Miracle cure sought - hamstring

[Tony Cook]

40 years of rugby with no hamstring problems - tight five forwards don’t have hamstrings!!
Recent history - went on an active holiday for a week on my feet all day every day and walking up to 8 miles a day. Felt the old knee getting steadily puffier and uncomfortable. Got back and gave it a few days to rest the knee before getting back on the erg. Felt a tightness in that hamstring - some compensation for the knee?? Light warm up and did 2 x 30’ 20SPM at 2:00 pace. Next day is planned a UT1 session 2 x 18’ but when I pushed slightly in the warm up - still only 1:50ish pace had a dreadful burn right in the belly of the hamstring. Rest, ice, elevation and while I was aware of it was not restricting daily activities - completed all my chores at the weekend.
Just got back on the erg after a weeks rest, what with the holiday it’s now three weeks with only one proper session and I’m getting jittery! Nice easy 1k at DF 90 and 2:07 pace and 20SPM. Upped the DF to 110 - usually train at 120 - and pushed on with the warm up steadily upping the pace. After 700m and at 2:02 pace ‘twang’. Leg up with ice on it again.
Who’s got the miracle cure?

[Dutch]

Tony, from what you say and your sporting background your are defo a quick healer, an example being I had sciatica pretty badly I was put on tramadol and valium by the doc, many years ago I might add. But within 3 weeks it had gone and I was walking about normal, also doing light weights. Most people are in agony for months or even over a year. But the original injury had left my lower back weak as anything. It took my back 6 months before I could do much in the way of strain, even digging the garden was hell.
Same here with you, within 2 weeks you have shook it off and are up and about, but mate, twang is not what you want.
A reasonably bad hamstring injury is maybe 3 to 4 months from beginning to end with light training. Ice cold baths and a hot shower after can heal the process by maybe 3 to 4 weeks quicker, taken every other day research says, but consistency is the key here and also 3 days on 3 days off of Ibuprofen taken last thing at night. The first 3 nights will tell you if ibuprofen is going to work, if after the first night the any pain goes then you are a quick responder to the drug if not then it wont work.
Also an elasticated support bandage will help loads. Wear one to train in as well, the bandage type for about 1.99 from boots or where ever that you can cut to length.
Just light training is going to be fine but no pain anymore does not mean healed, it means fuctioning. I think you just have to accept that for now and push lightly not jumping in just yet.

[Tony Cook]

Tony, from what you say and your sporting background your are defo a quick healer, an example being I had sciatica pretty badly I was put on tramadol and valium by the doc, many years ago I might add. But within 3 weeks it had gone and I was walking about normal, also doing light weights. Most people are in agony for months or even over a year. But the original injury had left my lower back weak as anything. It took my back 6 months before I could do much in the way of strain, even digging the garden was hell.
Same here with you, within 2 weeks you have shook it off and are up and about, but mate, twang is not what you want.
A reasonably bad hamstring injury is maybe 3 to 4 months from beginning to end with light training. Ice cold baths and a hot shower after can heal the process by maybe 3 to 4 weeks quicker, taken every other day research says, but consistency is the key here and also 3 days on 3 days off of Ibuprofen taken last thing at night. The first 3 nights will tell you if ibuprofen is going to work, if after the first night the any pain goes then you are a quick responder to the drug if not then it wont work.
Also an elasticated support bandage will help loads. Wear one to train in as well, the bandage type for about 1.99 from boots or where ever that you can cut to length.
Just light training is going to be fine but no pain anymore does not mean healed, it means fuctioning. I think you just have to accept that for now and push lightly not jumping in just yet.

Thanks Dutch. Frustrated and impatient here. Had a good year of training hard and I can see my fitness and all that benefit leaving my body! Doing the ‘RICE’ I’ll give the ibuprofen a go. Usually ‘man up’ and face the pain but sensible head says reduced inflammation would help.

[HowardF]

Reccomend to buy a foam roller and use it after you have done warm up or just after the training.

For me, I can get hamstrings when I do mountain tracking, but not when doing running or rowing...Crazy.

[WayHand]

by HowardF » June 9th, 2021, 7:39 pm

Reccomend to buy a foam roller and use it after you have done warm up or just after the training.

Totally agree with using a foam roller. Second only to a sports massage!

[Parky]

If you're in a gym club, try a Power Plate, just sitting on it with your legs stretched out, body weight forward to keep the weight on the legs. No massage needed.

Try dropping a few years in your age as well. There's nowt for age.

[Cayenne]

Not an endorsement, (*yet") but sharing a resource I've learned of recently and that I am fascinated by. Search YouTube, Medium.com and the internet generally for, "Knees Over Toes Guy." Best to you!

[WayHand]

It's also worth having a read of 'Treat Your Own Knees by Jim Johnson' although the exercises are simple they helped me overcome some knee problems that could have been related to hamstrings.

[hobbit]

I have had a similar (?) problem in my shin muscle for ten years, which I now believe is old scar tissue. Having tried everything, I'm now using electrostimulation (Compex Fit 1 model - Swiss quality & price) and after a few weeks of 20 min per day, it seems to be working (fingers crossed). Might be worth giving it a shot.

[mromero680]

Haven't had hamstring problems but had sciatica that lingered for several months. The only thing that works for me in nagging injury cases is a chiropractor who uses ART (active reflex technique I think). That has worked every time whether it's back, shoulder, bicep tendonitis, etc. Not a frequent chiropractor visitor and I don't buy in to some of the more out there claims but ART has made me a believer.

[DaveDublin]

If you have access to a gym the Hip Thrust machine sorted out hamstring issues for me, you can setup a barbell with a bench also, I was getting strains trying to run during lockdown last year , doing the glute work made the hamstring issues become a thing of the past.