Massive twang in my leg, WTF?!

Massive twang in my leg, WTF?!

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_Deano

Original Poster:

7,406 posts

255 months

Wednesday 28th November 2012
quotequote all
So this might be the worst case scenario. Went out for a run in Zurich, whilst interval training (30s sprint, 1 min recovery, 2 min jog) there was a massive twang, thump feeling in the back of my right thigh. Couldn't walk or find a comfortable position for about 2mins and actually was in an immense amount of pain; wanted to drop to the floor, but was scared i couldn't get back up. I'm was probably about a 35min run from the hotel, so started walking back. The walk consisted of one half step of my left leg, with my right following up to the position in line with my left foot, but i couldn't put my right leg past my left, as if i wanted to to walk. By luck, someone stopped and asked if i was ok and gave me a lift back to the hotel. Where i'm finding it difficult to sit on my right arse cheek.
The stter is that i have to fly back home tomorrow frown
So what have i done to my right thigh?

_Deano

Original Poster:

7,406 posts

255 months

Wednesday 28th November 2012
quotequote all
Is that bad? Not done anything like this before.
How can it be fixed?

_Deano

Original Poster:

7,406 posts

255 months

Wednesday 28th November 2012
quotequote all
I'm guessing that the recovery time will depend on how much i've buggered up my hamstring, but recovery times are roughly how long for this type of injury?

_Deano

Original Poster:

7,406 posts

255 months

Thursday 29th November 2012
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Cheers all. Flying back to the UK today, dreading the flight already knowing how cramped it can be. Luckily i was able to check in online and reserve a seat by the window on the left side of the plane, which will allow me to put weight through my left arse cheek. Silly as it sounds, i can't sit down on my right side as it's sore.
Taken some Voltaren which has eased the pain a bit, will take another about 30mins before i fly later on tonight. Then tomorrow it's off to the doctors to see what they can give me.
The leg is stiff today, but still sore as anything. And sleeping last night was a pain too, even with the leg elevated on a pile of pillows.

Thanks again for the help

_Deano

Original Poster:

7,406 posts

255 months

Friday 30th November 2012
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merc_man said:
Did it feel like someone just pulled a large rope across the back of your leg. That's what my hamstring felt like when it tore several years ago. Caused by the muscle cramping just before you extend your leg. It hurts , a lot.

You'll probably find you have a very large bruise on the back of your leg, perhaps all the way up to your backside. Ultrasound treatment can help recovery but other than that it's just a lot of rest. You'll have to make sure you stretch a lot in future as you'll now have some scar tissue in there that makes a recurrence much more likely.
not too sure what you mean by rope being pulled across my leg, but it did feel as if someone whacked it and immediately i couldn't walk on my right leg, without pain. Was looking for a bruise today, but still can't see anything.

It would seem that this injury was caused by sprinting, as i had a good run for 30mins prior. Will just stay away from sprinting in the future.

_Deano

Original Poster:

7,406 posts

255 months

Tuesday 4th December 2012
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996 sps said:
Is it the outside or inside of the leg?

As ever Deano seek a physio or sports therapist but usually on sprinting its the bicep femoris which usually takes the brunt normally 6cm's from the insertion, depending on the grade of tear, flexibility is key early on (but see a physio) a study was done on length of time to function and the group whhich had conducted flexibility early on had a shorter time in rehab before getting back to sport.

As you sprint the hip is flexed and the knee is extending so the eccentric work by the hamstrings is at its highest, if there's a muscle imbalance then quads extend and begin to dominate the hamstrings in the end an injury occurs - a study done a treadmill test taking power tests of hamstrings and quads and as time went on quads took over and the found these athletes would therefore be more likely to get injuried.

Eccentric exercise is key but at late stage, nordic hamstrings curls are good (google them) but they are only in one plane of direction and hamstrings are a multi-plane group of muscles - kettle bell swings with a rotation for example or front right lunge - but as ever the internet is not good enough for a true exercise programme - see someone.

Don't think about not sprinting again, just get good rehab advice - if you'd been for a 30 minute run first i'm wondering if your hamstrings were fatigued before your sprints, also if you lack hip extenstion of the opposite hip this can cause hamstring issues - lack of ankle dorsiflexion on the same leg - or even lack of 1st MTP extenstion can affect the biomechanical chain and cause hamstring issues.

Edited to add - Good luck!
hi 996sps
Thank you for the explanation. The pain is on the inside of the leg, although the swelling has come down a bit and i no longer need a crutch to walk.
Not yet seen a doc about it, will do at some point, but it would seem that there isn't much they can do apart from prescribe some stronger pain killers and maybe a referral to a therapist. I'm getting by on the painkillers over the counter and the stretching is becoming easier, so i'm assuming that things are going the right way on the road to recovery. I've taken a look at the nordic curls and there is a lot of pressure on the knee. Is that really advisable? Still, i don't think that will be doing that move for a while.
Thanks again for the info
Dean




_Deano

Original Poster:

7,406 posts

255 months

Tuesday 4th December 2012
quotequote all
996 sps said:
Deano,

I'm not saying do nordics at this stage, just a good late stage rehab exercise for hamstrings, get a good sports physio assessment and seek advice face to face.

If its the inside of the leg it won't be biceps femoris, was you changing direction in-between sprints?
Just coming out of a lean on the running track, straighten up and pushing forward. Not changing direction through.