Hamstring Strain after Knee Recovery

[JohnM]

As background, I tore my ACL and 30% cartilage in my right knee about 2 years ago, had the cartilage cleared up Nov 2010 and my ACL reconstructed in March 2012 using hamstring graft.

 

After giving it ten months recovery time I played football on Tuesday and after taking a shot with my right foot I felt a pull at the top of my hamstring and a pain pinged in. I kept on playing and switched to using my left foot for main use, light running was fine only felt it pull if I would try anything requiring any power such as the start of a sprint or tying to extend my leg too quickly and far.

 

There was no swelling afterwards or bruising, just felt a tight and the hamstring was tender when pressed. Still felt a bit stiff and sore in days after and every now and then I'm still getting a quick pain if I step off to walk too quickly or anything requiring hamstring control.

 

Had it checked today at a quick walk in centre and the guy seemed to think it was nothing and said if I had pulled it I wouldn't be able to walk and to just rest it for a week and then stretch it out well before I next play.

 

Can't help but think I should maybe give it a couple of weeks rest just in case, but has anyone else ever had one of these minor strain pulls in their hamstring. Feels like it could become more serious if not managed properly, feels wrong to be able to feel it pull from just walking rapidly, as I'm halting it's healing each time that occurs?

[tman666]

I advise taking a little bit (at least a week) to stay away from football and any other high impact activities.

 

As someone who has dealt with injuries in the past, I can tell you that mobility work should be emphasized. Blood flow to the injured area is a good thing, but make sure that load bearing activities or activities that involve sudden contractions are avoided.

 

Slowly ease back into your normal activities as you feel better.

[PogoStick]

Prob a grade 1 muscle "pull" which is a minor tear. You're the only one who can gauge you're capabilities.

 

You should exercise as your discomfort allows. Nothing explosive, do gentler stuff like walking, swimming, cycling, light weight lifting or body weight exercise. Do not stretch before exercise, but gentle stretching after, or during rest days would be good.

[JohnM]

From everything I have read online, although alot of it duplicated from elsewhere I think it's either a strain or a very low grade pull.

 

I've done as little walking as I can in the last two days, in order to keep it isolated so to speak and it's felt a bit better. Its been the case before that that once or twice a day if I try step into a quicker walk that I'll feel a sharp pain pull at the top of my hamstring which then means I have to have a slightly stilted slow walk in order to avoid more of these twinges.

 

Leg feels pretty tired after each sleep so I presume its healing and is tired, wasn't too sure what path to take in terms of stretching whether to leave it or to stretch every other day? Only thing I'm worrying about is that not stretching will mean it will heal too tight?

 

Thanks for your responses.

[Dr-Refaat]

Sorry to hear about your injury and I hope you get better soon.

 

 

Hamstring is a group of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh. They allow you to bend your leg at the knee.

 

During a hamstring strain, one or more of these muscles gets stretched too far. The muscles might even start to tear. You're likely to get a hamstring strain during exercise that involves a lot of running and jumping or sudden stopping and starting.

 

Our orthopedic team use a new strategy in treatment of Hamstring strain which is "Stem cell therapy"

 

Stem cell therapy depends on regenerative medicine to replace the damaged organ with a new one.

 

Treatment plans tailored individually, getting you back to normal walk, run , sprint and anything requiring hamstring control.

 

For more information contact us at

 

 

Stem Md

[Star Gazer]

I am *still* having issues from a hamstring strain in NOVEMBER from a too-fast 20 mile training run because I didn't REST adequately to let my body heal and recover.

 

I've found the hammy to be the trickiest injury I've ever had to deal with.

[Star Gazer]

Whops, sorry. Didn't realize how old this thread was!

[Object_a]

When you have a serious injury you might feel pain there for a long time even though there's nothing wrong with it, if that makes sense. I suffered a mild tear in my hamstring from fell-running when I was 16 and it's hurt ever since even though it's never stopped me running or even given me any serious injury-type problems. A physio once told me it's fairly common to get 'ghost' pain from old injuries even when there's nothing wrong there.

[JohnM]

Following up from the initial problem, I took two weeks rest. Had a light run and stretching in the second week and then played again. Soon as I had to perform a quick stretch out it went again.

 

I got referred to a physio and it's been about a month since then now. Physio believes it to be down to weakness of my hamstring. Hadn't built it up enough after losing strength after ACL operation. Hes given me exercises to do including stretches, nordic curls and gym ball work. It is feeling stronger, feel it will take a while to get it right but I think I have the right physio, he wants to get it stronger than my un-operated side so will work on my cardio with light runs and build it up until I can play football uninhibited!