Conditions that Masquerade as High Hamstring Tendinopathy

[@Lostinaustralien]

Hey, ive been struggling with this for 5 years now and all work has always shown only temporary results. My new physiotherapist told me now, that my affected leg is actually longer than the other and thus furthers aggravtes my anterior pelvic tilt by putting the hamstring tendon under constant pressure. We now work on fixing that and i hope to be free of symptoms some day. Thanks for the video!

[@ahilaryb]

I'm curious, what kind of things are you doing to fix/help that? Is it working? I'm wondering if I have a similar situation.

[@DK-gl3ih]

Update,

[@iridiumvalkyrie9017]

In a similar situation. Years pass and I’m disabled and nothing lasts

[@Victorylap-fy4ke]

@@iridiumvalkyrie9017 My scoliosis has caused similar hammy problems for 18 years now. Best thing I can tell you is to do all the exercises you can tolerate for as long as you can, but you must do them faithfully or it can be worse for not doing them. Seems to me the aging thing will progress it. The price we pay to get old.

[@isabelkimble4879]

Excellent and clear explanation of the various things that can be the cause of this pain. Thanks 🙏

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

You're welcome!

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

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[@Victorylap-fy4ke]

The cushion suggestions have cutouts that are for tailbone issues not hamstring tendons. Although I've been using them for years to keep off hard sitting areas and compression. I mostly use it while driving. The memory foam alone compresses to a hard surface unless I use a cushion under my cushion that doesn't have cutouts. Then it's more tolerable. I can sit on "4 upholstered furniture longer than in the car. Amazon has a very well-made cushion with two-hole cutouts for the hamstring tendons are also referred to as sit bones ( ischial tuberosities ) called The Aylio socket seat, butt (pun intended) it might be too firm for sensitive people. They give 100 days to try it out. Another that looks worth a try is called Twin Cheeks. Yeah, actual name. It has a padded base that has velcro and then two padded panels that can be adjusted to your needs. There are other ones that are inexpensive with the 2 holes made of different materials. I hope this helps someone. I've had this pain for 18 years. Also, I got hip bursitis and sit-bone pain at the same time.

[@maryanderson8746]

Very, very useful! Thank you so much. I have a myriad of issues that I am working through with a very good PT and you have reaffirmed what he has been telling me.

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chasstone5048]

You knew all the areas to cover. Pretty sharp. Ice as a quick cool down but not to long after mild easy workouts of it..they say just 1st day or so after injury..? I'm was paralyzed on right leg from t9t10 cut. But left leg may have blown after 1000 days of rehab , I had my bad leg doing so well now it has to be the good leg. But yep..you hit all the areas..I'm getting it scanned since I definitely have that extra hot spot on bad cheek n down. Glad u got me thinking positive again..thanks..

[@clublulu399]

I thought I had high hamstring tendon pain for a long time and treated for it, but it was really just a symptom of another problem. I also took and MRI and it revealed two herniated discs in the lower back. To add to the confusion, the buldges were coming out on the same side where the pain from the hamstring pain came from, the left leg. To my surprise, it was an inhibited glute max on my RIGHT leg, the opposite leg where the pain came from. I found this out by doing a simple fire hydrant exercise. Lifting the “bad” leg up felt relatively easy, but when I had a lot of trouble lifting the “good” leg when using proper form. I’m a true believer of Weakness/inhibition in glutes is the number one culprit to a lot of back pain or pain in the posterior chain in general.

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Thank you for sharing. Shows the importance of getting further investigations if it is not reacting to the treatment.

[@clublulu399]

@@SportsInjuryPhysio Absolutely. in my experience, it's been a matter of trial and error by finding exercise(s) that alleviate overall pain and discomfort rather than holding oneself to a diagnosis. It's like you say. The body is truly unpredictable.

[@trenbolone007]

Very, very informative. Will check out the your other videos on High Hamstring Tendinopathy. Thank you for the content and i hope what I presently have is not as serious.

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Glad you found it useful Harry! xm

[@beth6703]

I had to take Cipro a few years ago for some really bad, back-to-back intestinal infections. Ever since then, I developed high hamstring issues. I am an active runner, and I haven't been able to get back to where I was before Cipro. If I run too far or fast I set myself back. This has been a very frustrating, long lasting injury spanning a few years despite PT and strength training.

