Hamstring Avulsion (complete tear from pelvis)

[mlfoster1]

I need to slow my typing down, I'm making ALOT of mistakes! I meant to say that from what I've heard and read, the extended motion is USUALLY when the tear occurs. Whether it's running, water skiing, ice skating etc. Of course there is someone like me that has always had tight hamstrings and back muscles....all connected! PLUS, I'm getting OLD!

[blalbo]

Wow, I must be a wimp. I keep reading all these posts with people not needing many pain meds. and up and walking in a few weeks or so. I had my intial surgery Jan. 29th. to repair a 6cm tear. Three weeks later my incision got infected and had surgery again to clean it out. Still have the stitches in. Trying to put some weight on it after being down for 2 months but still really weak and painful. I hopefully start P.T. soon but still haven't heard exactly when. All I know is I want this to be over and hopefully get upright.

[merrybaker]

blalbo,
You are not the only one that has pain! My surgery was Dec 29. My doctor had me go back to work doing office work, my butt REALLY, REALLY hurts with sitting. He doesn't want me to take narcotics, and the non-narcotics do absolutely nothing! I went for P>T> last week, and challenged the hamstring, have been pretty miserable since. We figured I inflammed the hamstring tendon. Because I have a cadaver tendon in, makes it difficult because I do not have the same feelings I would if it were mine. When I go to work, withon a few hours I just want to scream at times. I get all fidgety and can't sit still, nothing makes me comfortable until I get home and can lie down. The workplace is doing everything possible to help me be comfortable, I even have a reclining chair. I am thinking part of the reason I have so much pain may have to do with all the scar tissue that was wrapped around my sciatic nerve. The other thought as to why I have ankle pain, is that the hamstring muscle is so atrophied, there is nothing protecting the nerve. Hnag in there, hope all gets better!

[Pedal on]

It's a day of celebration...MD appointment just shy of 6weeks post op and I'm out of my brace. What a relief!! I'll now be able to start PT. I do feel fortunate that I've been able to weight bear for the past 3 weeks as at 2 1/2 weeks the surgeon released my knee from the 90 degree flexion and said it was okay. As a result I'm fully weight bearing now and don't need to utilize crutches...just working on eliminating my peg leg pirate walk that I'd developed. Now to see what it's like to sit on a bicycle seat.

[Pedal on]

Sunlover,

I tore all 3 tendons skiing out of a backcountry hut in the Colorado mountains. My right ski hit a rock that stopped the leg while the rest of my body continued in a forward fall due to momentum and a pack on my back. Fortunately we weren't far from access to the trailhead/road and I was able to get myself out using my ski poles and dragging the hurt leg behind me. Luckily it was at the end of a week of backcountry skiing not the beginning.

[tricializ]

blalbo,
You are not the only one that has pain! My surgery was Dec 29. My doctor had me go back to work doing office work, my butt REALLY, REALLY hurts with sitting. He doesn't want me to take narcotics, and the non-narcotics do absolutely nothing! I went for P>T> last week, and challenged the hamstring, have been pretty miserable since. We figured I inflammed the hamstring tendon. Because I have a cadaver tendon in, makes it difficult because I do not have the same feelings I would if it were mine. When I go to work, withon a few hours I just want to scream at times. I get all fidgety and can't sit still, nothing makes me comfortable until I get home and can lie down. The workplace is doing everything possible to help me be comfortable, I even have a reclining chair. I am thinking part of the reason I have so much pain may have to do with all the scar tissue that was wrapped around my sciatic nerve. The other thought as to why I have ankle pain, is that the hamstring muscle is so atrophied, there is nothing protecting the nerve. Hnag in there, hope all gets better!

When they went in, did they free up the sciatic nerve? Honestly, with my upcoming surgery, if they don't do that, there is no point in even doing the surgery since it is the sciatic pain that is bothering me most. I hope you get some relief. That sounds terrible.
Tricia

[mlfoster1]

Pedal on...Congratulations! You'll find that the next phasse will not be without discomfort. Try to go really slowly so that your leg can regain strength. Your gait will come back. I'm twelve weeks out now. I think I had a hitch for at least 8-10 weeks. Your post op care was a little different than mine, but I too lost the brace at 6 and then started PT. Make sure you put a seat pad, or some kind of cusion on the bike seat...that smarts in the beginning because of the tissue around the incision line is sensative. Once again, congrats on this next phase....it keeps getting better, just go slowly!

[mlfoster1]

Tricia, I had one doctor that worked on my sciatic nerve, and one that did the reattachment. BE SURE to talk to your doc about this. It's amazing that Merry went back to work, sitting so soon. I could have NEVER, EVER done that....

[mlfoster1]

blalbo, your infection was definately a set-back. But try to be positive. It's so important in this process because it's a long journey to recovery. You wouldn't want to start PT until all the tissue is intact and healthy. Hang in there. Try to eat well and drink lots of fluids. There are some supplemtns on this site that are helpful in healing...try to check back.
Hang in there!

[DaveE]

I will be 9 weeks post surgery on Friday. I am amazed with the speed of the progress in the last few weeks. The first few weeks dragged on and initially there didn't seem to be an light at the end of the tunnel.

In my case crutches and cane are gone. Walking is fine. I bought a stationary recumbent bike and am up to 1 hour a day in 20 minute segements. (I tried 40 minutes at one time yesterday and my legs wobbled when I got off---so I'll stick to 20 minute segements for a while). My range of motion has increased tremendously. The only nagging problem is sitting. At least I am now able to cross my legs and that lifts the wound side up and releases the pressure.

I spoke to a doctor who had undergone the same surgery and he said that I would be really tired for a long while after surgery---and he was right. It wasn't till this week that I seemed to have the energy that I used to have.

It is wonderful to be able to do normal things.

Once again I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this site. I learned so much about how to cope with those first three weeks, and the stories of those who were ahead of me on their journey gave me hope about getting thru the initial "bad" times.

I'm looking forward to warmer weather and hope to get out biking on a normal bike in three or four weeks.