getting better but the inflammation keeps coming back. When it is inflamed, it cramps and I feel a burning aching sensation all over the back of my calf. Seems to be easily set off--in the last few months the furthest I walked is a quick stop to a small grocery store.  My walking has gotten better and I have a little more strength and no problem with pushing on the brake peddle, but I still get the inflammation. After the inflammation, it's sore for a day.

I have been to two orthopedic surgeons who ask me where the pain is and says it's calf strain. One said if I stop limping it will go away. The other gave me heel lifts and refereed me to a podiatrist. The podiatrist said that this is not normal and recommend more physical therapy and an MRI if I see no improvement in three months.

[ALF350]

I originally tore my left calf muscle in May and now it's my right calf that is bothering me.