Complete avulsion of hamstring

Sorry 11 months not healed still working trying to cope with pain with original injury and hip and knee pain from unusual gait. If you are in states there appears to be more professionals that have seen this injury. In uk I am told this is really severe unusual injury. No quick fix. This is not helpful when you are in constant pain. I sympathise with you totally and wish you a quick recovery

Yes. From Texas. Ortho says very rare and did not recommend surgery due to my age of 57. Honestly he said he had never preformed that type of surgery before but said risks to the siatictic nerve damage was greater than the benefits of surgery and I would have to live with weakness in leg . Did you have surgery?

No I didnt have surgery as I was treated what they call"conservatively" back last October. They hoped scar tissue would bridge initial 5 cm gap. But after a lot of pain anf time second MRI showed muscle had dropped. However I do not risk nt being able to walk. Nearly a year on I am waiting for third MRI through NHS to see if there has been any change. My hip is now painful too. Pity your so far away I too am in my 50's 53 and do feel suddenly old. Apparently if I was an athlete they would have thought it worth the risk of surgery!!! I feel your pain try and see positives in your lifr . Treat yourself to something you enjoy. My mind frame has changed. I used to be a workaholic, now I go in do my hours and come home and rest

i talked to a physical therapist today who advised me to Get another opinion Do you regret not having surgery and how was going back to work

Accident happened 17th Oct, I work in a school went back after Xmas break with crutch on phased return was full time by Easter but was off at end of April as I had to have liver cyst and gall bladder removed(its not been a great year!!!) Returned to work beginning of June. Had summer break back to work at beginning of Sept but as I am coming off Gabapentin it has been a struggle. I am using stick full time at moment as balance off. I dont regret not aving surgery as you cant go back but I do wish I could find someone medical that has seen this injury!!!

Sandra, update: in a nutshell. Got another opinion. Had surgery 3 days ago. They found that all 3 were avulsed from bone. He said it went well as he used metal anchors to reattach. I am home but pretty forked out on pain meds. After a month of not having feeling in my leg and foot. I now have feeling. Have to rely heavily on hubby for everything. It has been humbling experience in the to lite area

Hi Judy

That is exciting news, hopefully pain will decrease as you repair. Take it easy and accept all help offered. Loved ones will help I know my husband is as frustrated as I am sometimes. My husband now has private health care because of new job so I am seeking second opinion and have asked to hopefully see specialist that has seen injury before should hear this week where I need to go. In UK once you go private things happen quickly. New meds Lyrica now up to a dose which helps a bit with pain and I am using tens after day at work in evening. I am feeling a bit more positive and I hope you keep improving , let me know how you are getting on but rest when your body tells you to.

Kind Regards

Sandra

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I hope you find someone that can help your situation. I do not know how healthcare is in UK. If you venture to US /Texas I can hook you up with my ortho. Keep well.

Keep me updated as I will keep u in my prayersI am sure you have done research. They can fix chronic ones that do not heal conservatively. Mine was repaired at the 4 week mark. Had I been a pro athlete it would have been repaired day 1. The deciding fact for me was when I asked my Otho if this happens to him would he get it repaired. He said "yes cause I am still active". Well, I am still active and felt deserving of repair. Not willing to give up the least amount of muscle loss. Hang in there!

Thanks

Hi Judy - I hope you are still on here. I had surgery 2 weeks ago for a complete hamstring tear. Just  wondered what your recovery was and any advice you can give me.  The only rehab the dr wants me to do is "shuffle" and I feel like I do a lot of laying on my sides.  

Cathy

I am just a couple of weeks ahead of you I think. I work the leg brace for four weeks then the past two and half have been using walker. I am having problems that my leg wants to go off to the right. Physical therapist says one of my muscles is shortened due to not using it. My knee is also clicking and locking up.Pain in sitting area still constant.How are you doing.

Hi Judy!   I am doing ok. Some days are better than others.  That sucks about your leg.  When did you start physical therapy?  My doctor doesn't want PT till 12 weeks.  He said he would give me some exercises to do at home around 6 weeks but just the walking or shuffling is all he wants me to do. I have developed some scar tissue at the incision so I have to massage the area lightly to try and help break it up. Where are you located?  I am in Ohio   I hope each day gets better for you. 

I started PT in week 4 when the brace came off. Tomorrow will be my 7 week post op day. I feel I have been too aggressive with PT. on PT days I just come home, take pain meds and go to bed. (AM appointments). I am concerned at this point about going back to work too soon. Ortho has me off another 4 weeks (11 total) and I honestly do not see that happening without a miracle happening.

I live in Texas. Do you have s post op care path for rehab? My PT does not have one as they have never seen this injury.

Wow PT at 4 weeks seems too soon!   I know what you mean about  PT not seeing this injury.  This surgery is really uncommon.  Once I get the go ahead to start PT (which won't be till I am 12 weeks post op) I will want to know from my doctor what type of PT to do because I am sure the PT I will go to won't know what to do.  I seriously can't imagine doing PT right now.  I am going back to work tomorrow for 4 hours a day.  I sit at my job so I will see how it goes.  I have only had regular pants on twice since surgery and I can't wear my comfortable sweatpants so hoping they don't rub my incision!! 

