Hamstring Avulsion (complete tear from pelvis)

[sunluver]

Tricia, You and I aren't one of the lucky ones that have a surgeon who kept us informed. I haven't even seen or talked with mine since BEFORE the surgery(6 weeks ago)! A nurse took my stitches out ten days post op and knew nothing about my particular surgery. I do hope to see him next week and ask how my operation went! lol. As for people outside your family helping...I didn't have a brace at all and so I didn't look too "in need", and didn't generate much sympathy. No food from neighbors etc. But I hear you about recognizing who comes forward to even ask how you are doing. People freequently ask me if I started running yet. I wish! Chalk it up to making us tough Tricia. Don't worry about the number of posts because not only now, but in the future, others who are going to have this operation done will go through all these posts and find something that pertains exactly to their situation and you will help them immensely.
Hang in there.
Jamie

[mlfoster1]

Tricia and Jamie,
don't feel bad....not only did my surgeon not tell me what he was going to do, but when he was done he almost forgot to talk to my husband. My husband saw him speak with another person in the waiting room, and then he approached my doctor. I was the first case and he practically forgot he did me. No one followed up in the hospital other than a resident that wasn't in the OR and no one called me afterward. He never told me how things went when the sutures were removed, and never said much more than when my next appt would be. When I called the office with a concern, no one even called me back. I guess they didn't think I had anything to worry about. It's been REALLY disappointing. He comes in and out of the room so fast. Last time I came with a list so that he had to stay!

As for home....well, I wore a brace. Jamie is right. It's so intimidating that people are awestruck by what had happened to me. My husband was great though. He's had many procedures that I have helped him through, so I guess he felt he should be there for me. I still felt compelled to overfunction, but I decided ahead of time to let others help me a little. I'm always taking care of everyone else, so it was my time. I suggest you try to adopt the same attitude. It will help you heal. I have three competitive dogs that I run agility with. My biggest concern was getting them exercised. In the middle of winter, at 10 degrees, some friends came over and threw them a ball outside. There was one person that I THOUGHT was a close friend who never came over, and hardly called. I really learned a lot about who my REAL friends were. So this has been an interesting journey in a lot of ways. But I'm only four months out .....it's NOT over yet!

I hope that you all continue to heal well, find patience and tolerance, and continue to enjoy the small improvements that you will find on a daily basis!
Michelle

[mlfoster1]

Katie, the swelling and tinggling is from the fluid. Keep your leg elevated and ice the area more. Are you taking colace? Pain meds ( codeine) causes constipation. See if you can go without pain meds during the day. Check with your doctors about antiinflammatories. I heard they prevent scar tissue from forming. Maybe there is something else you can take. There are some new ones out that don't have codeiine. Try Activia yogurt and add almonds. It may help you go to the bathroom. Three days post op is the hardest. Are you wearing the brace against your skin? It sounds like the brace may be a little tight. Don't forget that the purpose of the brace is for protection. You don't have to make it so tight when you're in bed....but once again, call the doctors office with these issues....

[mlfoster1]

Thanks for the support Sunluver. I'm being challenged in PT now, and at times get a little discouraged. I tugged with one of my dogs yesterday and the jerking around made me remember how fragile I still ame!

[mlfoster1]

Thanks Hannah,
I needed that advise. The doc said I'd be playing tennis only from the baseline at the end of April....I was hoping to be playing for my team by June. I think I have to scratch that. The sudden movements seem like a no, no this year. Just tugging with the dog was a problem.
Thanks again,
Michelle

[syl]

To all of you who have disconnected doctors, i want to say that my doctor has been incredible. She is a woman and has been very connected and accessible. Before surgery she explained everything in detail, sought my husband out after surgery and like a mom(although i could be her mom) tells me to still be very careful because the hamstrings are still attaching. i fee l so blessed to be well cared for. My husband is ready for me to get back to doing normal things as putting up dishes and serving me isnt natural for him. We women do those things naturally and like Jamie i"ve taken care of him through several surgeries. All of nthese post have been very helpful and we are all healing at different levels. Katie, i'm thinking about you and hope"things" have begun moving along by now. The "bomb" recipe sounds very interesting. Take good care of yourselves. Tricia you are amazing with your dancing. i hope you can get back to it soon
Syl

[Katied]

Its a good day after a bad night. My daughter came over and washed my hair! The Dish Network guy came by to hook up my new HD tv. My in-home therapist came and taught me how to go outside using the walker. I am not yet using crutches as I feel more secure with this 4 wheel drive walker. And.....drum roll.....the BOMB minus the milk of magnesia WORKED! So, as soon as I can shower I'll be in business. The toes are still a little cold and feel funny, but the foot is not swollen. The itching under the brace is better, but the blister is still there. I have disovered that the gel packs that are almost frozen and placed under the brace between the pad and your clothing really makes a difference if you are ichy and/or irritated from the brace. Thanks for the support and encouragement. This site is invaluable!!!!!! Continue to strive to heal at your level of the recovery process. Good luck all. I'm sure I will be posting quite frequently here!

[mlfoster1]

GREAT NEWS Katie! Glad you had such a good day! Things will get better with each passing day.
Syl- Glad to hear you've had such a positive experience. I wish there were more docs like that around
Michelle

[syl]

Katie
So glad things "worked out". Each day will be a little better for you and then there will a day when nothing feels right- - just a little bump in the road. I'm a little over 8 weeks and there is a move I made today that I need to warn others NOT to do. i was in a store looking for something on the bottom shelf and instinctively, i squatted down to look for it. My hamstrings have been hurting and stinging since then. So I'm not well yet and i still need to think before I do something crazy!! Happy healing
syl

[merrybaker]

Tricia-I am now 14 weeks post op, you wouldn't believe how fast you heal! I have been exercising in the pool 3 days a week. today I was in the water for almost two hours. Gentle stretching and exercises, I do jogging motions in the deep water with a noodle under my arms to keep me up. That way I can move the leg, without the pounding on the concrete. After I first tore my hamstring last year, I started working out in the pool 3 weeks after the injury. I had to teach my leg to walk, skip and run again. After the surgery, things are working much better than they did back then. Maybe you can find a pool that you can do some of the dance routines in, that way you can be doing them long before you can on land.

As far as the protocols, this surgery is so new, there are no standards at this point. Doctors will do things differently, depending on their experiences. I did not have a brace, was able to bear weight, just could not sit. As more of us have the surgery, standards will start to be developed. Think of us as being pioneers! Hang in there!