Am I The Only One To HaveTendonitis Of The Upper Hamstring?

by Christine
(Illinois)

Hello,


I had tendonitis of the upper left hamstring, where it attaches to the pelvis over a year ago and was under a doctor's care.

It healed and I successfully began running again.

Recently, I noticed slight pain in the same place, only on the right leg.

Any idea how long this will take to heal?

I am hoping, with no exercise, by the end of January.

This is a frustrating injury as you lose all your endurance and muscle as it heals.

It is in a place that is hindered by running or walking. How can I stay in shape while healing?


Also, am I the only one to ever have tendonitis of the upper hamstring? No articles on it anywhere.

Thank you for your time,

Christine


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Joshua Answers:


Hi Christine.

You didn't leave your email on the notifications section, so I hope you find this response.

No, you are definitely not the only person to have Tendonitis of the upper hamstrings.

It's likely that while the original pain 'healed', the tightness and shortness remained. That's just the way Tendonitis and the Pain Causing Dynamic works.

And I wouldn't recommend relying on Rest to make this go away. It likely won't. Maybe the
pain will go away, but it's predictable that the issue will come back.


QUESTIONs:


1. If you poke around the painful spot, does it hurt up by the SITS bones (called such because you sits on them) at the top of the back of the leg/butt, or more medial/interior towards the crotch?

In my experience it's common to have some adductor issue in there too, if only from tight connective tissue around the adductors to tug on the hamstrings/connective tissue around the hamstrings.


2. How bad does it hurt? How what when where why?


3. What helps, what doesn't?

4. How much do you run?



If you find this and respond, I'll say more.




Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com
















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Comments for Am I The Only One To HaveTendonitis Of The Upper Hamstring?

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Feb 07, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I have it too!
by: Anonymous

I can't tell when this was posted but have the same thing so can I give answers for more information?

1. If you poke around the painful spot, does it hurt up by the SITS bones (called such because you sits on them) at the top of the back of the leg/butt, or more medial/interior towards the crotch?

It hurts a bit on the SITS bones but hurts a lot more towards the crotch. I can feel 'sinuous' tendons? that are painful to touch.



2. How bad does it hurt? How what when where why?

When I sit for too long (it can be as little as 10 min now) , it starts to hurt ALOT- I thought it was nerve pain at first, it was so sharp. It also hurts when I bend to touch my toes.


3. What helps, what doesn't?

Your icing helps! (I only started yesterday). Not sitting down helps too.


4. How much do you run?

I do not run- could this have been from simply too much stretching, touch my toes, palms to the floor. I hike up/down a trail w/steps/hills for exercise and don't know of that is the cause or the stretching (I have I think piriformis syndrome in the OTHER hip and my intense stretching was trying to resolve that...)

I hope you are back online for more questions soon! THANK YOU!


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Joshua Comments:

Sure Anonymous, ask away!

Let me say first, that hand/wrist/elbow/shoulder stuff is easy to figure out over distance. Hamstring/adductor/pelvis stuff is tougher as there's A LOT more mechanical variables going on.

So bear with me.

1. Where exactly does it hurt when you bend over and touch your toes?

2. Where exactly does it hurt when you sit down? Same place?

3. Those sinuous tendons that hurt, is that along where they attach to your pubis/pelvic bone?

3b. Does it hurt all around in there, or JUST on the tendon(s)?

4. When you say intense stretch, do you mean that you stretch till it hurts, historically?

5. What are you doing about the piriformis problem, exactly?

6. Do your hamstrings ache/hurt? Do your adductors ache/hurt?



Aug 26, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Hamstring tendonitis
by: K. Rosselle

Help! This is the first place I've seen words put to my pain. This has been going on for 10 months and I am growing weary. I have all the same issues as the others I have read and need to know how to feel better. Please help!


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Joshua Comments:

Hi K.