[@user-su7st6lv2o]

Whenever I try to see a doctor I get on appointment within 2 months. I am always the one who has to say what doesn't work. I got tested, the test results are negative and I have to leave with no further appointments or need to test me. So ein pressure it again and again to get a new appointment with no clue what's going on. 1 year has passed and I'm taxed and demotivated. Is this how it is supposed to be or how long it usually takes to find out whats wrong?

[@medicineandbrazilianjiujit8511]

Excellent advice! Thank you!

[@PaulTomblin]

I seem to be completely immune to cortisone - I’ve had injections in my hamstring, my ischial bursa, my sciatic nerve and none helped. But thinking back, it didn’t help my carpal tunnel syndrome when they injected cortisone in it, nor did it help my knee when they injected in there. I’ve had this pain for 3 years, and it only hurts when I sit, but it flared up when I was training for a long kayak race and I’d upped my training volume in both the kayak and on the bike (training sessions up to 4 hours instead of 2 like I had during the previous years). I can’t sit, so I’ve missed two kayak seasons and I can’t ride my bike.

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Oh how frustrating! If you wanted help with figuring out you rehab, this is something our team can assess and help with via video call - I would recommend my colleagues Kevin or Dominic for this. You can find more information about the video consultations here: www.sports-injury-physio.com/

[@pattressel3864]

Just want to mention ischial bursitis as another source of pain in the same area. Causes include too much sitting, leg crossing. Treating as for high hamstring tendinopathy won't hurt, and may help, because it will get one off of one's rump, and can help lengthen the hamstring, which reduces pressure on the bursa. (Note by lengthen, I don't mean stretching, which may not be safe if there is a problem with the hamstring tendon -- just getting to full range of motion via hamstring strengthening exercises should help.)

[@davidleonard37]

I have been struggling with supposed high hamstring tendonopothy for the last few months and can barely run. Sitting is a nightmare and it's very frustrating. I've been getting expensive treatment but no joy. A scan may be the next thing to see what dealing with.

[@pamelaspeirs9518]

Would a MRI be best from lower back to the thigh to rule out all possible causes? Love your videos too

[@Victorylap-fy4ke]

I just saw something about ultrasound being more helpful than MRI.

[@2009raindrop]

Thank you for this - I was very interested to hear that sitting pain is one of the last things to go. Also that these injuries take notoriously long to heal. I am suspecting (as mentioned by another poster) that my leg (the one with the pain) is about 0.5 cm longer than the other (based in part on a slight pelvic tilt in the X-Ray) - in addition to my rehab I am going to try putting a lift in the shoe of the shorter leg.

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

A 0.5cm difference is actually quite normal and most people have one leg slightly longer - it is not something I would rush to correct.

[@2009raindrop]

@@SportsInjuryPhysio Thank you for that feedback! I really appreciate your videos - especially the info about how healing takes place, which I have found so very hard to find elsewhere.

[@susanal.padilla226]

I wish I had known about the fq connection. I’m almost 3 years out and having problems. It goes much longer than 6 months after the last dose. Healing seems impossible.

[@bernadettemeade7259]

2 years and no progression in left leg Also have GTPS in left hip. Anterior pelvic tilt. Pain came on very suddenly in left hip.

[@annavogt826]

I have had all these problems. Hamstring pain at the glutei, hibernating glutei muscle from injury, piriformis syndrome with sciatic pain into foot, and trouble sitting - which is the worse. I also took Cipro back in about 2008 which affected every tendon in my body. I had an injury roller skating where I fell on my tailbone and got a compression fracture in my L1. I've been in 5 week of PT and I don't feel that much better. What kind of therapy should I get? Chiropractors don't help, Orthopedic doesn't help.

[@Cucababy5]

Omg this happened to me when I took cipro too...

[@Victorylap-fy4ke]

About the only help is getting the u-shaped cushion that has a cutout for your tailbone so it doesn't get pain from compression and finding tolerable exercises. I'm starting to think most of us will just have to live with it.

