Is the hamstring muscle in the back of your thigh torn? Let's talk about this Hamstring Injury!

Are you a sports fan? Maybe you play cricket, football, or maybe you love running and jumping. Have you ever been hit by a sudden sharp pain in the back of your thigh while playing a sport? Or has this happened to you while doing your daily activities? Many people have experienced this. We usually call this a "pulled hamstring". The medical name for this condition is `(Hamstring Injury)`. This is a common injury for athletes. So today we will talk about everything about it.

Simply put, what is a Hamstring Injury?

Okay, let's first look at what these `Hamstrings` are. We call the `Hamstring` muscles three large muscle groups at the back of your thigh. These muscles help with many of the things you do with your legs, for example, walking, running, jumping, and bending. These muscles absorb a lot of the force that is generated when we run and jump, and they also give our body speed.

So, if a force or pull that is too great for these muscles to bear suddenly occurs, the delicate fibers in those muscles can be stretched and torn. That's what we call a `(Hamstring Injury)` or `(Hamstring Strain).` It's like a rubber band breaking when it's pulled too hard.

How is the severity of this disorder measured?

Not all sprains are the same. Some are very minor and will heal in a few days. Some are very serious and can take months to heal. That's why doctors divide the condition into three main categories, or grades, based on the severity of the condition.

What are the main symptoms of this?

If you suspect you have a hamstring injury, look out for these symptoms. Not everyone will have all of these symptoms. It depends on the severity of the injury.

• Pain in the back of the thigh: This is the main symptom. This pain increases when you move your leg, try to run, or bend over.
• Swelling: The injured area will begin to swell quickly.
• Bruising: After a few hours or the next day, the skin around the injury may turn blue or purple. This is due to internal bleeding.
• Feeling or hearing a "click" sound: In severe injuries (Grades 2 and 3), a "click" sound may be heard from within as the tendon tears.
• Muscle spasms: Muscles may suddenly feel tight and twitch.
• Leg weakness: The ability to bear weight on the leg, run, or jump decreases.
• Feeling like a knot: Sometimes, the torn flesh can feel like a knot that sticks together and gets caught in the hand.
• Pain when sitting: Some people may experience pain in the area where the buttocks and thighs meet, especially when sitting.

Why do we have this kind of disorder?

Simply put, this injury can occur anytime the hamstring muscles are under excessive strain or tension. Imagine you suddenly start running fast, or you suddenly extend your leg to kick a ball. This is when it happens most often.

There are several other risk factors that affect this:

• Starting exercise without warming up properly: If the muscles are not properly prepared before exercising, that is, if they are not warmed up, they are more likely to get pulled.
• Lack of muscle flexibility: Some people have tight muscles that can easily pull.
• Sudden increase in exercise: This risk is higher if you have not exercised for a while and then suddenly start exercising at a high intensity.
• Muscle imbalance: Sometimes, when the muscles in the front of the thigh (Quadriceps) are too strong and the hamstrings in the back are too weak, the imbalance between these muscles can lead to hamstring injuries.
• Falls and Slips: If you slip on ice or in water and suddenly split your legs, you can completely tear your hamstrings.

How does a doctor find this?

When you go to see a doctor, the first thing he or she will ask you is how it happened, what kind of pain you have, is it swollen, is it blue, etc. It is very important to tell them exactly what you were doing when you had the injury.

Then the doctor will examine your leg.

• Check for swelling and blue areas.
• They touch and feel exactly where the pain is.
• You will be asked to bend and extend your leg in different directions. This will give you an idea of ​​the strength and range of motion of your hamstrings.

Most of the time, this physical examination alone can give you a good idea of ​​the injury. However, if the injury seems serious, or if there is a suspicion of a fracture, your doctor may refer you for further tests.

• Ultrasound Scan: This can clearly see how much the meat has been torn and whether there is any blood accumulation.
• MRI Scan: This is the only way to clearly and accurately see the damage to the muscles.
• X-ray: When the meat is pulled, a small piece of the bone it is attached to may come off. If there is any suspicion of such a fracture, an X-ray may be ordered.

How is it treated?

The treatment method depends on the severity (grade) of your injury. Minor injuries (Grade 1) can be treated at home. However, serious injuries (Grades 2 and 3) definitely require medical treatment.

Things you can do at home - RICE method

It is very important to do these things within the first 48-72 hours of the injury. We also call this the `RICE` method.

• R - Rest: This is the most important thing. Give your leg a rest. Don't do anything that causes pain. Don't run, jump, or lift weights.
• I - Ice: To reduce pain and swelling, wrap an ice pack in a cloth and apply it to the injured area for 15-20 minutes. Do this several times a day, every 2-3 hours. Never apply ice directly to the skin.
• C - Compression: To control swelling, apply a firm elastic bandage. But don't apply it so tightly that it cuts off blood flow. If your leg becomes numb or changes color, loosen the bandage a little.
• E - Elevation: Keep your leg elevated above your heart whenever possible. Elevate your leg on a chair when sitting, or on a pillow when lying down. This will help reduce swelling.

In addition, you can take painkillers as prescribed by your doctor.

Medical treatment

• Physical Therapy (PT): This is very important for serious injuries. A physical therapist will teach you the right exercises. These exercises can gradually rebuild muscle strength and flexibility.
• MEAT Method: Sometimes after the RICE method, the doctor may tell you to follow the `MEAT (Movement, Exercise, Analgesia, Therapy)` method. That is, you control the pain and gradually start moving and exercising. But this should be done only as per the doctor's instructions.
• Surgery: This is rarely necessary. In a `Grade 3` injury, meaning the tendon is completely torn or detached from the bone, surgery may be required to reattach it.

When should you definitely see a doctor?

If it's just a simple sprain, the pain should subside in a few days. But in a case like this, you should definitely see a doctor.

• If you have pain so severe that you can't walk.
• If the injured area is very swollen and has turned dark blue.
• If your leg is tingling or has no sensation.
• If you heard a "tock" sound.
• If the pain does not subside after a few days of home treatment.

How long will it take for this to heal completely?

The time it takes for this to happen depends entirely on the severity of the disorder.

• Grade 1: May get better in about a week or two.
• Grade 2: Can last from a few weeks to a month or two.
• Grade 3: It may take several months to fully heal. If surgery is required, it may take even longer.

The most important thing is to take your time and give your body time to heal. Don't go back to running or playing sports until your doctor or physical therapist says, "Okay, you can do it now." If you rush, you're more likely to get injured again. If you do, it could be worse than the original injury.

During the healing period, you should gradually start exercising. You can start with walking first, then jogging. Everything should be done at a level that is not painful.

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