Go ahead and answer the questions I asked Anonymous.
May 03, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Upper Hamstring Pelvic Floor Tendonitis
by: Anonymous

I have been dealing with this for l5months now. I probably overdid the stretching (almost continuously over the course of the day), pilates, etc in attempts to stretch the tight muscles.

Eventually, I got an MRI and was diagnosed with a one inch tear under my sits bone area. I think it may have come from having someone stretch my leg too far on an already sensitive area.

During the last year I have tried physical therapy, deep heat, chiropractic treatments, acupunture etc.

So, when diagnosed with the tear, I rested for 3 months, the tear healed and I just had PRP last Friday. Hoping that will help. I can have up to three of these treatments.

Then hopefully it will be time to start physical therapy and move on. I was told by an orthopedic doctor and a DO that they hadn't done PRP in this area before, but by time I got off the anti inflammatories for the 2 weeks, the DO that did the procedure had done a similar case with good results. No guarantees, but it's not like surgery so worth a shot.

It's a pain to not be able to sit without being comfortable.


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Joshua Comments:

Hi UH.

It's almost been a month since you left this comment. How are you now.

So, what do I think?

I think if you have a tear, there's a bigger issue that caused the tear.

You need/want a bigger gun than I can provide. (I think there's a better analogy...better tool?)

The self care I provide is helpful and effective for what it's helpful and effective for. If you have a 1 inch tear, you're needing a better tool.

The tear happened because you have an electrical disconnect. Basically, a disruption that keeps certain muscles from firing hard enough/fast enough.

If they can't handle the load, that load has to transfer somewhere. Right to where you have the tear.

The tear will heal in time, though there will likely be downsides like scar tissue, future little tears, reduced ROM, continued signal to the nervous system to keep things tight to 'protect' you, etc.

Here's what I suggest. See this page: The ARPwave System

It will increase healing time drastically, allow you a FULL recovery, and even more importantly, correct that electrical disconnect so your musculature can work how it's supposed to work.

I don't know what your motivation level is to fix this, but take a look and see if it fits with your desires.

Did you do the PRP treatment? Curious to see how that went. The only downside is, even if the tear itself stitches itself up with scar tissue, that doesn't fix the issues which caused the tear.

Remember, that tear is where a problem ended up. The tear is a symptom of something, not a cause.

Let me know if you have any questions etc.
Oct 27, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Levaquin Users?
by: Anonymous

Has anyone used Levaquin prior to an upper hamstring tendonitis episode? This is my second episode and both came shortly after taking Levaquin which is an antibiotic known to cause tendonitis and ruptured tendons, but I have not found any information regarding hamstrings. Just seems like there might be a connection.
Mar 21, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Try using an ace bandage
by: Anonymous

03/21/12 I have had this problem for a few months and the only thing to help the discomfort of sitting is using an ace bandage and wrapping it somewhat tight around my leg. I still have the problem and was given indomethacin to help with the pain.

Hope it works. The ace bandage definitely helps!!
Mar 21, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Tendonitis of the upper hamstring
by: pain in the rump

I don't jog or do much exercise, and my job has me mostly sitting down. A few months ago I started having this pain and finally went to the Dr. He thought it was bursitis, gave me a cortizone shot, gave me some exercises to do, then put me on an aspirin regimen.

After that didn't work he sent me to a PT. PT thought it was a pulled hamstring. PT didn't work either. I decided to put an ace bandage around the area and that has allowed me to sit down with a lot more ease than before.

Can't say it is fixing this issue (have only been doing it for a week), but it has certainly made it easier to deal with sitting down!!!
Jul 01, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Upper hamstring tendonitis
by: Anonymous

Hello,

I have been diagnosed with this from the results of an MRI. I have had it for 7 months now. I have been advised on treatment plans and was wondering what exercise I could still continue to do?


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Anonymous.

What exercises can I do with hamstring tendonitis while I do therapy?

The simple answer is, you can do anything that doesn't cause hamstring pain.

