Hi, group. My injury was on November 5 playing soccer with my 8-year-old in a parents-vs-kids game. I kicked the ball.
You know you’re 45 when you tear two hamstring tendons *kicking a ball*. I guess I was off-balance and overextended – in typical hurdler or novice water skier position with my hips flexed and knee extended, and was just a little too far from the ball when I kicked – so I had to reach. I felt the pop and tear immediately, hobbled to the sideline to avoid a scene, and sat down. And couldn’t get up again. Excruciating.
I’m a personal trainer and in good shape, but I don’t run anymore because of knee pain & plantar fasciitis. I’ve been trying hard not to scold myself for choosing to play in the first place, and keep telling people it must have happened because containing so much godlike power in a little mortal body is truly difficult. I’m counting on humor to carry me through this.
My MRI showed a complete tear of the biceps femoris & semitendinosus tendons, retracted about 2.5-3 cm. My orthopedist has done several proximal hamstring repairs, but she regularly does rotator cuffs & knees. She is supporting my seeking a second opinion with someone who does the procedure more often. So I’m waiting for an appointment on 11/27 with another surgeon, which means no surgery until after Thanksgiving.
The waiting game is hard. I have less pain and much more mobility after a week and a half, but I can’t drive, and I can’t work. I’m leaning on my network of friends and clients to get to appointments and pick up my kids. My partner is supportive but bearing the brunt of extra tasks. It feels kind of pointless to slowly heal an injury that they’ll just undo in a couple weeks and have to heal all over again – in a brace with even less mobility and freedom. Urg.
Thanks for listening. This space is a blessing.
Den of Positivity 