[@gendoll5006]

I’ve had pain in this area for over a week now and it’s BAD. I mean sometimes I go to walk and literally can’t and almost fall because the pain is so deep and sharp. I have sciatica in my left leg and I know what that feels like and it’s not that. It’s deep and wide going from a couple inches up from the bottom of my butt down to halfway down my thigh. Going from sitting to standing is so difficult and half the time I just wobble. Stairs are killer and just walking the pain will stab and be so bad I have to stop. I started PT for my back (bulging discs and arthritis in lumbar) and I told them about this so hopefully it will help!

[@beverlybenson9981]

Thank you. ❤

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Welcome!

[@Chris-dw3xl]

As always some great info and insight 👍

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Thanks Chris xm

[@OrcaBeach]

Hello Maryke, I was on fluoroquinolone antibiotics and prednisone in January for a chest infection that wouldn't go away with any other antibiotics. I waited the recommended 8 weeks after the last dose to begin jogging again and the first time out I heard a pop in my right glute area and could barely walk home. It's been almost 2 weeks since that and I'm still having symptoms like the Upper hamstring tendinopathy. I have been doing glute bridges 10 X 10 seconds since day 3 after the injury but no other lower body exercises except walking. We live in a very hilly area so I'm taking baby steps up the hills. I'm wondering if there is anything else I should be doing. I have not been stretching or doing yoga etc. I'm now using a pillow to sit on at the computer but I haven't noticed any improvement yet.

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

I think you need to get it properly assessed and possibly scanned to see what is going on. A pop usually indicates that something tore and you need to make sure that your treatment is appropriate.

[@genevievemoss613]

This may sound crazy, but in your opinion, could prolonged tight calf muscles cause high hamstring pain?

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Not really. But it may be that the reason why your calf muscles have been feeling so tight is actually because your nerves from your lower back has been irritated (this can happen without you actually having back pain) and if this is the case it can also cause high hamstring pain.

[@69sifu]

I have been having this problem for the last two months and it will not go away. Topicals or creams don't help..guess I got to go to therapy.

[@lynnchasan6339]

Hi Maryke what about top of the thigh pain - have you got a video that addresses this?

[@austinguiles975]

Hi Maryke, Thanks for the video. Well done. I wish you were still personally taking consults. Can you recommend someone on the SIP team who is good at sleuthing out these HHT impersonators? I have done a bunch of self tests without a successfull diagnosis.

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Hi Austin, Jack, Alison, Barry, or Kevin would be best placed to help you with this.

[@dianabustamante3166]

What is the best sleep position with hamstring tendonitis or partial tear. After years of living a sedentary lifestyle due to a micro-discectomy in 2015, I decided to get active again about a couple months ago. Last month I believe I overstretched both hamstrings doing a seated hamstring strech with bil leg extensions. Since this I have suffering with sciatic radiating pain, sit bone discomfort, burning intense feeling behind both knees and numbness. Hamstring MRI shows partial tear on left hamstring and right hamstring tendonitis.Dr suggest this along with effects of micro-discectomy could be the overall cuase. Was prescribed Medrol pack but afraid of it's effects on hamstrings yet MD suggest it for inflammation. Some guidance would be appreciated since doctor doesnt seem to be helping just pumping me with meds and aggressive poking by the nerve during evaluation which seems to have made things worse. Is walking ok? How should I sleep, any PT exercises or just rest? Love you Channel btw.

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Something I've seen in other people who have had micro-discectomies is that the nerves get a bit stuck in that area and then when you do hamstring stretches it often irritate them. I have a suspicion that that is what happened here - you may have a hamstring injury but the main symptoms you are listing are all of nerve pain and nerve injury. So I would treat the nerve irritation first (as if you have sciatica) and then see what else is needed. I can't tell what is right for you without assessing you but I would likely avoid any movement that stretch the hamstrings because it will also stretch the already irritated nerves. In general keeping active and walking is good but limit it to a volume and speed that does not aggravate your symptoms ( likely slow and short steps and only on flat). A physiotherapist will be able to assess it for you and provide better tailored advice.

