Hamstring Avulsion (complete tear from pelvis)

[Jay M]

Sunluver,
I do recall having numb butt cheeks for a couple of weeks. Can't really say what causes it though. Probably, cutting of the superficial nerve ending in the area from the incision. Still have minimal numbness at the incision site a year later though. Glad that your not having bathroom issues.

Heal well,
Jay

[sunluver]

Thank you Jay, I feel much less concerned now! Love this site

[blalbo]

Ned,
I go back to the doctor Tues. Hopefully the incision will look better. I was put on 2 different antibiotics after they went back in to clean it out, so hopefully the infection will clear up. I just wish the pain would let up. I kills andthe pain meds. don't really work. I 'm hoping to start P.T. in a couple of weeks. I just can't imagine being able to sit anytime soon without pain and that's very frustrating. I just want to be done. Thanks for the well wishes.

[mlfoster1]

Hi sunluver i too had a lot of numbness around the incision line, the buttom of the glute, and even the inner thigh. I really think it's from the skin being separated after the incision is made. The small nerves are traumatized. I'm 10 weeks post op now and my inner thigh and scar area still feel different, but improving all the time. Hope you're doing well without pain meds. If necessary, maybe you can switch it so that you can be comfortable (if you're not now). Sound like you are escaping the ever present bathroom issues!
Be well, heal well!
Michelle

[sunluver]

Michelle, It sounds like the numbness lasts a while, it's kind of disconcerting when you think of not feeling in that area so I'm glad it's normal. Yes, no bathroom issiues here at all. I had my dressing changed for the first time today and was surprised to see my incision is about 5 inches long and runs up and down my leg instead of under the cheek as he'd said he was going to do. Not sure why he changed his mind but will ask him in a couple weeks when I go back. Darn, my swimsuit model days are over I am 50, they were over a while ago! I am getting bored though...no one would wear what I would knit, or paint, or sit in bed and build, so here I sit. I wish I could run!!! How are you all dealing with such inactivity?? I don't like being waited on or feeling like an invalid. But it hurts a lot to do anything else doesn't it. I like to hear the healing going on with all of you who've had this done, strong people all of you!
Jamie

[I Fell]

Jamie,

I am the most impatient person and constantly need something to do. I hike, bike and go to the gym. I made up my mind when I came home that I would not focus on what I wasn't able to do but what I could do. i played soothing music, read hobby related material, surfed the web and talked to friends. I caught up on reading all the stuff I had around because I didn't have time to get to because I was always doing things. I always say, "Bored is what the unimaginative do to themselves". I did what I could for mysel, inventing ways to do things without further injuring myself and t cheerfully let those that loved me help when I needed it. Accept their help. You are not an invalid but recovering from an injury. You will be feeling better and be able to do more as the days progress. Once rehab starts there will be more to do to break up the day.

Hang in there. It won't be long until this is just a past part of your life.

Heal well, Ned

[mlfoster1]

Hi Jamie "I don't like being waited on or feeling like an invalid"- This was my biggest issue that I knew woiuld confront me while I was getting better. I second what Ned said in regard to rehab. Once it starts, you begin to feel like you are goal setting and moving forward. Be careful and allow yourself to heal...OR you'll set yourself back. I used the computer to research a lot of things that I was interested in....the internet has EVERYTHING as we all know! I run agility with my dogs, so I down loaded course maps and strategized how I'd run them while using imagery. I watched the tennis channel, as I play a lot of competitive tennis. Martha Stewart(who I never loved) had some great shows. All in all, I know JUST WHAT YOU'RE saying, but before you know it time will pass you will be dealing with sitting issues because you can move on to the next challenge!

By the way, my incision is the same pattern as yours....I think it allows them to work with the sciatic nerve better. Consider it your badge of honor!
Michelle

[tricializ]

I'm sorry to post so much this week. It has been a week since I found out I have to have this surgery and I guess I am freaking out! Today it probably all came to a head as I was at brunch with my husband, younger two boys and mother in law. My mother in law hardly even inquired about the issue but when she did (haven't seen her or talked to her since diagnosis), her ONLY comment was, "Oh wow. What are you doing to do with the boys?" I just sort of looked at her dumb and said we were putting things into place. She never offered to help at all. WHO does that? My husband doesn't want to hear about it (in his defense, he is probably sick of hearing about my leg, sciatica issues) and I realize that I am very much alone in this. HOW do you manage your day to day life if you have very limited help? My husband is fairly disabled himself as he had multiple knee surgeries (replacements), bad back etc. So, he isn't as spry as I would like or he would like. With the two little guys that have to go to school, I think I have that covered at least some days. But I'm really going to need to be able to drive pretty quickly and I am thinking maybe I can't get this surgery. Then I think that I can't take the pain of the sciatica and immobility that the hamstring is causing me either. I am really down about this and feeling like I help people all the time with things and now, on the ONE time in my life where I need some help, albeait a long time, these people are nowhere to be found. My family is 500 miles away so aren't much good either. Thanks to this board. It's like you all are the only ones who understand.
Tricia

[sunluver]

Tricia, What a situation you have. All i can offer is to get as much done ahead of time as possible. Heed alll the advice given to you from the others here who've had it done. I have mentioned my doctor does not use a brace of any kind, just crutches. I'm doing really well this way and have to say I am Extremely happy I don't have my leg immobile. That said I am really careful to move my left foot only very barely on just the toes when I walk and always with the crutches and weight off as much as possible. Most of the others have used the brace like your Dr. recommends. It's hell to live with the pain of this and especially when the sciatic nerve is involved which seems to be the case often. If you don't have the support as I do and so many of the others who post on here do, then I am scared for the healing you need to do to make this all worth it. Can you get a relative from even far away to stay for even the first two weeks? A home health aide? A nice neighbor? I think you mentioned it's your right leg and of course you drive with that leg...that's not good, you can't be pushing the gas pedal and trust us you won't even want to! I wish I had better answers for you. I'm thinking of you
Jamie

[sunluver]

By the way Ned and Michelle and Tricia...took your advice and I'm ordering seed catalogs and landscaping books and planning my gardens for this summer(I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I have a lot of time till I plant!) Ned, i have always quoted something like you do about people saying they're bored. Only boring people get bored. So no more pity party for me, time to look at the bright side TY.