proximal hamstring avulsion Surgery

@upgirl2013
Happy New Year! New year, new beginnings.
Congratulation on completing your physical therapy! It must feel good to have that behind you. I hope swimming is going well, and you will reach full recovery very soon. I am looking forward to longer days and warmer temperatures ahead. I can't say I enjoy walking in snowy, icy conditions, I am still very fearful of slipping, even with the use of 2 trekking poles.

I will be 4 months post surgery January 12. I was diagnosed with a full proximal hamstring rupture/disruption at the origin on my Left leg after a water skiing accident. Torn tendons were approximately 7 cm redundant. The hematoma at injury sight was 2.2 x 5.8 x 4.7. I am a 67 year old female. The surgery required a 7 cm incision and 2 "SwiveLock" anchors. The surgeon felt the surgery went very well. I only had 3 very brief follow up appointments with the surgeon. (2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 2 months). He looked at the incision at 2 weeks. After that appointment he did not do any hands on, only a brief discussion occurred on the last 2 appointments. I do feel like I had a good surgeon, but I don't feel like the follow up appointment were adequate. I thought he might have checked for range of motion, anchor positioning and etc, but he did not, and maybe this information came from my PT notes. I am pleased with my progress, and I guess that is the critical evaluation.

This injury is a very difficult injury, but at 4 months post surgery, I feel like I will be able to make a complete recovery. Will I ever want to water ski again. NO WAY. At some point in time I may try XCountry skiing again, but not this winter. And any future activities I will take the time to stretch adequately!.

I am still doing PT approximately 1 time a week, with exercises at home about every other day. I think the swelling has gone down, but I have noticed my upper thigh will still swell some if I walk too much or overdo it with PT exercises. I think I have regained almost full range of motion on my injured leg, but I am finding I am walking/hiking much more slowly, and I can not go as far. I walked 3 1/2 miles a few days ago, and my body told me enough. Unfortunately, some back/hip/knee problems presented at about 3 months, and PT had to shift to addressing those issues also. My PT seems to think that several weeks of favoring one side, things may just be out of wack.
After 2 visist to the chiropractor, an acupuncturist, and receiving hyaluronic injection in the knees, I think I am finally back on track. For a while, some old issues were more limiting than my hamstring recovery.
As to the above questions. 1. Yes, my surgical scar is still slightly sensitive. I continue to use the Palmers Cocoa Butter as suggested. The acupuncturist also was able to reduce the stretched skin feeling. 2. My AH ah moments were when I could go down stairs, tie my own shoes again, and pick something up off the floor. Each achievement made me more independent.
3. My last appoint with the surgeon was 2 months post surgery. I do feel like I could have used a bit more reassurance that everything was progressing as it should. 4. I think in my situation, I will be almost fully recovered at 6 months, but I will allow myself a full year. My goal will be to continue the stretching, flexibility, and strengthening exercises. 5. Finally, I am much better mentally, I have stopped looking back, and am grateful for how far I have come. I tell myself, the accident could have been much worse. At least I expect to make a full (or almost full) recovery, not everyone is so lucky.
In the early days of my recovery, the encouragement received from this forum was very helpful. It helped me get thru some very dark days! It was a great source for not only encouragement, but useful information to navigate thru the different stages of my injury. Thanks to all who have posted on this thread! Lets have a great New Year!

@tamb it is great to hear from you! I am glad you are looking forward and are moving with relative ease now.
Yes, the other body parts let you know they have been working overtime to compensate for this injury.
I do share your feelings about the surgeons visits and input. I relied on a PT that only saw this injury once ten years ago to access my progress and abilities. I feel like he did a great job, but was given very little guidance on how to proceed on my own.
I have swam two times since Christmas and the last one seemed better. I am not enjoying all the ice under the snow and then the cold snaps and I am grateful that I do not have to use crutches in this weather.
We are escaping soon and I have decided not to take my tennis racquet. I know my hamstrings are not strong enough for the jarring motion. I have yet to try to run or pivot.
I try to vary the PT exercises daily and do use the spin bike at the Y at least 5 days a week. I have changed my outlook to a year recovery instead of six months. That seems to ease my mind a bit.
I mentioned in an earlier post that my husband has mild cognitive impairment so we will be taking a lot of walks together in February and March. (I lost him twice last year). The weather will be in the 50’s and 60’s and I am okay with it being “chilly” because there will not be any snow and ice.
Please keep posting and giving up dates on your recovery.

This thread would have been so nice to find early on. I am 5 months post surgery (85% complete tear, 3 screws and shaving of pelvis bone to give sciatic nerve room). I am cleared to do any and all activities but they definitely aren’t as easy as before. The nerve burning has been pretty consistent lately but the hamstring area is still numb to touch. Have been having more discomfort sitting (which went away for awhile) and lower back pain on that side. Has anyone else experienced this?

