Hamstring Injury?

[grinningghost]

The back of my leg really hurts when I bend my knee. It mainly hurts right behind my knee and on the outer part of my leg. My chiropractor says it's a hamstring injury.

Anyone have experience with this? Nothing (including the muscle relaxers my neuro prescribed) is really helping. I'll take suggestions.

 

[Simba's Mom]

DS #1 had a hamstring injury his sophomore year of high school. Unfortunately, he was told that only time, alot of time, would heal it. He did have some kind of electrical therapy (I'm not sure exactly what) from the trainer at school, about 3 times a week. It was a couple months before he could run normally for any length of time. Even then, for years afterwards, he would have to really stretch extra-well before doing any physical activity. What's a little funny is that now, 10 years later, if a storm is coming, his hamstring hurts. And he's only 27.

 

[grinningghost]

Thanks so much. I have a feeling time is going to be my only hope too - and I'm almost 43! I imagine I'll be able to predict the weather better than any meterologist out there.

All I can say is - this is not fun.

 

[Golf4food]

If the pain is behind the knee, not up more on the thigh, then I wouldn't think it a hamstring injury, per se. Been there and the pain was more in the muscle behind the thigh (the hamstring...) if it is the muscle (like a pull or strain). If the pain is more in behind the knee itself it could be a ligament instead. Either way, unless it is a very severe injury which would require surgery, the only answer is time. It just has to heal itself and the best you can do is not overwork that area while it heals. Light normal walking is fine, avoid stairs if possible, and rest when you don't have to stand up or walk. It should feel normal in a week or two if it is minor. If not, go see someone besides the chiropractor (like an ortho).

 

[GraysMom]

DH had knee pain (he bikes and runs now, but has bad knees from being a catcher in HS) a couple of months ago and it turned out to be a muscle pull further up in his leg. I had knee pain (I'm just plain out of shape ) around the same time as DH. We both tried Advil, Tylenol, Aleve, glucosamine, etc. to no avail. Ice/heat did nothing.

DH found lots of people on his bike boards who recommended "The Stick". It's basically a wooden dowel with plastic rings around it and handles on the ends. You rub the muscles in your leg before and after a workout, plus whenever else you feel soreness/tightness to help massage the muscles that are sore (at his most painful he was massaging 4x a day usually). We were both shocked at how well (and quickly) it made our knees/legs feel better. Now DH uses it as part of his warm up and cool down routine.

I found ours at a local running store for about $40. You do need to use quite a bit of pressure to help relieve the soreness (and it does hurt some while being rolled unfortunately) but I am able to do most of it myself (DH had to do one intense session on the back of my thighs to really work the muscles loose, and he also does my shoulders and neck). You can use it all over your body, not just your legs.

Here's a link http://www.amazon.com/The-Stick-Original-Body/dp/B000P7RSL2/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1202527884&sr=8-1 .