Hang in there, Laurie! I am assuming you've seen a doc for this? A couple of years ago I hurt my hamstring really bad. Don't think I tore it, but I can feel your pain (no pun intended) when you say even sitting hurts. I felt like my butt bone was digging a hole in it. It sucked. Vent away! We all do it now and then.

Hey Laurie, I'll vent with you for awhile! I'm dealing with sciatica. Probably a pretty bad case made worse by trans-continental plane trips. So, I'm off running for awhile. Was supposed to start PT last week but the preferred therapist was out of town this week, so I start Monday. The worst thing, IMO, is that this is not a running injury, per se, but it keeps me from running. It's from bony spurs in my lumbar vertebrae (very impressive x-rays!), and the tendency is genetic (my mom suffers from it, and she definitely does not run). Treatment will be management... a long road ahead. But I hope to recover enough function to be able to run again, mostly pain free. That'll be nice. Just don't know when that'll happen.

I have been posting this to the newbies for months now. But its starting to get to me. No real running since early Dec due to torn hamstring. It heals and then reinjures. Its been a roller coaster ride of recovery. Right now I am in constant pain. Cant sit for more than a few minutes. Cant stretch. Cant run. I nearly cry when I see runners on my street and think how lucky they are to be running.

Have you seen a sports doctor? That may be a silly question, but if you keep reinjuring the hamstring that tells me that you have not found the root cause. You need to find the root cause, which may not be your hamstring. Don't listen to anyone saying that you are not cut out for running because that is BS. If you are not getting help then go somewhere else for help. In the meantime keep cross training to keep fit. I understand your frustration. I am miserable when I can't run. But don't give up. Keep trying to find the root cause of your problem. If you are persistent I am sure you will get to the bottom of it. Good luck!

I have little of value to offer, just some {{{hugs}}}. I know how miserable and frustrating it is not to be able to run. I'm glad that you have swimming, at least, which is a great exercise. As for the hamstring problem, it seems people are always being told that to keep from re-injury, you need to do strengthening exercises, so the PT might be able to give you some longterm relief, if you are faithful about keeping up those exercises, even when you think you don't need them anymore.

I stretch like crazy so I know it must be something else.

Before, or after? Sometimes aggressive stretching can be doing more harm than good.

Sheesh Laurie, I am so sorry about all this. I remember well our chat at the Jolly Jaunt race in December and how we were both dealing with injury pain. I so want you to get going again without pain and then I can see you around and running again---even at the reservoir. The advice here is good and you should cry, scream, rant as much as you need to here. I like what Tet says about listening to your heart. It's not about the clock but about doing what you love and you are certainly suited for that! Hugs to you and here's hoping I see you soon. Karin http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=4220 You may have seen the article above already, but just in case and it might be useful? Hang in there!

Good link, Karin. That's what I was thinking my problem was at first, but my doctor said no. As the article says "x-rays of the hip and spine will be unremarkable" and mine were very remarkable! In fact, he remarked on the lumbar x-rays so much I was surprised I could walk at all! Jay, acupuncture, hm? I might resort to that. We'll see how regular PT helps. Wish I could've started that this week but the specialist doc sent me to was out of town this week. So... I go Monday. Amy, my doctor said to back off the running until the nerve inflammation/irritation settles down. The impact of running is apparently very irritating to it. So, any non-impact stuff is ok: elliptical, pool running, bike (but the seat hurts after awhile), even walking (but sometimes that hurts, too) is ok. He didn't say "no running for X weeks" which is good because I always ignore that anyway. In fact, I have been run/walking the last couple of days, and have a 5k tomorrow that I'm walk/jogging with DH. Leslie, yes I cross train like crazy. Getting ready to go on the elliptical (which is fine as long as resistance isn't too high) at lunch. I'll pool run tonight before the boys' soccer game. I do have to be careful about other stuff. Now that I'm not running, I find I have all this time to work in the house and yard. Last night I think I over did it with the bending/stooping stuff on the yard work as I'm a little sore this morning... Hang in there, Laurie! But I agree... if you haven't had a sports med doctor check you out you could be suffering needlessly. I didn't mess around with anyone else. I have a sports med doc who knows what to look for and gets right to the point and treats me like an athlete and not a middle-aged hypochondriac female jogger.