Hamstring Avulsion (complete tear from pelvis)

[aspenjohnson]

Randy and Amy,

Randy - I guess that's why I gave up racketball a few years back - grin. I am sorry that you had a rough day. I had quite a few, but the good news is that the time has really flown by. I managed to walk around town today and really felt like pushing myself. I am just 35 days out (which is a horrible amount of time at first, but not so bad when you think about the gain from having the surgery and how long it could have been). And this may sound like distasteful advice, but ask your wife not to help you out much, and it will get you over the feeling sorry for yourself thing much faster. I went through a lot of that, but am single and really didn't want my friends around to pandor to me, so it made me realize fairly quickly that we only have ourselves and my job was to get better. Heck, I went so far as to pretend that I would always be like this, and to start coping now. I work with people with disabilities, so at least I had some incite at the power it takes to be self sufficient. Just remembering that I was on my way to healing, whereas a lot of people out there aren't, was enough. If nothing else, you'll get through it, because you have no choice (that helped too).

Amy: Great luck with the surgery today. By the time you read this, you'll have started the countdown. A lot of the same things apply to you, that I just told Randy. You sound a little like me in wanting to be independent. I truly pushed people away - had friends and family that wanted to take time off work and help me out, etc., but I told all of them to make that same kind of effort when I was back on my feet, so I could enjoy the time with them. Let all of that be a motivator for you. I did a lot of meditation honestly. Went through a lot of self pity. Whined that even though I pushed everyone away, my friends and family weren't there. And I have managed to recover at about twice the speed because of it all.

As far as something to pass the time: For the first week, it wasn't comfortable to even sit up enough to play with the computer much. I had a PS3 and when I was up for it, it was entertaining. I downloaded a ton of movies from the 'net, and read a lot of books, and even managed to get some work done. The day after surgery, since I didn't have anyone else, I managed to get my own food, drink, bandage check, etc. I was very careful not to take any "fall" risks, but I didn't baby myself either.

Both of you, I wish the best of luck!!! Positive thoughts everybody - we're at a point of no return, so just set you next goal - boo boo be all better before you know it - grin.

Cheers,

Vince

[Randy]

Can you email me a copy of that article. Thanks randy

[LJM]

Hi all,
Finally registered to reply. Amy, small world, I too live around the Boston area. Had hamstring repair surgery 2 weeks ago at NE Baptist for a waterskiing injury I had 2 weeks before. Took 2 weeks to basically demand a MRI from local doctors...friend at Baptist got me in there and here I am 2 weeks post op. Once my surgeon saw the MRI, told her I run daily, waterski daily and snow ski...no doubt best result surgery. I am so glad I had it done but was flipped out leading up to it. Stupid accident trying to spray kids on a dock.
Lost my balance and my ski did not release. We all know how that felt! I am managing ok. I do have 4 young boys...which is a challenge, but I got some help at the house. I am in a newport brace..so no sitting but can stand and lay down propped by pillows. Got a raised toilet seat with handicapp rails. its not easy but am figuring it out. Saw Dr. and she wants me to start bearing weight. The brace stays on for 4 weeks, then pt 2x each week building back up. She says I will be running in 6 mos. I am just thrilled that they fix these now..she has done 20 and that is alot. Also with women she has researched alot of these injuries and has found that even more than men,women get very little resuls with pt without the repair. I have complete faith in this team of doctors and would at Mass General as well. Even though I have the green light for weight bearing I am petrfied so am going very slow I am a bit obsessive about water on the floor since I dont want to fall! Thank u to everyone on this forum. This has been invaluable to me.

[LJM]

Randy,

Last night I thought the RedSox were going to win in a clutch against the WhiteSox until Delcarmen gave up the home run. That hurt my hamstring.

[Amy R]

Thanks for all of the kind sentiments and advice. I had my surgery on Thursday. Apparently I was a local star as the OR was quite crowded with residents watching. As ou all know we are quite a unique bunch to have sustained this injury. In fact one of my nurses with 30 yrs experience had never even seen it much less the custom made brace that they made for me. I was expecting to get home Friday, but there was no possible way I could have. The pain i had wasoff the charts. Moraphine was like a pat on the back...They finally gave me Diluted ann Toridal - Toridal is a miracle drug but they would only give it me for 24 hours. It is a super stregth Motrin...which doesnt promote healing but it certainly took the edge off.
I just had some friends stop by ughhhhh -= more later
Amy R

[hula]

I just discovered your site and find it so helpful.
After a fall on concrete on July 3, 08 I was finally diagnosed with a complete proximal avulsion of my right hamstring. The avulsion was 100 % with a 2 centimeter separation.
I had surgery on July 25 so I am only 2 weeks post op. I live in Los Angeles and I believe that my surgeon was good, but I have so many questions. The pain is intense and I had large hematomas all over my thigh running down my leg. The questions that I would love help with are the following. Right after surgery, my doctor said I could walk around
without crutches as long as the pain was not too bad. So, I thought walkiing would be good for my recovery and I walked in my house and 4 blocks outside. The pain became so intense that I ended up back in his office after about 5 days. He then said rest for awhie, and then then try to walk without full weight bearing, using a walking. I stayed in bed for 2 days except for trips to the bathroom etc. The pain is very intense the moment my leg touches the ground and I keep wondering if I am doing more harm than good. After reading your site, I was surprised that I was told I could walk aroung the next day. By the way, the pain was so intense after walking around, that I ended up in the emergency room at UCLA and was hospitalized overnight.
My doctor was out of town so an emergency room doctor looked at me.

