If you experience discomfort in the back of your legs, it could be indicative of a hamstring injury. Situated in the back of your thighs, your hamstring comprises a range of muscles that are prone to damage, particularly if you’re an athlete who participates in sports that require rapid sprints, such as basketball, soccer, or track and field.
Rest, ice, and OTC medications may be effective in treating minor hamstring injuries, yet it may take several months for severe cases to fully recover.
Continue reading to gain further insight into the factors that lead to hamstring injury, the methods for alleviating the discomfort, and the appropriate time to seek medical attention.
WHAT IS A HAMSTRING INJURY?
The back of your thigh houses a trio of muscles known as the hamstring, which play a role in bending your knee and rotating and straightening your leg. Overstretching or overloading the muscle fibers or tendons linking your hamstring to the bone may lead to a hamstring tear or pull.
Hamstring Pull vs. Tear
Injuries to the hamstring muscles occur when they are stretched beyond their capacity but not torn, and can be treated with self-rest and non-prescription painkillers.
The classification of hamstring injuries comprises three different grades:
- Grade 1: Minor hamstring injury, often called a strain or pulled hamstring
- Grade 2: Partial hamstring tear (only a portion of the muscle or tendon is torn)
- Grade 3: Complete hamstring tear (tendons that attach the hamstring muscles to the bone are torn away completely)]
HAMSTRING INJURY CAUSES
If you possess any of the following traits, you may be more prone to a hamstring tear, although it can happen to anyone.
- play sports that involve running or dancing;
- participate in recreational activities, like waterskiing or rock climbing;
- are a young athlete with bones and muscles that are still growing;
- have a muscle imbalance;
- overexert your body during sports or recreation;
- do not have enough strength or conditioning for certain activities; or
- do not stretch properly before exercise or sports.
HAMSTRING TEAR SYMPTOMS
Typically, those who suffer from a hamstring tear will experience:
- sudden, sharp pain in the back of their thigh,
- a popping sensation in their leg,
- tenderness around their muscle,
- swelling on the back of their leg a few hours after the injury,
- pain while sitting down,
- bruising within a few days, and
- weakness or instability in the injured leg.
What Does It Feel Like to Tear a Hamstring?
The symptoms experienced in a full hamstring tear are of a greater intensity. Patients often describe it as if they were shot in the upper leg or buttocks, or a sudden, sharp pain. Complete hamstring tears can result in an inability to bear any weight on the affected leg or extend it entirely.
Seeking prompt evaluation from an orthopedic specialist is vital to diagnose a possible hamstring tear. Procrastinating or enduring the discomfort may contribute to a more complex repair surgery.
HAMSTRING TEAR DIAGNOSIS
In order to determine the most intense or severe location of your pain and diagnose the type of tear as well as detect any ligament or tendon damage, we will examine your leg’s back for tenderness and swelling.
We might suggest performing imaging tests, such as X-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging, to check for any breaks or sprains affecting your bones, muscles, or tendons.
If your thigh displays bruising following a hamstring injury, it’s important that you get in touch with your doctor to arrange an MRI within one week of the injury or as soon as possible thereafter. The MRI will help your doctor establish whether surgery is necessary. It’s vital to diagnose the injury early, as surgery is most effective when conducted between two and three weeks post-injury.
PAIN RELIEF
The abbreviation RICE represents:
- Rest. Avoid doing activities that may aggravate your injury. This may mean totally resting or even using crutches or another mobility aid.
- Ice. Use a cold pack for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours throughout the day. You may even use something like frozen peas wrapped in a light towel. Don’t apply ice directly to skin.
- Compression. Consider bandaging your thigh with an elastic wrap to limit swelling and movement.
- Elevation. Try to keep your leg propped up on a pillow to limit swelling.
To alleviate your discomfort due to a hamstring injury, you can rely on over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications. In particular, oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aleve or Motrin, as well as other OTC pain medications like Tylenol can be effective in providing short-term relief.
