Hamstring Pull From a Skiing Accident
About four weeks ago I fell while skiing and have experienced pain at the conjunction of my right leg and butt. My physical therapist thinks that I have a hamstring pull. I'm trying to rest it, and I can ride a bike and walk, but I cannot run or ski. I've been doing some strengthening and stretching exercises but it still really hurts to sit or stand up after sitting for a prolonged period of time. Do you have any advice that could aid in my healing process?
Dr. Trish Palmer:
To begin with, it sounds like you would benefit from a medical evaluation or reevaluation of this problem with an orthopaedic specialist - and the sooner the better. Usually a simple strain or sprain would improve greatly within a few weeks with no deficit like you are currently describing. I would be concerned about more than just a pull of the hamstring area.
Other possibilities could include injury involving the bone, tendon, or misalignment. If this is the case you may be in need of physical therapy, casting, or even surgery. Although these are unlikely with the level of activity you still maintain, it is important to see an orthopaedic physician to rule them out.
Treatment Options:
Without knowing the extent of your injury, it's hard to prescribe an exact treatment regimen. Each injury is unique. One rehab tip that may help, however, is sitting on a "donut." This device is used in the treatment of broken tailbone injuries, and works to relieve the pressure from the bony area that you sit on. You can buy a donut at most drug stores.
Also, it never does any harm to administer R.I.C.E treatment: Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate your injured hamstring.
For more information about Dr. Palmer and the Sports Medicine physicians of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, call 877 MD BONES (877.632.6637) or contact us through this Web site.
This information is not intended as a substitute for the professional advice of your physician, nor to be a complete description of every aspect of a condition, nor a complete list of possible side effects of any medication. Decisions concerning your treatment should be based on your own health care provider's evaluation of your personal health history and current condition. Consult your physician before following any of the suggestions on this Web site. All articles on this Web site represent the personal opinions of the individual authors and should not be construed as official policy of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.
