Hamstring Avulsion (complete tear from pelvis)

[Scottsieksn]

Tammy/ Christine,

I was prescribed core shorts made by under-armour early last year to help control my gait whilst running (this was a result of 2 bouts of acetabular labral repair surgery). As these shorts are an extremely tight compression that controls movement in gait keeping your muscles aligned and stopping the outward semi circle motion the foot can make during walking / running i have found these perfect for control whilst weening off crutches. Not sure the price at time of purchase however being compression i am wearing them whilst walking, for a compression and in the pool... adds to the confidence and restricts unwanted movement. Just a thought for those who may constantly looking for compression bandages that may be multi purpose.
I have used other compression shorts like skins, body science however these focus on the core / gluteal areas...

[Kirkwood]

Bill,
So sorry about your wife's complication. These early weeks in recovery are so tough on their own without this type of additional stress. I hope both you and your wife find the courage and hope to stay strong and positive to give her the very best chance to heal. The body can do amazing things over time and things can improve even against what may or may not be predicted.

Sorry, I don't have any useful technical knowledge to add on the peronial nerve problem. I believe it is a branch off the sciatic nerve which is an area of concern for anyone having this injury and surgical repair. Usually, however, it is one of the reasons to endure the surgical route as it gives the surgeon the opportunity to make sure the sciatic nerve is prevented/protected from being caught up in all the long term scarring that would otherwise occur if one chose to let the injury heal conservatively without surgery. I did see a couple items on-line dealing with repair of trauma to the peronial nerve by neurosurgeon specialists -- maybe worth a consult if you are still in the hands of the orthopedic team only.

Best Wishes for a speedy resolution and recovery.

[christineb]

Bill - very sorry to hear about your wife. I don't have experience with this but do know it was the first thing my doctor checked at my first post op appointment so clearly it was a concern since he did tell me my hamstring retraction was on or under my siatic nerve thus the emergency surgery the following day. I hope you can find someone who can help your wife.

Scott - thanks for the tip on the compression shorts. They are only about $40 here in Ontario so I will pick some up tomorrow. I am not super athletic - do more yoga / pilaties and the occasional boot camp. I think I could continue to use them for exercise anyway.

I will post more regarding the shorts in a few days.

Hope everyone is healing well.

Christine

[christineb]

Also, forgot to ask: does anyone else have numbness in the back of their leg? Particularly in the thigh and behind the knee area. The calf area was numb as well but is now not too bad.

Christine

[rpolaw]

Hi Christine, I had my surgery about five weeks ago and I have some definite numbness below the scar. Don't have numbness generally along the back of my leg. my doctor said that I should expect numbness below the scar but I've also heard that it goes away eventually.

[goal tender]

Yep,
I have numbness below the incision line to my mid thigh. I haven't really payed too much attention to it since it is supposed to be normal and go away with time.

Tammy

[dome]

Yes it is normal to have loss of sensation (but you still probably can sense pressure) and it does come back in time.
Skin has a fair few structures in it (nerve endings/receptors etc) that suffer from the incision and healing, while slow, is sure (never say never though).

[roedel]

Christine,
Yes,it does stay numb for a long time. My doc said that it is very sensitive, and that just looking at it wrong puts it to sleep. He said don,t plan on getting that sensation back, but if you do it will take a couple of years. And now after 8 months I am beginning to get a bit more sensation.

After 8 months I can still feel the underlying work that was done, but am basically ready to do just about anything. Riding my bike feels like sitting on rocks if I sit on it the wrong way, and I can't really sprint well, but then again I never could before! I can run a bit, but I am more of a hiker, and I have gret confidence in my ability to go hiking in the white mountains here in new England. The leg still gets stiff after sitting a long time, and is more prone to going to sleep when I cross my legs for a long time, but in general, everything is going well.

Surgeon was Scott Martin here in Boston, rehab done by Beantown Physio here in Boston as well. Both I would highly recommend.

[ima164]

Thanks to all of you in advance!

I am a 48yr old woman (with neck/back arthritis, fibromyalgia and history of a right shoulder decompression 3 months ago which is not totally healed).

I slipped and fell on a wet tile floor (holding my friend's one-year old daughter :-(...). Thank G-d I held tight to the baby and therefore took a horrible fall. The baby is fine, but I have a complete tear and a 3.5 cm retraction of my left hamstring. This happened 2 1/2 weeks ago (on vacation!).

Since I'm only active really at work (I'm an ultrasound tech and move/lift/position patients - for 20 years) and exercise only occasionally :-(, I'm really nervous about recovery from surgery. I do need to work and be able to be active and flexible. I get NO sick time, nor do I have disability insurance, so any time off is unpaid ;-(.

I am in the process of looking for a surgeon who has done a few of these, as I'm sure all of you are/were! I live in the New York area and Hospital for Special Surgery (which is "the" place to go, it seems) doesn't take my insurance. If any of you have any ideas/advice, I would be eternally grateful. I saw one surgeon the this past Friday who said he hasn't done any, but "one tendon is like any other tendon"...and the he could "read up about the rehab as we go along"! Needless to say, I'm still looking for someone else. I know, though, that time is really of the essence because I'm already into week 3 and I need time to see the doc and get onto an OR schedule.

I'm also very concerned about the procedure/hospital stay (or lack thereof!) in light of my fibromyalgia, neck arthritis and recent shoulder (opposite side of my body) which has not really healed well yet.

Would love to hear any advice from anyone.

Good luck to all of you as well. You're support is really fabulous. May you all have a speedy and complete recovery!!!

Laura

[ima164]

Hi Joe,

I hope you're doing better and have come to a decision. Are you able to tell me the name of the NYC doc? I'm 2 1/2 weeks out from my injury and I'm desperate to find a surgeon who has done these before.

Thanks and all the best for your recovery!

Laura