Using topical NSAID creams or gels can be effective in reducing pain. However, if you suspect that you have sustained a substantial injury, seeking medical advice from a doctor is recommended before resorting to self-treatment.
Applying myofascial release to your hamstrings can also provide pain relief by using a foam roller. By positioning the roller slightly above the back of your knee and rolling upwards with the flow of blood, you can massage the muscles. Seeking the services of a professional sports masseuse is another viable option for pain management.
WHEN TO SEEK HELP
Home treatment can effectively treat several hamstring injuries that tend to recover within a few days. If you notice no improvement in your pain or an aggravation of your symptoms, it is advisable to schedule an appointment with your physician. For severe cases, surgery may be necessary along with several months of recovery and physical therapy.
Irrespective of the degree to which you’re injured, your physician is capable of providing you with significant advice on the ideal duration of rest or the type of physical activities that can help you avert prospective injuries. Additionally, your doctor can direct you to a physical therapist who can address any muscle inequalities which could be contributing to your injuries.
HAMSTRING TEAR TREATMENT
Non-Surgical Treatment for Partial Hamstring Tears
The majority of partial hamstring tears can be treated without undergoing surgery. Usually, these tears can be cured with the aid of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen, as well as the RICE method that includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
To alleviate pressure on your hamstrings during the healing process, crutches or a cane may be necessary. To avoid swelling, we may suggest applying bandages to your thigh or wearing compression shorts.
Additional treatment is necessary for certain partial tears of the hamstring. If a minor hamstring injury fails to improve after a few weeks of using RICE and over-the-counter pain medication, make an appointment with an orthopedic specialist.
Complete Hamstring Tear Surgery & Repair
Surgery is necessary for a full hamstring tear as it cannot heal independently. In the case of a tear in the proximal hamstring, which pertains to the tendons attaching your hamstring to the pelvic bone, sutures will be utilized to reattach the tendons to the pelvic bone at the site where they were torn.
Early detection is crucial as the most efficient and secure time to operate on proximal hamstring tears is within two to three weeks of the injury.
HAMSTRING TEAR RECOVERY TIME
It takes three to eight weeks for mild hamstring tears or strains (grade 1) and partial hamstring tears (grade 2) to recover. To avoid exacerbating the injury, it is important to refrain from engaging in physical activities such as exercise and sports and to rest the hamstring. Strengthening of the hamstring may be recommended via physical therapy by your doctor as well.
It takes approximately three to six months to fully heal from surgery for a complete tear of the hamstring (grade 3). During the initial two to three weeks post-surgery, crutches are required as weight cannot be placed on the affected leg. Within a month of surgery, patients can generally walk without the assistance of crutches.
PREVENTION
It is impossible to completely prevent hamstring strains. Certain individuals, such as older adults or adolescents, may be at a higher risk. Additionally, sudden impacts can also lead to injury. However, undertaking stretching and strengthening exercises on a regular basis can decrease the likelihood of hamstring strains. Consult your coach or doctor for recommended exercises that cater to your specific activity.
Here are some general prevention tips.
- Warm up before working out or playing sports, and cool down afterward.
- Exercise regularly to maintain your cardiovascular and muscular fitness. Doing so will help you prevent injuries related to fatigue.
- Spend time stretching and strengthening muscles in your weekly exercise routine. Doing so will help prevent muscular imbalances that may cause injury.
- Take days off or have easy days between particularly hard physical sessions to give your body adequate rest.
- Try adding speed work to your routine to prepare hamstring muscles for the types of forces that may lead to injury.
TAKEAWAY
Discomfort caused by hamstring pain can prevent you from participating in your preferred physical activities. Fortunately, most strains tend to alleviate within a few days. Simple methods such as rest, ice, compression, and elevation can facilitate your recovery and get you back on track quickly.
If you believe that your injury is more severe, do not delay in contacting your physician. Seeking assistance promptly will enable you to resume your preferred activities in a shorter amount of time.