@jliethen
This has been a challenging recovery. Shaving the pelvic bone to give the sciatic nerve room, would add further complications, I would expect.
On Feb 12, I will be 5 months post surgery.
I am still doing Physical Therapy. At this point, my goal is to get my injured hamstring as strong as the other leg.
My hamstring recovery triggered lower back pain on the Opposite side of my back. I wondered if the PT exercises were the trigger. (Possibly favoring my injured side, might have created additional strain on the opposite side.)
The Physical Therapist included core/back exercises to help. Since the pain was significant, I also visited both a chiropractor & an acupuncturist. I think that helped. My back pain has now passed for the most part. For me, the hamstring injury flared up several other old arthritic pains and injuries.
In the recovery process, and my physical therapy, I have to be mindful of those past injuries.
I had periodic lower back problems (and knees) long before my hamstring avulsion surgery.
(I am 67 years old for reference)
I experienced little nerve burning, but it took me a long time till I could sit comfortably.
I am still very picky about where I sit. I have to have good back support. I also try to get up frequently and move around.
I might have felt numbness in the hamstring earlier, but I do not have that issue currently.
This discussion group has helped me considerably. It certainly made me realize that this injury
is a serious injury and will take time reach full recovery.
I hope this forum helps you out also. I wish you best with your recovery. It seems this injury requires a lot of patience, so give yourself time!

@jliethen welcome! I had the same procedure that you did and do find at 6.5 months post operation that more exercises I do and now that I am a tad more active, my hamstrings and my tush are sore. I am still sitting on ice multiple times a day. Being cleared to do activities and being able to do them are two different things. Take your time and reflect on how far you have come from day 1 of your injury. If your nerves continue to burn, reach out to your surgeon and let them know. The numbness comes and goes as the nerves are regenerating.
Do not compare yourself to anyone and know that each recovery is different. Back in July, I thought I would be just as active as before the surgery. Boy was a I wrong. No snowshoeing or XC skiing for me this winter.
Keep posting and letting us know how you are feeling.
I have said multiple times that this is the most frustrating and humbling recovery process.
You are not alone and we will get stronger together.

Hi, I’m a 56 year-old female 4+ weeks postop with a complete tear that was retracted 8 cm. I hope that reading your comments will help me have more realistic expectations. I am currently non weight bearing on the affected leg and wearing a immobilizer hip brace that allows up to 30° flexion at the hip/waste. The plan is that I will maintain these restrictions to the six week mark and then start PT. How many weeks postop did your doctors have you start physical therapy? Up to this point the pain has been very minimal with the exception of my lower back. A back injury 15 years ago left me with some mild back pain, I’m sure the change in weight distribution and the inability to stretch and move as normal has notched up the pain level. I’m crossing my fingers that there is not too much damage to the nerve. When my foot touches the floor a numb tingling sensation shoots up from the bottom of my foot, although it is not painful it is annoying. I am eager to reach the six week mark and start moving more, although concerned that the harder part of the recovery will just be starting.

@sfricke please accept my apologies for responding so late. I started PT at 2 weeks with massage and manipulation and minimal exercises. It was not until week 12 that the hamstring muscle exercises were added to my routine. I graduated from therapy at 5 months. At 7 months I am walking and biking quite a bit. Touching my toes in a standing or seated positions is not available to me yet. It is a long and slow recovery and I have been told it will be a year before I will feel full strength in my hamstrings.
As your nerves regenerate you will feel numbness, shooting pains and dull aches. I hope this is starting to subside.
How is your therapy going? Are you still having issues with tingling?

Hi All,
I have reached the 7 month post op mark🙌
We are at the beach until Mid March. The ice and cold in the upper Midwest chased us out. It has been great to ride a
(heavy beach bike) and walk along the shore.
I can finally feel the muscles of my hamstrings and continue to ice a few times a day and heat before bed. My hip on the surgical side is quite angry and painful. Just another reminder that this is long recovery and it is easy to over do it.
I have yet to have a day when I do not think that I am not healing correctly or that I am going to pull the hamstrings too far. The mind games are real!
I am very grateful that I can walk, ride a bike and be active. When I read stories of people being able to run at 12 weeks, practice yoga or even stretch past their shins at 6 months, I wonder how can they do that? The stage of dementia that my husband is experiencing has us spending a lot of time together. I have paused swimming laps until we are back home. With travel time to the pool, swimming and post swim showering, it would be too much time for him to be alone.
How are you all doing? Any tips to make this recovery process easier or stories to share?

Today, at 226 days post operation, I used the dustpan without crying! Funny on the little things seem soooo hard.
I hope you all finding joy and humor in the little hurdles you have to overcome.

Hi Katy,

Sorry for the late reply and this may have been answered. Generally, when going u/p stairs, remember "good leg first". The healthy leg will lift the injured leg.

And it's the reverse going downstairs, "bad leg first". The good leg has the strength to hold the bad leg up without stressing it.

Hope you are well, and hope this helps!

Joe