gluteal tendinopathy with tendon and muscle tears

@spillihped

Do you know how Covid caused your tendinopathy? I have bilateral gluteal and hamstring partial tears with no known cause. I just started to have significant pain and weakness in hips/buttocks/legs and have difficulty standing up from seated positions, controlling hip rotation/movement, lifting legs to put on underwear and pants and strength to go up and down stairs. Standing for long periods isn’t easy. Like you, I can walk on flat surfaces for a distance but not climb or handle slopes up/down well. Some of my issues may also be tied to my spinal stenosis , degenerative disc disease and neurogenic claudication. Did you ever have your lumbar spine looked at?

I am supposed to start physical therapy for upper and lower body following multiple spine surgeries where I have deconditioned quite a bit. Like you, I would love to know how to strengthen muscles/tendons to improve function. I have heard about debridement surgery to reconnect tendons/muscles but not sure if that would make things worse for me.

I am dealing with gluteal tendinopathy too. I pulled a glute muscle while gardening back in late May. I was in physical therapy for muscle building--I was overworked and this I feel made it worse. I had one acupuncture session and the acupuncturist who is a doctor said that I had knotted scar tissue. Now I feel sore. Like you, I can walk well on level surfaces but find uphill gradients to be challenging. It is now four days since my first acupuncture session and I am still somewhat sore at that muscle. I wonder if this is normal as part of the healing process. I tried calling the acupuncturist or his staff but no one returned my call. Very frustrating but that is the way health care seems to work these days. My primary care doctor said no shots for me as I am dealing with autoimmune conditions including peripheral neuropathy. I want to heal in the worst way so I can improve my quality of life. I do not drive--I am a walker and enjoyed it.

Hi, dlydailyhope and arcuri24 -

I'm sorry you folks are also dealing with this pesky affliction.
For me, it came on immediately after my first bout of COVID last October. If one Googles, "Musculo-skeletal sequelae of CoviD, up pop lots of tendon and muscle issues. I can't prove that this waas a long COVID phenomenon for me, but the timing is surely suspicious: COVID 19-27 October, 2024, and my first trochanteric pain, in early November. By Thanksgiving, I couldn't climb stairs without excruciating pain.
I recently had an L-S MRI, which showed only mild degeneration at L5-S1, so I don't think that's contributing much to my leg pain, except perhaps to the lateral lower leg when I walk.
It's important to find a knowledgeable physical therapist and a good physical medicine doc (physiatrist), who ideally is also a sports medicine doc. Though I have an acupucturist whom I adore, I'm not sure how much acupuncture helps. Deep tissue massage may help, though really, who knows?
I just finished my second round of "shock therapy" (EPAT: Extracorporeal Pulse Activation technology), which in the UK has an 80% efficacy rate. It's also done at Mayo and Cleveland Clinics. I had mine at Stanford in Emeryville, CA. Six weeks after the first round (3 app'ts, each separated by a week) I was able to walk much farther with no or minimal pain. Having finished my second round, I'm having to wait a few more weeks to see if there will be further improvement.
Next step will be PRP, Platelet Rich Plasma injections. There's a regenerative M.D. in Phoenix whom I might see if all that fails to improve. Since I'm a hiker (had even gone to Mt. Everest Base Camp in my younger days), not being able to walk around my block in the hills is depressing.
It's really important to do strengthening exercises for the gluts: single leg bridges, side lying leg raises, squats, curtsies, side lunges. But be careful! Don't overdue and be patient. This will not go away in a few weeks. Find a knowledgeable, compassionate physical sports therapist.
Good luck and let me know how you're progressing.

Finally diagnosed with gluteal tendinopathy and small tears in glutes. Before doctor automatically went to bursitis of the hip. I have had steroid injections which helped but you can't live on those, detrimental to the muscle and tendons. I tried dry needling, acupuncture, myofascial massage trigger therapy, stretch labs, massage, meds and PT. All just don't do anything. I am finally considering PRP injections. My ortho said 6 out of 10 get relief. I feel I have it all over my body though and not just glutes. Something underlying and flares. The more people I talk to though, many seem to have the same issues with pain in glutes, lower back, hips etc. which can be anything from piriformis syndrome, psoas, iliacus, flexors and inductors. Not sure what to do.

Hi, loyd1957 -
So sorry about your affliction, which I know all too well isn't fun.
Have you tried "shock therapy?" (EPAT: Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology)
It's cheaper than PRP and has an 80% success rate in the UK. Mayo and Cleveland Clinics do it. I've had it at Stanford. Six weeks after my last "zapping," (there are three, each separated by a week), I was able to finally walk on flat surfaces without pain or with very little.
However, I, too, am considering PRP to see if there can be further improvement.
Be sure to continue doing glut exercises to strengthen glut med and min.
Best, Chiara

@dlydailyhope

My orthopedist said that she wouldn't recommend debridement for partial tears. My physiatrist, however, said that would be "the next step."
Debriding already torn tendons scares me.
Chiara

@spillihped
Thanks for your sympathy. Acupuncture did not help me--in fact, it left me rather sore. The doctor who did the acupuncture is also a physiatrist and he said he would try massage therapy on me next time. I am doing some exercise for my glutes but I am really cautious. I also take shorter walks and avoid hills in the hope that I will heal. In addition to a tear, I think arthritis is causing pain as well. Being patient is not my strong point. My PCP said no to cortisone shots--I am autoimmune and am sensitive to lots of stimuli. Still, I have hopes of getting back to the activities I once enjoyed.

@arcuri24
Good luck. This is not an easy road. 😞

Maybe acupuncture is not for me. I may try massage therapy. Yes, it is not an easy road but I will take one day at a time. Anything else leads to anxiety and stress--which can lead to pain. Many of us are on the road and we must support each other as best we can.

@arcuri24