For a more complex answer, I'd need to know more.

Like, what exercises do you want to do? And what were you doing that caused the problem?
Feb 15, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		tendonitis in the glutes and hamstring explanation
by: Kerry

1. If you poke around the painful spot, does it hurt up by the SITS bones (called such because you sits on them) at the top of the back of the leg/butt, or more medial/interior towards the crotch?

It is a bit painful to touch, but not too bad. It just seems to hurt all the time. I am convinced sitting makes it worse. After 8 months I thought it was starting to get a bit better, then got stuck on a plane for 8 hours and it seems to have gone back to how it was initially. I think I did this injury when I came off the bike a few years ago.

Over the years it seemed to flare up, but only for a few weeks and very minor. Then 8 months ago I decided to do some training on the bike (have hardly ridden it previously) and this is what seemed to make it flare up. Even though the pain is on the interior towards the crotch, when I run it seems to start aching in my glute. Does that sound normal for this type of injury?

2. How bad does it hurt? How what when where why?

Hurts a lot when sitting. Not really when lying down. Can't stretch that leg as the injury restricts it. Hurts on the interior towards the crotch when initally running, but then seems to more to the glute.

3. What helps, what doesn't?

Nothing seems to help. Have tried anti-inflamatories, rest (6 weeks), however I have been going to the gym and doing some light exercises (eg hamstring curls) and I have a feeling this may be helping.

4. How much do you run?

100km a week.

--

Do you think this is Tendonitis Of The Upper Hamstring and do you have any suggestions. This might sound crazy but I was thinking of asking my doctor for a month off so I could stay home and lie down and try not to sit to see if that helps.

What do you think?


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Joshua Comments:

I guarantee you that putting yourself into a coma for a month won't help. Pain will probably go away...until you start running again.

I'm a big fan of FIXING the problem, as opposed to hoping that it goes away.

Hamstrings are a bit tricky as there's so much involved; glutes, hip bone alignment, hamstrings and adductors and quads.


The short answer is, self massage. Feel around from glutes to knee, and if it's tight muscle, massage it till it's not (over time, not all in one sitting). And if you find a hot spont/painful spot, massage it over time until it doesn't. Running will add irritation to an already irritated dynamic, so it wouldn't hurt to cut down on your milage for a while while you do self care. Also, more good fat and protein.

And see: Magnesium For Tendonitis


That's the really short answer. But start with that, then let me know what happens.
Jun 30, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		how to ice massage your upper hamstring?
by: Allison

I've been diagnosed with high hamstring tendonitis (fluid) on the left side. Its been 6.5 mths and I haven't improved much. It started all of a sudden while running (doing speed work on the track).

I like how you recommend ice massage for tendonitis but I can't reach it myself. Any suggestions? I've been using ice packs for months but it hasn't improved. Ideally it would be nice to have someone give me an ice massage, but I can't find anyone willing to ice my butt 4 times a day.

It mostly hurts at the sits bones, but I have deep soreness and achiness on my whole left butt-cheek. When trying to run its a pulling feeling down my leg and I am unable to lift my leg.

I have always been tight. No matter how much stretching, foam rolling, massaging, yoga I do, I never seem to improve my flexibility. Any suggestions on this?

thanks
~Allison


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Allison.

1. What do you mean you can't reach it? You can't reach your butt? (Sorry, I'm just in the mood to say that.)

But really, what do you mean, you can't reach your sits bones and/or hamstrings? Say more about that.

2. Are you all over tight, or you mean you've always had tight hamstrings?

3. Age, and history of athletics? (what have you done, how much, how often, etc?)

4. What do you mean, 'unable to lift my leg'?

5. What do you mean by the 'fluid' in 'diagnosed with high hamstring tendonitis (fluid)'?

6. Describe the six months.
Jul 08, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Allison's follow up - High Hamstring tendonitis
by: Anonymous

1.) I've been trying to use ice cup massage, but its hard to apply a lot of pressure because of the angle. Its also hard for me to identify the exact location. I have soreness all over my left butt cheek and when I try to run I feel a pulling and pain down my hamstring/leg. When I massage my upper thigh there is no soreness or tender spots. My thigh seems to only hurt when trying to run or walk uphill. But my butt has a constant achiness.

