Tear in Tendon in Hamstring/scar tissue issue

StephanieStorm started this discussion · 3/30/2010

Hi ya'll! So for the past 3 weeks Ive been having this pinching pain high up in the back of my inner thigh (hamstring right below the bone) and i 've had this before every now and then it acts up if i over stretch but always goes away (kind of like pinched nerve or something) ... I have been stretching daily as usual, gently, but still stretching my splits both ways, but its been over 3 weeks and im getting frustrated and decided to see a physiotherapist to get some sports massage therapy. I thought maybe its just scar tissue and someone could massage it out 🙂 So they told me (after a really hard time trying to pinpoint the pain through multiple stretch tests) that it COULD be a tear in the tendon connecting hamstring to bone. Gonna do some sports massage, and I have to take it REALLY easy with stretching..like no resistance stretching or anything 🙁 for at least 2 weeks. Im trying to train for a performance and for comps so im kind of upset, wondering if I should get second opinion. Has anyone ever had this kind of thing before? anyone have advice? THanks so much!! had to vent a little its always frustrating to be injured 😉 xx

6 replies

horsecrazy12987 · 3/30/2010
I'm sorry to hear that; I haven't had any type of injury like that before, but my advice would be to proceed very carefully and go easy. I know it's hard, especially when you were looking forward to competitions, but you really don't want to push this; you could end up making it worse in the long run and then it will take you even longer to heal, which obviously you don't want. If you feel like you need a second opinion, then I would go get one. That way you can be confident in your diagnosis and have as much knowledge on hand as you can to heal quickly and efficiently and get back to your training.
Fleur · 3/30/2010
It does sound like you strained the muscle or tendon 🙁 I had the same injury a long time ago. The bad news about muscle strains is that muscle tissue does not regenerate well and will lay down scar tissue in its place. Scar tissue is obviously less elastic and cannot contract so that area will never be the same again. It is helpful to get massage in the area in order to encourage the scar tissue to lay itself down in a more malleable way instead of forming a big bundle of tough, inelastic tissue. You want to give the muscle fibers time to repair themselves a little before you start stretching again but DO stretch gently after a couple of weeks, again we are trying to encourage the scar tissue to lay itself down in a way that it will still be workable. It's been years since my injury and my right hamstring (which used to be my more flexible side) is still not as flexible as my left but it is definitly workable.
MilienElayne · 3/31/2010
I partially ruptured a hamstring some months ago (about 50% torn). I crushed my hammy between bone and the floor dropping into the splits at high speed. I went, oh that felt funny, and got up and did some high kicks... Not clever. I couldn't sleep that night. When I lay on my tummy and tried to squeeze my butt and raise the leg to the roof, I physically couldn't. I knew something was not just 'pulled'... I continued to take pole classes and practice at home but saw a wonderful physiotherapist at the same time. She massaged and tested my strength and flexibility every appointment adn we talking about my classes and my physio 'homework'. She had me ice the injury for ten minutes at a time twice daily for the first week, and from day one she had me do strengthening and stretching exercises with it. Her advice was no deep stretching BEFORE classes. Very light stretching in warm-up, then do only what you can and carefully (no positions where your weight could drop suddenly) in the deep stretching in cool-down. You have to be controlled, but I wouldn't say 'gentle' like with a broken bone or something. Don't do the splits until you're told you're at the point where you can by your physio. That leg was my good leg, then while it was injured it was my bung leg, but now that hamstring is my flexiest and I attribute that to all the work I did with it - I was forced to work that hamstring multiple times a day to care for my injury. I wish I had done exactly the same with my other leg because it's having a hard time catching up. Perhaps make sure your professional is sports orientated and understands your training goals and needs? I did all my normal pole moves and was just mindful of my injury - no splits, controlling everything more...
StellaStiletto · 3/31/2010
I am an endurance athlete as well and I have been dealing with a hamstring strain for about a year. My strain took me out of my second half Ironman that I was training for last year. They can linger, and if you don't take care of it, it can wreck your world. With high hamstring strains, you are suceptible to avulsions (pulling the bone off) if you are not careful, and require surgery to fix it. Listen to your PT: take it easy and with massage, so some light stretching but I suggest stretching after you get pain under control... lots of PTs are different. For me personally: I forced myself to take time off and got my pain under control (about a week or so). Gradually I worked myself into walking and did LOTS of pool workouts before I dare got back on the bike or started running or dancing. I did stretching (surprise! stretching works!) and then after a few more weeks I did some LIGHT strength training consisting of dead lifts with light weight (gradually increasing weight) and bridging with my feet on an exercise ball. If you aren't used to the ball, start with your feet on the floor before you progress to an unstable surface. This type of injury takes time and patience, two things I do not have. To this day if I navigate away from stretch/strength, my hamstring reminds me of it. Do yourself a favor and treat it properly right away. Best wishes!
Veena · 3/31/2010
Oh my I'm sorry I missed this! I can see that everyone has given fab advice so I'll just say I hope you feel better soon. Ice and heat... Massage and stretch!! Find someone who can help you work with any scar tissue you might have developed. Sending you E flowers 🌸 🌸 🌸
StephanieStorm · 4/8/2010
Thank you so much guys for all your advice!!! I really appreciate it! I am trying to follow the physios advice...tho its hard not to stretch when your dancing almost everyday...just trying to stretch alittle bit throughout the day...and for my right hammy no splits for at least another week. i had a sports massage therapy treatment yesterday and it was AMAZING. he explained everything to me in terms of what may have happened and healing process. Felt like I had a brand new pair of legs!! ...but you are all right so i am really going to try hard and be good and not stretch too much!!! i can still feel some nagging pain today. hope it will get better soon cause i got a performance next friday!! i think the key is to stretch GRADUALLY and not force anything...(duh) Time to work on the left side now!!! its long overdue. Thank you xoxox 😀