Category: Hamstring Recovery

Mama is out to eat with her family and she is wearin’ jeans.

Just took the car out for a tiny test drive around my condo development. And texted a friend about it.

I had my 6-week check-up in Boston this morning. (7 weeks PO yesterday. Full avulsion.)

The ride in took an hour, and waiting for the doc, 30 minutes. My hamstrings & attachment site were so sore from sitting in stop-start rush hour traffic that by the time I got to the doc’s office I could only stand & pace on my crutches. And then the appointment took all of 5-6 minutes. Sheesh. Beam me home, Scotty.

But – all good news. I am progressing well, the incision looks good, and…no more brace! Woo-hoo! My PT already has me on one crutch and I will continue to wean off that over the coming two weeks.

I’m also cleared to drive. I will have to take a few practice drives to see how my pain is – whether it’s my sensitive snowflake constitution or just par for the course, my hamstrings still hurt bunches with any kind of continuous pressure on them. It’s one of the reasons I’m so glad to be rid of the hip brace’s thigh strap.

So…onward. Work is only a 12-minute drive from home, so I’m hopeful I can start back on Monday for a couple hours and see how I feel. And this weekend I am hoping to watch a little of my kids’ basketball games.

And I think I’ll set my brace aflame and float it out to sea.

For cryin’ out loud, kids… Somebody stop me from doing another one legged deadlift! I’m going to tear the other side..!

I’m 7 weeks P.O. today and hoping to get back to work at my gym next week, at least managing the desk and nutrition consults. Training will have to wait. I see Dr. Price for my 6-Week appt. tomorrow and will discuss more with him then. Meantime, I’m designing some t-shirts to wear over the next four months…

*Icy* morning in MA! Three cars lost control on the hill of my street and slid into parked cars. Stay inside if you can, New England Hamsters!

Would folks be willing to share how they keep track of their PT exercises?

I think the “right” way to do this is simply to find the way that works for you, and ensures that you do it consistently. Maybe that’s on paper or in an app, but I know from coaching clients in exercise & nutrition that tracking/keeping data on any activity is the way to create change.

My ADHD makes me a major Out-of-Sight-Out-of-Mind type and I need to keep a constant visual reminder for myself in plain sight. I also set alarms/reminders on my phone to do the exercises, and hook some of them onto an already-established routine, like brushing my teeth and doing calf raises.

What do you all do?

Den of Positivity, Day 73 (44 PO):

I have all kinds of new pain popping up as my body’s muscles compensate for the weak hamstrings. Today it’s the IT band (outside of thigh) and the adductors (inside of thigh). And it hurts, but it’s not the hamstrings hurting, which is a hugely calming thought, since I still have fears about that new attachment being torn off again. So yes, it hurts, and yes, it’s *another* pain to deal with, and pain just…sucks. But it’s not the hamstrings.

And then I thought, maybe that’s a good coping mantra for my life in general…

• Car didn’t pass state inspection because the license plate’s reflective quality has worn off? Well that’s a pain in the ass – but it’s not as bad as that time I tore all three hamstrings clean off the bone…
• Late paying a bill because I just can’t pay it right now? That’s frustrating and worrisome – but it’s not my hamstrings.
• Daughter fell on the bus when it stopped short and it knocked out her tooth? That’s scary. (And annoying that she wasn’t seated.) But it’s not her hamstrings.

Feel the feelings. Always feel the feelings. And then…perspective.

So…this hamstring thing. Stiiiiill happening, huh? Still not completely healed, is that right? 6 weeks P.O. now, so it’s just another, what, 5, 6, 12 months to go? Okay. Great. I got this. Mm-hm. (And the sarcasm…that goes away, too..?)

Den of Positivity, Day 70:

Today my PT quoted from The Princess Bride and compared an aspect of long-term treatment & recovery to playing Whack-a-Mole.