2.) I've always been tight all over, especially hamstrings and hip flexors. I stretch regularly, but I'm always still so tight and inflexible.

3.) I'm 31 yrs old and have been running track and cross country competitively since high school. In the summer of 2010 I started getting stress fractures in my feet. With 3 fractures in just 15 mths, I then dramatically changed my training. I then started running only 3 days a week and pool running the remaining 4 days.

I went from running 70 mi/wk to running only 18-20 mi/wks. This routine kept me in excellent shape and healthy for 1 full year. Then I got this hamstring injury at the end of December 2013. It came on all of a sudden and was a severe and intense pain in butt, hamstring, and hip area.

4.) Walking around feels the best. But when I try to run or walk uphill there is a pulling feeling and I am unable to bring my leg/knee all the way up on the forward swing phase. It feels like my left leg is dragging, especially when trying to do speed work.

5.)I had an MRI in March and the doctor said my diagnosis was hamstring tendonitis. He just kept saying, "Its just fluid around the top of the hamstring at the attachment, that's all." There was no tearing or "no damage".

6.) For the past 6.5 mths I've been doing pool running to stay in shape. I did physical therapy for 3+ mths, but then quit, but still do the exercises. I've try Active Release Technique, deep tissue massage, acupuncture, yoga, hamstring & quad strengthening and foam rolling.

I've also been doing ice 4 times a day for the past week (as you said). Sitting has been more tolerable over the past month, but I know if I start running again, it will still hurt. I can tell by the constant soreness that I'm still not ready to start jogging.

Any other suggestions? Or is this a career ending injury?

~Allison


-Joshua Responds In Next Section-
Jul 13, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Joshua Responds to Allison - high hamstring tendonitis
by: The Tendonitis Expert

Joshua Comments:

Hi Allison.

1. It's only career-ending if one doesn't find the source of the problem and thus fail to 'fix' it.

2. Hamstrings are a bit more problematic because A. they're attached to the hip (which is complicated) and B. as you say, they're not the easiest things in the world to reach and work on.

Having said that, totally doable.


3. See Magnesium For Tendonitis

If you don't have enough magnesium, you muscles literally can't relax.


4. Again, hamstring/hip is complicated, but we gotta start with the basics.

What's the basics of the problem? A. lack of magnesium (take 100mg of b6 every day too, as B6 is required to utilize magnesium, and inflammation eats up B6) and B. muscles and connective tissue are too tight.

Can't swing your leg forward? Because the muscles on the back are too tight and not letting go.

Feels like it's always tight? That's because it is.


5. Massage and ice massage.

Switch to frozen water bottles instead of frozen dixie cups. Lay on your back, pull your knee(s) up, use one hand on either side of your leg holding onto the frozen water bottle, and pull the bottle into the hamstrings, which incluces straighten your let and/or pull your knee away form yoru body which will force the bottle in.

Also, frozen water bottle or equivalent on the floor, you get on the floor, put your butt on the bottle, and wiggle around such that the hard object is massaging into your glutes as you carefully adjust your weight down onto the bottle.

Let gravity do all the work. At first you'll just be rolling over onto the bottle, as things start to feel better you can add more and more bodyweight.


6. Make sure you understand the Process of Inflammation


7. See: Inflammation Causes Vitamin B6 Deficiency


8. Make sure you understand the Pain Causing Dynamic
Nov 12, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		College runner out for months with Hamstring pain
by: Hayley

Hi!
I am so glad I found this page!! I have pain mainly on my right leg hight hamstring and adductors, but I also do have another weird pain on my left side that feels different than the right.

