Sports Injury Question
 

Yes, I know all about the dangers of seeking medical advice on the web, but except in the arena of politics, the group here at PeachParts seems like a reasonable group of intelligent people.
About 6 weeks ago, while fielding a hard hit ground ball, I slid on the wet grass ( no cleats) and did a MAJOR hamstring tear, left leg knee to hip. I have been nursing that along, and the healing has been slower than I like ( I'm impatient), but steady. My age is a factor here, as I am not a young kid, anymore; 60 years old (sigh).
I have not progressed to where running is natural and easy--more like a jog, but the gait felt a little odd. My guess is that some scar tissue was interfering, and that more time and exercise would take care of it.
Last night, while warming up for another game, I ran a short jog to the outfield, and then though about trying a sprint ( laughable term) in the infield, as in running the bases. On my third stride I felt two sharp "pops" below my left knee. The pain was about like a charlie horse, but without the knotted muscle that comes with the charlie horse. I can bear weight on the leg, but the pain increses as I stride forward on my right foot, and push off the ball of the left foot. The pain seems to be proportional to the angle of my left ankle.
My questions:
Any ideas of what I did?
Any ideas on treatment?--I hate to go to the doctor only to have him say, " Its a soft tissue injury; it'l heal with time". However, if there is some real reason, I am not adverse to going to the doctor.
Thanks, all.

I thought, or rather hoped, that someone here would say, " I did exactly the same (stupid) thing and the answer was to ______."
What? No sporting types here?

Anyway, it is feeling better; not too much pain as I walk.

Haven't torn a hamstring like you, but as an aging long distance runner (I'm 49), I've had plenty of experience with soft tissue injuries.

I always turn back to the age old remedy RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) coupled with copius amounts of anti-inflammatories. In the past, a doc has advised me to take 800 mg of over the counter Ibuprofen three times a day.

Use an unopened bag of frozen peas for the icing. It conforms to the contours of your limbs better than ice cubes (or crescents these days) and it's reusable. No reason not to eat them later.

Good luck. Getting old sucks, but it's better than the alternative.

You've come to the right place. The Peachparts forum is the source for the finest medical advice and opinions currently available on the Internet . . . .

I think you ought to hang up the glove for a while. Go see a doctor.

In the meantime, bed time reading..

http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/hamstring-rehabilitation.html

good luck.

I can understand that, but pops in the knee are doctor visit worthy for sure.

Haven't had that exact injury but I've been amazed at how many new aches and pains I've been getting, pains that I began to think were with me for the duration as they persisted for so long. Like both forearms getting really weak (at different times) after lifting something a bit too heavy. Or my left knee getting so weak that I was limping, God forbid, for about two months. :eek:

Good news is, most all of them have gradually improved, almost gone away, with time. But I hear you on the "running" remark. Oh man, I'd love to be able to pick up and run at full speed again.

Ditto on the remarks about taking knee pain seriously. I'm in the process of finding out if my knee pain is any sort of a correctable condition. If worse comes to worse, might even be looking at an artificial joint within 5 to 10 years, maybe sooner, though I hope not, as I'm a mere lad of 57.

My new prescription is to get my act together in a major way with diet and sleep. I need all the advantages I can get ahold of about now.

There is no "knee" pain. The pain was just below and behind the knee.
Its amazing how much better it feels after only 24 hours. I am considering it a soft tissue issue (!).

If you're still screwed-up at 6-weeks, time to make an appointment with a specialist, MD that is.

My rule-of-thumb is 6-weeks, and if by catering to it, it isn't better - MD time. I hated to hear that you were/are still bound and determined to keep exercising - playing baseball, or whatever - not a good idea, guy.

See the docs now, and I do not mean the chiropractor doc.

Make it an orthopedic surgeon. I have one of the best I go to, and with proper surgery/rehab/time/ice/catering to it - I am back in-the-game in 6-months - yes, 6-months guy! That is how long my right shoulder took to totally rehab after surgery, and start being able to lift reasonable weights - don't be a hero, stay off it, and get to the doc!

exactly.

I couldn't disagree more.

Thanks.

My own dear wife and I are as different as can be--at least on this issue. She has a variety of physical issues, and when she does anything that requires effort cannot distinguish between normal muscle pain, and damage.

I may be out of shape, but my body is pretty good at telling me when there is a need to see the doctor( bones out of their joint, or sticking thru the skin). I have a friend who is a VP of a local hospital. He specializes in sports injuries. I asked his advice on the original hamstring injury, and he said RICE (which I was doing) and that it would take 4 to 6 weeks--I should figure 6+ weeks because of my age. I didn't want to bother him on the second injury, but it "felt" like soft tissue stuff.
As a matter of fact, it feels far better today than yesterday. Still no running, and I will limit the activity and allow it to rest and heal for the weekend.
The playoffs start next week!

Well then, perhaps you will explain why?

Sounds like you've got it all worked out. Playoffs next week! BooRah!