Hamstring injury (Read 921 times)

I injured my hamstring back in April and am just now getting back to where I can run pain-free. From what I understand, hamstrings are notoriously slow to heal. My sports doc had me stop biking for awhile and walking instead of running because aggravating the injury was keeping it from healing. Hang in there! It might take awhile but it'll get better. Teresa

Thanks so much for your responses. Sounds like the "slow to heal" is pretty normal. I haven't been to see a physical therapist yet. $$$ plays a factor in that. I am also reluctant to back down any more as I just lost 30 pounds and have 30 more to go. I worry that I could start to gain if I stop all together. Have either of you had any success in applying cold or heat? Perhaps I'll go onto swimming laps for the next week or so and see what that will do. Shells

I second the advice about taking some time off. If I'd just taken it easy for a week or so when I first got hurt, I'd be typing in my race report on my first marathon by now. I just kept trying to push through it because I was afraid to lose the conditioning I had. After all it didn't hurt *that* bad. ::sigh:: If it hurts at all, don't do it. If you are feeling pain then that means you are aggravating the injury. By continuing to run on it, I went from a slightly painful slight hamstring pull to an excruciatingly painful, fall-down-on-the-track clutching my hamstring and sitting on the sidelines for months kind of injury. (Oh yeah, did I mention that I've gained about 10 pounds back as well? Grrr!) Better to err on the side of caution, imo. Teresa

jeff some great reads there. Thanks. I have taken it easy for a couple of days but come off meds for it. It really reacts bad when I go up stairs or put a lot of weight on it and is still very sore. I can see how a bit of light stretching would help but nothing big and definately agree on the cold stretching. I had made that observation and noted it to our trainer. I'll give it some more time despite missing running. Shells

You may want to back off of the strength training or running if it causes you any pain whatsoever. I've also been battling it for the last month and I've been told that resting it is the only way to heal it. I'm swimming, biking (within reason) and walking. No strength (especially no lunges), no running until it's pain free. Have you been to a Physical Therapist yet?

You took the words right out of my mouth. I'd run maybe once per week on an injury like that and do cross trainng to take up the slack. Swimming is a really great all-body workout. Particularly if you don't mix a little weight training into your running routine, swimming is great for your posture and running form.