Torn Hamstring...whose had one? Come on in!

Hey all,

Did a search, only found threads on pulled hamstrings....none for torn. So i tore my hamstring last night playing softball.....doc says im out of commission for about 5-6 weeks......cant do anything strenous for the next...for those of you who've torn their hammy, what did you do? any light weights for upper body? how did you eat? sh*t hurts like a b*tch!!!!! every time i get up or sit down....walk.....driving....


should i be on maintenance calories? extra protein? should I ask this in the nutrition forum?

Thanks!

no one?

so i guess no ones ever hurt their hamstrings.....damn you guys are resilient

[QUOTE=rainieravesouth;56553741]so i guess no ones ever hurt their hamstrings.....damn you guys are resilient[/QUOTE]
I haven't torn mine, but I have damn sure pulled it. Use warm/cold therapy for it and eat all you can (clean food). You body needs the blocks to rebuild itself, so supply it with what it needs!

Anything beyond that, listen to what your doctor told you to do or not to do. I don't see why you can't do a little light upper body work, but remember, your body only has some much healing capacity. Don't overdo it.

i tore my hamstring about 2 years ago during football...after pulling it multipule times thruout the summer. put me outta action from august 05- january 06....and that was with PT 3 times a week. couldnt really do any lower body workout except for what i did in physical therapy that whole time. did give me a chance to focus on my upper body more tho. but yeah, ive had problems with it ever since then...this past season i pulled it again, played through it though...and now..today, doing lunges, i pulled my other hamstring, which had never given me any problems since now. i gotta say it is the most painful type of injury i have ever experienced... but dude all i can say is keep eating as much clean food as you can, so you can heal and not lose much leg size or strength, and dont rush back into it even after the pain is gone, it may not be healed yet. good luck, i know all too well how bad hammy injuries suck!

I severely tore both of em at the same time during 2-a-days (almost needed surgery). Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation were the staples of my rehab. The compression allowed me to walk w/o much pain. Ultrasound was also a big help. Most of my rehab was spent on a bike which sucked. Once they are torn, they are always tight and u risk chronic injuries. Ive started doing yoga and it helps a lot. Look into iyengar yoga.

good luck

I haven't torn it right off the bone, but I've had a grade II tear. It still bugs me all the time. Like everyone else said. Rest Ice Compression Elevation. Compression helped A LOT. But the thing I found helped me out the best was getting ART(Active Release) otherwise you'll have a lot of scar tissue in there and it will pull again. Also i suggest when you are able to again to only do unilateral Hamstring exercises and stretch like a mother.

[QUOTE=rainieravesouth;56379471]Hey all,

Did a search, only found threads on pulled hamstrings....none for torn. So i tore my hamstring last night playing softball.....doc says im out of commission for about 5-6 weeks......cant do anything strenous for the next...for those of you who've torn their hammy, what did you do? any light weights for upper body? how did you eat? sh*t hurts like a b*tch!!!!! every time i get up or sit down....walk.....driving....


should i be on maintenance calories? extra protein? should I ask this in the nutrition forum?

Thanks![/QUOTE]
I assume you have a grade II tear as a grade III is torn right off and you have to have surgery.

If that is the case I am right there with you about 5 years ago I did the same thing. My whole damn leg was black and blue. The thing about hamstring injuries is you have to be careful to not go back at it too hard too fast. After a few weeks it will often feel much better and you will be tempted to workout before it is really fully healed. Resist.

I maxed out on squats weeks after my grade II and obviously hurt it again.

Just relax it, ice it, and do some LIGHT to MODERATE stretching after some time guys by. Do not stretch it hard until you are about fully healed.

as vdwesthuizen reccomended...active release therapy works wonders. ive recently been getting it done once a week on my original hamstring injury. its great for getting rid of old scar tissue and getting fresh blood back into the muscle. when its healed a little and swelling is gone, deffinately look into ART.

Hey, i tore my Hamstring on Friday night at Soccer training. Was just sprinting in a straight line and it popped. No idea why :(

Its grade II, and that nights 'sleep' was the worst i have ever had. Today is Wednesday and im still getting alot of sharp pain when i walk at certain stages. Could not walk at all on the Fri/Sat and since then i used a walking stick and today and yesterday done a bit further.

