[rochrunner]

It would be the ultimate irony if I made it to within 8 hours of the end of an injury-free year and then injured myself, but that might be what happened. The mistake I made at the run on New Year's Eve was to get caught up talking with others right up until it was time to start. Then I went straight outside into the cold with no warmup. Being only a 4-miler and wanting a good time, I took right off at full target pace.<br><br>
Anyway, that night and the next day I had an ache in my left hamstring and on up into my gluteus maximus, and still have some of the effects (I had to take my wallet out of my hip pocket because it felt bruised back there). It's not like a real "pulled hamstring", as there's never any sharp pain and if I take a day off it feels pretty much OK. But when I start running, it gets sore after a short distance and I'll feel it the rest of the day.<br><br>
This morning it was a bit sore when I got up and walked around. At the rec center, I cycled for about 10 minutes and after the warmup it hasn't bothered me since. But I'm wondering if it will start hurting again if I go for a run tomorrow.<br><br>
So in a way it acts like the soreness that you get after any unusually long run or fast race, but it also seems to be more persistent. I've also never had anything in these particular muscles before -- especially up in the butt area.<br><br>
Any ideas or advice?

 

[RunsTheBitterroot]

Hi Rochrunner! Sorry that you are still sore. From time to time I will get some soreness right in the middle of the butt half and it feels like a point of soreness there. It has been some time since I have had that but I usually kept a tennis ball handy and when I sat down, especially in the car or at work I would set on the tennis ball, this really helped. A longer time ago I had it more often and found that my wallet was causing it. First I switched pockets, then quit carrying a wallet. Not running never helped. Good luck on getting this thing healed up. Larry

 

[Sans Souci]

Roch, I'm really sorry to hear this. I can't say I know very much about the injury (pretty well every other one, it seems ... sigh). I hope Larry's advice is helpful.<br><br>
As I read your post, I couldn't help but think about Euphoric's severe hamstring tear. I'd sure hate for you to push and end up, like she is, off the road/trails for over six months.<br><br>
So please proceed carefully and maybe consider having an expert take a look.

 

[toe jam on crusty feet]

<a href="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13212This" target="_blank">http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/sho...hp?t=13212This</a> thread has alot of info that should help you <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> Good luck! I posted a website in that thread that is very helpful <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[euphoric]

Okay, SS, I'm posting this just in case it may help the good folks here. I feel more inclined to write now because I'm recovering from my pain in the butt and starting to return to the road. ( I also got a cheap thrill from seeing my name in print.) You all have written about the home remedies I tried before finally arriving at a physical therapy clinic after being forced to the ground, near the end of a run, one November morning. Earlier primary care discussions of piriformis and sciatica problems were immediately dismissed during my initial pt examination. The physical therapist thought I had a partial tear of the tendon which connects the hamstring group to the ischial tuberosity, that little bone you feel when sitting for too long on a hard surface. He thought we should treat it as the worst and hope for the best. I was making very little progress and then felt a "pop" while doing some very easy work at pt. By that point I was walking with a limp, could not sit through dinner and dreaded the process of getting into the car. Tripping produced significant pain and I couldn't sleep on my right side. I made no progress and was sent for an MRI. It confirmed the tear and also showed bone marrow edema. The tendon injury had now progressed to the point of threatening an avulsion fracture. That's what happens when old ladies ignore pain from a foolish overuse injury.<br><br>
Now for the better part. I started swimming shortly after the diagnosis. No kicking allowed, so I used a pull buoy. Seeing a kid pool running reminded me of The Great SS talking about the benefits of this sort of workout. I asked for a lesson from the kid at the pool, permission from the pt, and added pool running to the swims which now included a kick. It was the turning point in my recovery. I now swim at least 1000 yds a day and am in week 3 of a pool running plan. Recovery has been more fun than I could have ever expected. I've met new friends, other old ladies who swim, DWR, and cycle since they have had to reduce running mileage. June is still the projected date for full recovery and I have been encouraged to reduce all future mileage goals. Less running just means I'll have more time to swim and ride. It's that lemons to lemonade thing.<br><br>
Butt anatomy is interesting. One problem can cause symptoms of another. All those muscles, nerves and tendons are intertwined. Hindsight, some pun intended, showed me I should have taken time off and sought help sooner. I should also have paid more attention to good advice I had been given before the exacerbation of the injury. I hope this info may help others avoid unnecessary pain and extended time off the road.

 

[toe jam on crusty feet]

I'm glad you are improving <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">