Hamstring strain - advice?

[Wines Not Whines]

I strained my left hamstring several weeks ago. At first I thought it was just tight, so I did a lot of focused stretching, which made it worse. Ugh. I also stupidly tried to keep running and training, so it hasn't been able to heal. But after my half yesterday (yes, I ran a half with this injury because I'm an idiot) I've realized I really need to rehab this.

So my question is: if you've had a hamstring strain, other than rest, what did you do? Are there exercises that you think helped?

[clseale]

I went to a sport's doc, who then sent me to PT. My strain was really high, and apparently in an area that is slower to heal. They had me do a bunch of different exercises, but they changed as I healed & got stronger. The exercises I did in week one , were definitely different than the exercises I did in week 8. They also gave me exercises to strengthen areas of weakness that they think actually contributed to the strain. In addition to that, they did ultra sound & massage. I was in a good deal of pain when I finally went. I wasted time trying to take two weeks off here & there, and wish I would have skipped screwing around on my own, and just gone to the Dr sooner.

I'm sorry. Hope you feel better!

[Wines Not Whines]

Mar 16, 2014 8:50:12 GMT -5 clseale said:

I went to a sport's doc, who then sent me to PT. My strain was really high, and apparently in an area that is slower to heal. They had me do a bunch of different exercises, but they changed as I healed & got stronger. The exercises I did in week one , were definitely different than the exercises I did in week 8. They also gave me exercises to strengthen areas of weakness that they think actually contributed to the strain. In addition to that, they did ultra sound & massage. I was in a good deal of pain when I finally went. I wasted time trying to take two weeks off here & there, and wish I would have skipped screwing around on my own, and just gone to the Dr sooner.

I'm sorry. Hope you feel better!

So you're telling me to see a doctor? I know I should. I'm one of those people who doesn't go to the doctor unless I feel like death. But I should suck it up and go, and maybe they'll refer me to PT. I think there's a good sports medicine practice near my house.

[clseale]

Mar 16, 2014 8:53:22 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

Mar 16, 2014 8:50:12 GMT -5 clseale said:

I went to a sport's doc, who then sent me to PT. My strain was really high, and apparently in an area that is slower to heal. They had me do a bunch of different exercises, but they changed as I healed & got stronger. The exercises I did in week one , were definitely different than the exercises I did in week 8. They also gave me exercises to strengthen areas of weakness that they think actually contributed to the strain. In addition to that, they did ultra sound & massage. I was in a good deal of pain when I finally went. I wasted time trying to take two weeks off here & there, and wish I would have skipped screwing around on my own, and just gone to the Dr sooner.

I'm sorry. Hope you feel better!

So you're telling me to see a doctor? I know I should. I'm one of those people who doesn't go to the doctor unless I feel like death. But I should suck it up and go, and maybe they'll refer me to PT. I think there's a good sports medicine practice near my house.

LOL. Yes, yes I am. I was always the same type of person. That's why it took me being in a lot of pain to finally make an appointment. However, when I finally went, I realized I had wasted a good 1.5 months trying to self treat, and I could have returned to running much sooner, had I just stopped being so stubborn. 

I went  through the same process. "Oh, it's just really tight." Stretch, stretch, stretch, repeat. It finally started having frequent spasms. Then I'd take two weeks off, try to run, pain, rest, repeat. My SI joint finally got involved & had shooting pains in my lower back & down through my butt. That's when I finally went in. 

[venice2007]

Ortho, sent me to pt then met with pt and running coach. Made a huge difference!

Hope you heal quickly!

[spedrunner]

I have the same. Ivebeen doing pt three times per week, seen an ortho, doing several stretches daily. It sucks and it takes forever to heal

The only thing I've found to be really helpful is pure rest