Help! Hip Pain Wakes Me Up at Night
Good quality sleep is important for your overall health and wellness, but if hip pain is keeping you awake, those Zs can be hard to catch. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to find relief.
Why You Shouldn't Play Through a Hamstring Tear
Hamstring injuries are common, especially among athletes, who account for nearly 40% of all muscle injuries. Athletes are especially prone to hamstring problems because many sports put a lot of strain on your thighs, hips, and knees — but many nonathletes can tear their hamstrings, too.
In Houston, Texas, Joshua D. Harris, MD, is recognized as a leading provider of cutting-edge treatments for hamstring tears and other hamstring injuries, including both conservative and surgical options. If you have a hamstring tear, “playing through the pain” is not a good idea.
A quick anatomy lesson
To understand hamstring injuries, it’s helpful to know about their anatomy and function. Most of us know the hamstring runs down the back of the thigh, but the anatomy is a bit more complex than that.
Although we often refer to the hamstring in a singular form, there are three different hamstring muscles — the semitendinosus muscle, the semimembranosus muscle, and the biceps femoris. All three muscles attach to the bottom of the pelvis and extend to just below the knee via the tough hamstring tendons.
Your hamstrings help you straighten your leg and bend your knee. They also play key roles in many types of leg movement, including making rapid turns or quick changes in direction (pivoting).
Understanding hamstring injuries
Most hamstring injuries happen when the thigh muscles are overloaded or strained beyond their normal capacity. Injuries are graded according to their severity.
- Grade 1 is a mild strain that causes minor pain and swelling
- Grade 2 is a partial tear that interferes with the way your leg functions
- Grade 3 is a complete tear that goes all the way through the muscle
Sometimes, a grade 3 tear is so severe it tears away part of the bone that attaches to the muscle. These injuries are called hamstring avulsions.
Anyone can have a hamstring injury, but strains and tears are most common among people with these risk factors:
- Unusually tight muscles
- Imbalanced muscle strength
- Weak or poorly conditioned muscles
- Muscle fatigue or overuse
- Athletes who play sports requiring lots of pivoting
Older athletes are also more prone to hamstring injuries, and so are younger athletes who are still growing.
Why you shouldn’t play through the pain
As with most injuries, ignoring symptoms and “playing through” dramatically increases your risk of a far more serious injury — even one that can result in permanent disability and an end to playing the sport you love.
Instead of trying to “deal” with the pain and continue playing or practicing, it’s essential to seek medical evaluation immediately to begin treatment and prevent further damage.
Treating hamstring tears
Hamstring tear treatment depends a lot on the severity of your tear. While very mild grade 2 hamstring tears may respond to conservative treatment options, most grade 2 tears and grade 3 tears require surgery to repair the muscle and, in the case of an avulsion, repair the bone, as well.
If you have a grade 2 or grade 3 tear, your treatment initially involves conservative approaches to relieve your pain and reduce swelling in the muscle and the surrounding tissues. Typically, this treatment consists of RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Once your swelling subsides, Dr. Harris will evaluate your tear more comprehensively, recommending treatment based on the results. Surgery to repair hamstring tears involves suturing the torn ends of the muscle back together and removing scar tissue that might interfere with healing and recovery.
For grade 3 tears that involve an avulsion of the bone, Dr. Harris repairs the bone using special techniques to reattach the fragment to the main bone. He also ensures the hamstring muscle is securely attached to the bone. All types of surgery are followed by physical therapy to strengthen the muscles and help you get back to your regular activities faster.
The right care for your hamstring injury
Dr. Harris is skilled in the conservative management of milder hamstring injuries and both “open” and endoscopic techniques for the surgical repair of hamstring tears. If you have a hamstring injury or if you suspect you do, don’t ignore it. Call 713-441-8393 or book an appointment online with Dr. Joshua Harris today.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Does Your Favorite Sport Increase Your Risk of Developing Hip Problems?
Being active keeps you physically and emotionally fit. But if you have hip problems, some activities could make your symptoms worse. Here’s how to decide which activities are good for your hips, as well as for your overall wellness.
Pulled Muscle or Hamstring Tear? How to Tell the Difference
Millions of hamstring injuries happen every year. Knowing the difference between a hamstring pull and a hamstring tear is essential for ensuring you recover quickly. Here’s how to tell the difference between these two injuries.
Can Hip Preservation Surgery for Early-Stage Osteoarthritis Help Me Avoid a Joint Replacement?
Hip arthritis can cause major joint damage, but if you “catch” arthritis early, there are treatments that can help. Here’s how hip preservation surgery is used to relieve pain, restore the joint, and avoid the need for joint replacement surgery.
Do These Things Now If You Want Healthy Knees When You're Older
Knee pain is a common “side effect” of getting older, but it doesn’t have to be. Taking some simple — but important — steps now could help prevent painful knees in the future. Here’s what you can do to protect your knees.
The Link Between Your Diet and Joint Health
Your joints work hard for you all day. By watching your diet, you can return the favor by giving them what they need to stay healthy. Here’s how you can tweak your diet to support better joint health now and in the future.