I just started running when I was a freshmen in college, and then my sophomore year I started to run competitively for my team. About halfway though indoor track (March) I had to stop running competitively because of pain.

I could run through it but I knew enough was enough. I got MRIs, bone scan, and Xrays...and the doctors do not see anything. I have tried so many different therapies.

My injury has gotten a little bit better but it is still there and some days it is quite bad. I have not been running but I am cross training on the bike (spinning) and the elliptical.

I can still feel it a little bit when I do. I also have been trying to strengthen it but I am not sure if I am just cause more issues. I am so frustrated and do not know what to do anymore! It feels tight and painful...and like its a bruise kinda.

I hope you can get back to me! Thanks


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Hayley.

It sounds like you don't have an actual injury.

If there's no rip or tear, not even any inflammation (you didn't mention it in the MRI results), then there is no -injury-.

WHich in no way means that A. your body is working correctly or B. you can't have disabling pain.

There could be a lot of other factors at play (there are), but the first place to look/ the first base to cover is nutrition.

For instance, if you don't have enough magnesium, your muscles literally can't relax.

See: Magnesium For Tendonitis

See: Pain Causing Dynamic. You're stuck in one.

Read these two links, comprehend, follow related links while you read (like the Process of Inflammation one) and then get back to me here and we'll continue.
Aug 28, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I'm a hot mess!
by: J dixon

Where do I start? The beginning, I suppose.

I began having a twinge in my right hamstring (mid lateral area) about 2 years ago, but it was never really problem some.

Then, I noticed I had pain in my right groin with back squatting below parallel. I switched to front squats and the pain seemed to abate. Time passed and I continued to lift weights, always with a twinge in my right hamstring, however the groin pain moved to the left side and I noticed in my squats, as I moved below parallel, my whole body shifted to the right in a left hip forward, right hip back motion.

So, I backed off on the squats and continued my other lifts. In the meantime, I've seen doctors and chiropractors, had an MRI of my left hip which came back clean, and tried every exercise I could find for alignment.

I was prescribed PT and decided to stop lifting all together and started yoga. Well, the hip/groin seemed to improve, but then the right hamstring(feels like at the lateral insertion point and into the right lateralhip/gluteal)lit up to the point where I could barely lift it directly in front of me above hip height while standing.

I received more PT and a chiro used ultrasound therapy and it seems to be improving, but gets aggravated in a full forward hip hinge (reaching to touch the floor).

I am extremely flexible, but try not to push the right hammy to its aggravation point. So, as the right hamstring has improved, the left hamstring is now Feeling similar to the right one. There is even the similar twinge at my lateral hip/gluteal area.

I had an X-ray and my hips are misaligned with my left hip forward and up and my right hip back and tilted down about 5mm.

My right shoulder also is lower than my left.

When I sit on the floor feet pressed together, knees out, allowing gravity to relax my knees toward the ground, the left knee and lateral shin are able to touch the ground (but with a twinge in my lateral him /gluteal area) and the right leg feels locked at the hip/groin area and although it's flexible it will not settle into the floor with gravity.

I just began the egoscue method today still hoping I can find something that will work. I am going to start implementing the magnesium and B6 you recommend, but it is so frustrating to never get answers and thinking as I get one thing figured out something else pops up.
Please help!

Thanks,
J Dixon


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Joshua Comments:

Hi J.

It's not going to improve unless you deal with the cause. So ultrasound is (usually) a waste of time. As is stretching and strengthening with a PT (If it's not workign correctly, it's not going to benefit much from streching or strengthening because lack of strength isn't the cause of a lack of strength, and if a structure is already to long stretching isn't going to help it.

You have evidence that your hips are out of alignment. Aside from nutrition (which should be everybody's #1 priority), your #1 priority is to get your hips into alignment.

You need to find a PT that knows how to do that, or an osteopath (who usually know how to do that).

When the hips are out of alignment, it messes up functionality big time.

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