Also, I read that most of you are wearing a brace. I have none and wondered what kind of brace
you are wearing?

Before surgery, I played tennis 5 to 6 times per week and considered myself a very fit female. Exercise has always been an important part of my life. At this point, I feel weak,
in pain, and as several of you mentioned, the mere act of putting clothes on makes me sweat.
I would love to hear from those of you who are willing to give me advice, info or words of hope.
Thank you,
Hula

[aspenjohnson]

Hula,

Very sorry that you are in so much pain. I am a little surprised that you weren't in a brace as well. Even in a brace, my re-attachment was vulnerable, and I pushed it too far and did some minor but painful re-tearing. Be careful of the "this must be good for me" attitude - rest is a good thing for the first few weeks at least. I was instructed NO WEIGHT BEARING (even toe weight) for the initial recovery and am walking ahead of schedule just now at 5 weeks. I asked early on if it would just be painful to do so, or if it could hurt the repair, and my doc and PT said that until the scar tissue has time to attach, I would run the risk of ripping it all apart again. Of course, my repair ended up being muscle to muscle because they couldn't re-connect it to the ischial spot with bone sutures.

I then got a little paranoid about thinking maybe I've already ripped it back apart. I was told that even though I was overdoing it a bit and causing some micro-tears, that I would definitely know if it came undone - similar to the original injury. New bruising is a sign that you are doing too much. Although, 2 weeks of PT has caused some bruising that they said was minimal and a necessary evil.

I don't know if I answered any questions for you, but in my opinion, it's time for a second opinion!

Keeps us posted,

Vince

[hula]

Could you tell me about the brace? I had a complete avulsion of my right hamstring. It separated 2 centimeters from my pelvic bone. On July 23, the surgeon re connected the
3 muscles (actually the tendons attached to the muscles) of the hamstring to my pelvic bone. The incision is 8.5 centimeters at the crease of my buttocks. Is this the same surgery?
Hurts like nothing else I have ever experienced. Cannot sit up, stretch out my leg or put full weight bearing. My doctor said it was fine to walk around right after surgery and even suggested walks outside of a couple of blocks. I did that right away and suffered tremendously and am now practically tied to my bed with ice and 2 Maltese dogs thrown on me when I get too cold.

I am hoping my surgeon is directing me in the right direction, but I know this is new territory for most of us and them. I live in Los Angeles and my Dr. did the surgery in an outpatient surgical center in Beverly Hills. The surgery lasted 1 1/2 hours and I was sent home, in my opinion much too soon. I went in to shock in the car on the way home and stopped breathing
but I was lucky that the person driving me home was a friend who is a retired physician so he revived me.

Any info and advice is desperately needed.

Thanks,
Hula

[aspenjohnson]

Hula,

My surgery experience was very similar. Very quick and rushed out of the hospital very soon - although, I had a very slow heart rate and breathing directly after as well, and they kept me for a couple of hours.

My first brace was a locked brace set at 50 degrees and went from my ankle to my groin. It ended up being the wrong size and cut into me and cut off circulation, so I went to my doc 5 days post-op and requested a new one. At this stage they let me have a much smaller one that was more of a knee brace, that they locked at 60 degrees. Very specific instructions not to take either off for a while. I did take it off for one day and it killed me. After two weeks, I got the go ahead to take it off every once in a while, but I tried not to push it.

I am curious about why your doc thinks that the repair alone without healing, is good enough to withstand weight and all, without re-injury. My understanding is that although the repair is sturdy, it would be tragic (and not that difficult) if you were to extend the leg and snap the hamstring at this stage. They were most worried about this while I was hobbling around and possibly falling - which I still feel I could do easily - I am using just a cane at this point, and feel pretty good.

Cheers,

Vince

[hula]

Hi Vince,
Thank you for your quick reply. I find myself hovering over this computer (in bed of course) waiting for a reply. At this moment in time, it feels like my lifeline since I cannot talk to anyone else about this injury because no one has heard of it.

I wonder why I have no brace.
After reading your advice as well as the comments made by others on this site, I have decided to take it easy and stay in bed until I talk to my doctor on Monday. My body clearly told me that the walking was too painful. My goal is to heal completely. It makes me very apprehensive to think that I might have done damage or could do damage by walking around. I must admit that I went to the market today with a friend driving me, and the pain was so bad that I regretted being outside. It has only been 14 days since the surgery.

May I ask you in which state you had your surgery? How did you locate a surgeon that was familiar with this type of surgery?

By the way, is anyone else going crazy staying in bed and missing your "other life?"

Hula