Had Pysio treatment with Ultrasound, massage and some machine that pulses my muscle and makes it feel tingly. Going again tommorow.

so when i went to the doctors the night i tore my hamstring she said it would take about 4-6 weeks to heal and that it would be swollen and all bruised up (throughout the back of my leg). well it was a little swollen but it did not bruise up at all. and everyone who i talked to about it said when they tore their hamstring, it bruised up badly. I am starting to think that i didnt tear my hamstring. maybe just pulled it really bad. i mean i did hear the pop that you are supposed to hear when you tear it. i dont know. its about 2 weeks now and I can walk without the crutches but when i try to walk fast, take long strides, jog, run, or climb up stairs it starts to tighten up and i have to ease up. its has only been two weeks though........

From what i have read it depends what type of hamstring tear it is. Mostly grade III(the bad ones) bruise up, or if you have torn it and had a big impact it may bruise.

Mine is grade 2 and i got no bruise at all, just some swelling, but i iced it early so my swelling was minimised. Mine tore when i was moving my leg up, not on an impact with the ground or anything, so there was nothing to really to cause a bruise i guess.

mines been 7 days today, still sore walking, especially on uneven ground or if try and walk fast i get really sharp pains.
Physio has started getting me to do some stretches, and ill see her again next week and she may start getting me to do some strength exercises.

today starts day 3 on my newest hamstring pull...some swelling..no bruising. ive been icing it 20 min. on/ 20 min. off, since monday night when it happened. Also have been using a compression sleeve i had for my other hamstring pulls. The only real pain i feel now is when i push on the spot with my fingers. The icing and compression for 2 days has really helped alot i believe. Tomorrow i think ill start using heat. This needs to get better soon!! I leave for training camp at my college August 11.

Ive been able to start jogging this week yay :)
So unfit, and after jogging and doing Hamstring curls the next day they hurt, but it was more sore from finally doing anything then the injury itself.

yeah i actually just started jogging yesterday as well. it hurt soooo goood!!!

im a little scared to start sprinting though.......baby steps i guess

Two weeks and three days ago I pulled/tore my left hamstring. It was a grade 2 tear - some bruising, a little discomfort, was able to walk normally after 3-4 days. It seems to be recovering quickly. Here's my question:

When I flex my right hamstring, it's hard as a rock. However, when I flex my left, it's still partially soft, especially near the area where the soreness used to be. Is this normal? When I flex it, there's no pain, tightness, or abnormal sensation. If I massage my hamstring, I don't feel any soreness, lumpiness or rips in the muscle. It's as if that part of my hamstring is pissed off that I hurt it, and it's not taking orders from my brain until it's fully healed.

Any feedback or insight would be much appreciated.

[QUOTE=Iron1337;64485923]

When I flex my right hamstring, it's hard as a rock. However, when I flex my left, it's still partially soft, especially near the area where the soreness used to be. Is this normal? When I flex it, there's no pain, tightness, or abnormal sensation. [/QUOTE]

The physio noticed the same in my hamstring. He kept testing my hamstrings because my right one was quite strong and defined and my left(2 weeks after the tear) was way smaller and really weak. When we started doing strength work, i was unable to complete a second set of 1kg hamstring curls with the weight around my ankle, i had to drop to 0.5kg

So when you are able to start doing strength work on your hamstrings you will notice your left one is incredibly weak, and much smaller, this probally explains why it is so soft.

Went to the ER today, just to be safe. They confirmed that I have a complete rupture in my hammy. I won't likely need surgery, but I have to go see an orthopedic specialist. Recovery time will be several months. The good news is that I have absolutely no pain, and I'll be able to live a normal life for the next few months. The bad news is that I won't be able to lift any heavy weights for quite some time. Atrophy... here I come! Woot!

- Iron

So for those that had Type II what kind of cardio did you do to keep from getting fat?

Done it again :(

First Soccer training of the season and mine went again. I never managed to get back to soccer after last time i did it as i was out all season.

This time is not bad, it was a pull/strain not a full tear like last time. Im really cut that it happened 40 minutes into my first training...

I really need to work hard to get it better!