Dear Cathy, Judy,

urgent. am about to have this surgery on day16 after acceident - all 3 torn; about 4 cm down... 52 quite sporty, young children, very active.  Apparently have to do quickly to minimise operative risk.  but got NO opinion from 2 docotors and yes from 2.  are you happy you did this?  seems the recovery more difficult than you thought... thanks for urgent advice - supposed to go to clinicl tonight!  many thanks...

JUDY!! Please help me!! I live in the Us and I had a slip and fall accident 2 months ago. I too have a Colette tear of 3 muscles and tendons 4cm away from bone. I have no pain just lots of weakness and tightness on back of my leg when bending down. Doctors have me so confused. I've already seen 3 opinions, 2 say I should have surgery but are not giving any kind of warranties plus they say it will be a very long recovery and painful. The other docitor says that at my age of 42 as healthy and active as I am I should not have such a painful risky surgery and invest my time in learning how to keep the muscle healthy and strong to avoid any other issue. But after reading so much material it only gets more confusing. Basically my ordeal is " have the surgery or not" considering it's already been 2 months since injury and scar tissue has already started to build up. Like u mention I move around just fine with no meds no pain but only severe tightness on back of legs " both now" and sore knees ... Other than that I move around actively without restrictions. The only thing I'm not doing is running or any kind of exercise only therapy to 3 times a week to strengthen the muscle. Can anyone please help me by giving me some kind of suggestion. After having a spine fusion 8 years ago and one that I'm not even aware of as it was successful but I did go through much pain during the recovery months. I really don't want to risk going back to where I once was.

Please help! Thank you

Celia,

Did you decide to have surgery? I had surgery July 2015 for complete avulsion of hamstrings after a slip fall. The recovery has not been a joyful experience and is ongoing...over a year later. I do not regret having the surgery as the pain was unbearable. However, for me, there seems to be some type of nerve damage that caused numbness, pain, weakness, etc. I do not believe this is due to the surgery itself as I've experienced many of these issues since date of injury. My advice to you if having the surgery is to be adamant that your physician address your every ache, pain, and concern. We assumed all of my issues were due to the avulsion and did not look further into other possible injuries. As for the repair, my leg is not as strong as it once was, my gait is different, and I do not balance very well but I can walk and am thankful for that. Whatever you decide, I pray you recover well.

Hi Judy, I'm 59 and am having this surgery next week. How did it go ? Thank you, joy

I was also 59 and just tripped, I had my reattachment June 2016 an further sciatic nerve surgery December 2017, it's been a long extremely hard and painful journey but hopefully things are now progressing. My problem was that I was misdiagnosed and had to wait nearly two years before surgery. Take things slowly and don't rush into trying to do too much too soon. Wishing you all the very best

How were you able to walk for two years ? So your just a few months out from sciatic surgery ? How long did it take to feel close to 100 %

How are you doing 2 years later without the surgery ?

Hi! I need some advise. I am 35 yrs old and have a complete hamstring rupture at the hip with 4cm retraction. I also have a complete groin libral rupture at the pelvis and hematoma >11 cm (Did the splits on ice 2-18-18). I have two doctors telling me I need repair surgergically. Then seen the orthopedic surgeon who said no surgery, just do therapy because in the long run, result is the same. If I was a NBA or NFL player he would go on and do the surgery. I seen here many ended up doing surgery even years later due to pain and issues. I already have sciatica issues from back strains when I was younger. What does everyone recommend? I'm a mom of 3 kids, a wife, full time employee at a factory, and we do lots of camping and hiking. I want as much function as possible and least amount of pain. Help?!

My surgeon told me that if the tendon is retracted more than 2 cm it is very hard for the body to scar that big of a gap ( scarring ultimately holds it in place)

I had a 4cm complete avulsion 4 1/2 years ago and am doing great. Full recovery if you don’t have the surgery as you get older you will have a “Popeye” looking muscle in the back of your leg. 

Actually typo it was 10cm

Thank you very much! Good to know your are doing great after surgery and recovery!

Does anyone know any doctors in the USA maybe close to Kentucky that does this surgery? My orthopedic doctor is having a hard time finding someone with experience.

Debbie, I'm on day 19... are you saying you feel great . Are you having any pain ? Did you have any complications ?

Are you on the Facebook group

Proximal Hamstring Injury page?

Great group of people. A little easier to communicate bc it is not disjointed like the blog can be.

Yes I am. I started on this site before I found the fb.

hi Joy, Ive have a partial tear of my upper hamstring for four years now and it continues to tear more and more I have decided to have surgery to repair it my question to you is how are you feeling now and how hard was the surgery Im a runner or I was do you think i can get that back? I am 60 thank Cheri