[@dianabustamante3166]

@@SportsInjuryPhysio Thank you for your great information and for responding. I agree with what you are pointing to. My back surgeon looked at my L Spine MRI images and said everything looked fine that all that nerve pain is stemming from the hamstring but what you describe make so much sense. How do I unstuck these pesky irritated nerves caused by my micro-discectomy without causing further inflammation to the hamstring or lower back? I wish surgeons would stress the importance of keeping a rehab regimen after spine surgery to all patients. Thanks again, your advice is just so amazing. 🙏

[@peteperic1783]

Hi i would like to say i have been diagnosed with ploymyalgia rheumatic im wondering if that were possible pain im better when I move but sitting down is very painful. Thank you i was also given ciprofloxacin after a prostate operation. 😮

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Movement often help injuries feel better as long as you don't do too much too soon.

[@c0ldhardcash476]

I had a massive knot, which replicated this high hamstring. I think i had it for years. Thank god its gone tho.

[@salvadorvazquez269]

How did you release the knot ?

[@anthonytempleton4683]

@@salvadorvazquez269 applying hard pressure on the "lump" and rubbing it side to side mainly.

[@salvadorvazquez269]

@@anthonytempleton4683 thanks for the last 2 years I been putting pressure on the knot but rubbing it up and down I guess I was doing it wrong I’m gonna star rubbing side to side thanks !

[@lindabaswell6249]

After having a MRIs of back and pelvis, I have ALL of the other problems you mentioned, along with hamstring tendonitis. Fractured Sacrum, bulging discs, stenosis, etc. What exercises should I be doing?

[@nant5434]

Have you found any relief yet?

[@mariamarino138]

Same with me😞

[@ruthcockburn2358]

Another excellent video, thank you! I would love to book an appointment with you however on the website it says there are no available times for a month. Is it possible to book a time further into the future than that? In the meantime, I suspect I may have been given fluoroquinolones in July to treat a chest infection. What should I do to try and help my pain if this is the case? I think I have PHT or an inflammed gluteal muscles. I have had severe pain since April and despite doing regular physio and seazing all physical activity beyond small walks I have seen no improvement whatsoever.

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Hi Ruth, please send me an email to [e-mail] or message me through the website and I'll see where I can fit you in xm

[@thomasromeni8063]

Hello, Mareika. Another very interesting video, which shows that you also have to keep an eye on adjacent areas before you start a rehabilitation. A question about the blood test. Does the meaning if the MRI has diagnosed the finding of tendinitis? And you can basically do all the exercises for the hip if the disease of the tendons falls under the GTPS? Greetings, Thomas

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Hi Thomas, the diagnosis for tendonitis is made through a combination of clinical tests (you assessing the patient) + ultrasound scan or MRI scan. Sometimes the scans can be clear in that they did not pick up the tendinopathy, but in those cases it is important to make sure that nothing else is being missed. Not all the exercises for GTPS will be appropriate - you have to test and see. Some patients with high hamstring pain can for instance not do bridges as it flares their pain up and most can't do any glute stretches for the same reason so it is a bit of a trial and error, but it is very important to gently test them out and get the patient to feed back to you about the 24 hour pain response and adapt their exercises according to that. xm

[@thomasromeni8063]

@@SportsInjuryPhysio Hello, Mareika. Thank you for the detailed information. Yes, tendinitis and peritendinitis were diagnosed by MRI. I'll carefully touch the individual exercises. Another question about the 24-hour pain reaction. That hasn't become so open to me yet. So, I do a handful of exercises and see how the pain reaction is over 24 hours immediately after training. If it's 4 out of 10, the selection is OK and can continue the exercises. If the pain is higher than 4, I have to change the selection or intensity after.Right ? Thank you for your reply and greetings, Thomas.

[@thomasromeni8063]

@@SportsInjuryPhysio Hello, Mareika. Yes, you're right that not all the exercises are suitable for GTPS! I've made a protocol from the Internet with a lot of bridge exercises with a day's break in between. The first few times it worked, too, and was satisfied with the pain. But once, the pain was stronger than ever and now has to take painkillers! Sh..t ! Now I won't do anything again and then start again with the exercises so far with which I had no problems. I don't have a capable physiotherapy at home, unfortunately. Greetings , Thomas .

[@Victorylap-fy4ke]

@@thomasromeni8063 Tom keep experimenting with exercises you can tolerate, but you must do them faithfully and do them as for as long as you can tolerate them. If old age starts crowding you you may have to stop, but you must do what you can for as long as you can. Then cheer yourself up with the reality that this is how life generally goes. I'm finding the only way I can survive is use a lot of humor as those endorphins in the brain are as I call them "free painkillers". There really are somethings in life that are truly free.