Well , I tore it yesterday doing leg curls. I was on the last rep of the last set when I felt the pop. I have tight hams anyway and I usually don't go too far past 45 degrees on the way down but this time I tried to push it. Never again. Luckily there were only about 5 people in the gym so I was able to crawl over to the wall, prop myself up and proceeded to pass out from the pain for about a minute without being noticed. After that I was able to stand up and walk out of the gym with minimal pain. I noticed the bruise behind my knee this morning so I'm going to the doctor tomorrow. Already started the R.I.C.E. If my doctor says anything not covered in this forum, I'll be sure to post it.

[QUOTE=rainieravesouth;56379471]Hey all,

Did a search, only found threads on pulled hamstrings....none for torn. So i tore my hamstring last night playing softball.....doc says im out of commission for about 5-6 weeks......cant do anything strenous for the next...for those of you who've torn their hammy, what did you do? any light weights for upper body? how did you eat? sh*t hurts like a b*tch!!!!! every time i get up or sit down....walk.....driving....


should i be on maintenance calories? extra protein? should I ask this in the nutrition forum?

Thanks![/QUOTE]

Hey, I pulled mine (actually I think I tore mine because of bruising) playing tennis. NASTY. I ended up going to get physical therapy for it and the guy said absolutely no active tennis for 6 to 8 weeks after my injury. He gave me exercises to strenghten my hamstrings such as lunges, adductor machine, leg press (both angles)...do whatever weight you can do. I was already pretty much doing most of the exercises, but not all of them. It is the first time I have injured my hamstring. I am being patient because I went back too early the first time AND PULLED IT AGAIN. I am waiting a full 8 weeks. He said that unless and until I can feel no difference between my injured hammy and my healthy hammy, it isnt ready. Good luck dude!

I pulled/tore my hammy 6 days ago also playing softball. Pulled it 10 days prior to that, and thought it was completely healed. I could sprint without pain, but just as I barely reached third base after hitting a triple, I heard a pop, and couldn't run for the rest of the game. Was walking with a bit of a limp, but didn't think it was too bad. Now 6 days later, it feels pretty good, can feel it a bit when I stretch it, but bruising has shown up sometime in the last few days, which combined with hearing the pop, really isn't a good sign. I'm going to play tomorrow, but not going to take it past a jog for the next couple weeks. Gonna take a few weeks off of lifting legs too.

[QUOTE=inthewind;302374141]Well , I tore it yesterday doing leg curls. I was on the last rep of the last set when I felt the pop. [b]I have tight hams anyway and I usually don't go too far past 45 degrees on the way down but this time I tried to push it.[/b] Never again. Luckily there were only about 5 people in the gym so I was able to crawl over to the wall, prop myself up and proceeded to pass out from the pain for about a minute without being noticed. After that I was able to stand up and walk out of the gym with minimal pain. I noticed the bruise behind my knee this morning so I'm going to the doctor tomorrow. Already started the R.I.C.E. If my doctor says anything not covered in this forum, I'll be sure to post it.[/QUOTE]

[b]I realize that this post was made in 2009... but it made me cringe, lol. [/b]

- I hope this person recovered from the injury and was able to learn from his mistakes.

- His mistake was not pushing it, I think his mistake was doing partial reps on leg curls.

- He strengthen his hamstrings only within that particular range of motion, and ignored his tight hamstrings. The hamstring couldn't handle being stretched against the weight once he went passed that limited ROM. I think he should have tried and improve the flexibility of his hamstrings and lower the weights/ego so he could work the hams with full ROM... and then increase the weights over time. [b]Although I wouldn't be trying to break records or go to failure on leg curls... but I guess some people do, and hopefully they are conditioned if something happens. [/b]

Just my 2 cents.

I was a dunce and torn mine twice but I figured out what I was doing wrong

I completely ruptured my right hamstring. I required emergency surgery and have remained in a body non bending at waist brace for 3 months..I remain in the brace for another 2 weeks . anyone with a similar issue..it's been unbelievable

Well, I'm quite late to this thread, but was researching online and found this thread. I am 2 years post-op for hamstring reattachment. If anyone's interested there is a group on FB called Proximal Hamstring Injury and Surgery dedicated to discussing this particular injury. We're a unique bunch, and this injury is no joke. Good luck all