[@gailcarey3597]

Do benzodiazepines affect your tendons?

[@filukkasophiaskoue2096]

how can i sit, if I have this?

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Some people find that a soft cushion can make a difference - feather pillows often works well because you can mold them - but it can take a bit of trial and error to find the best combo of chair + cushion. Most people find that they have to alternated between sitting and standing for work while they recover

[@tommylandrix6070]

I have a constant kind of numbness and tension right at the very top of the inner hamstrings that seems to never want to let go of my pelvic floor and impairs sexual function. Hamstring stretching can be hit or miss, sometimes stretching just increases the tension and numbness. It's been causing me unbelievable amounts of frustration and has caused me to put so much of my life on hold. :/

[@R3LAPZE]

Same here any updates?

[@tommylandrix6070]

@@R3LAPZE Yes! I got acoustic shockwave therapy done at a private clinic. They did it to the path of the pudendal nerve, mostly around my sit bone where my issues seemed to centralize. Ever since the treatment I have had no more burning or snagging pain in the treated area whatsoever.

[@R3LAPZE]

@@tommylandrix6070 ohhhh interesting I'm just gonna rest it I guess lol

[@tommylandrix6070]

@@R3LAPZE Yes - my issue wasn't actually high hamstring tendinopathy. It was a kind of pudendal neuralgia, which is veryy close to the high hamstring tendons.

[@R3LAPZE]

@@tommylandrix6070 I for sure have that from stretching hamstrings too hard and I sat on lacrosse ball I'm so dumb

[@cjzanders5430]

She sounds like a South African Brit.

[@iridiumvalkyrie9017]

I've been struggling with this for 12 years. I have a chronically unstable si joint and the tilting of the ilium puts tension on the hamstring attachment. Nobody takes me seriously because I was 22 when it started. I'm so sick of this pain.

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Starting with gentle strength training can really help your SI joint be a bit more stable and that will help this as well. But the exercises has to be balanced e.g. double leg bridges. If you do things that only load one leg at a time (like clams) it usually irritates the SI joint.

[@iridiumvalkyrie9017]

@@SportsInjuryPhysio Thank you. I was in the worst PT situation since my knee surgery. I had spoken with the physical therapist and told him about my two chronic long-standing conditions of the proximal hamstring tendinopathy as well as the left sacroiliac joint instability and that was one of his first suggestions to me, but I couldn’t do them without a Charlie horse in my left hamstring, the first day I was able to get back into that one, and he was able to do it. I fired him yesterday. I am getting shockwave therapy on Thursday and I’m looking for a new PT. I am discussing scheduling with one of your therapists with my parents (finances) because the American perspective has been to downplay my situation and concerns and my pain is debilitating. The knee lesions are nothing compared to my si joint and hamstring. Thank you for reminding me of the logic behind not using single leg exercises especially early on. I never wanted knee surgery because I was afraid of backtracking in my hamstring and SI joint and that’s exactly what happened. My left knee has fissures in the cartilage and I don’t want surgery despite the pain because of my si joint and hamstring still. I’m struggling so much. Thank you.

[@iridiumvalkyrie9017]

@@SportsInjuryPhysio also, upon my own research, I decided to start doing one round of five sets of 30 second holds of a long lever bridge with my calves, propped up on yoga blocks as a starting point. It contradicts what the PT I was seeing was saying, but I have doubts in his approach because he kept leaving me in more pain and not following up on it.

[@SportsInjuryPhysio]

Also experiment with how far your feet are from your bottom. Usually if they are closer they don't cramp so much but try different positions. I share some more tips with the bridge here kzbin.info/www/bejne/iILJc3pqrdmfbLc

[@iridiumvalkyrie9017]

@@SportsInjuryPhysio Thank you so much. I am limited with my knees because the right one is five months post op and the left has grade three chondromalacia patella and I can’t get the feet as close to the bum as I could before my surgery. I’m so frustrated having multiple issues going on at the same time. I feel like it steers medical professionals away. Especially PTs in America. I’ll check out the video thank you.