Hamstring

My right quad felt much better this weekend than last - so the little break over the week helped and yesterday I tried to limit my ride to only 50 miles - while there were a few hills there were not many. My right hamstring, however, is still troubling me for the first 30 minutes or so when I get on the bike. Not much, but it talks to me.

I wanted to go for a recovery ride today - but since walking had my hammie talking to me I decided it would be better to go for a good walk instead - so headed for my favorite park. Not a very exciting place to walk, but figured the trails wouldn't be too hard on my leg. It was fine, but still the hamstring was twinging for the first 15-20 minutes or so.

Am unsure if this is still from the new weights two weeks ago (which doesn't seem reasonable as we haven't repeated that machine), or if perhaps it is simply from my muscles adjusting to clipping in (my trainer thinks it might be related).

Would it be better to try and target my hamstring in gentle stretching, or just back off on the intensity of my cycling for a few more days. I've only ridden once since last Sunday and I am starting to chafe at that. Spinning just isn't the same...

I'm wondering if it could be cleat position? It seems like your pain has happened since they were installed. Just something else to consider, in addition to many other possibilities!

Personally, I would not stretch an injured hamstring. I'd just let it heal, and take ibuprofen. I probably would do a really easy ride, but I'd stop if it hurt at all.

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Originally Posted by redrhodie

I'm wondering if it could be cleat position? It seems like your pain has happened since they were installed. Just something else to consider, in addition to many other possibilities!

Personally, I would not stretch an injured hamstring. I'd just let it heal, and take ibuprofen. I probably would do a really easy ride, but I'd stop if it hurt at all.

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The hamstring/quad in that leg were aggravated prior to my moving to clipless. For one session my trainer had me on a reclined leg-press machine and as I remember that side was particularly hard to press. So much that he decreased the weight for the other side. Hm-mm, that probably fired things up.

Then of course I just HAD to jump straight into clipless once I saw that I could actually use them and immediately went to >50 mile rides after one "little" 30 mile spin on them. It may have simply been a combination of the two and too much, too soon. My saddle is about an inch too low at this point... shoes have a higher sole than my sandals) and we are raising it a few mm at a time - there is a reason for that :o

After my leg warms up then the twinging goes away - and it is only a very isolated location on the back of my leg that may even be some other muscle than the hammie. It is about halfway down the back of my leg, off to the right of center just a tad.

Makes sense not to stretch it - haven't been good with the ibuprofen (never am) but will make an effort. Tuesday will head out again...

I've been doing battle with hamstring pain/spasms in my left leg since the middle of June. Mine are awful - the hamstring gets really painful mainly when I'm standing still, and it can get so bad I nearly pass out. Everything I've read about hamstring injuries says to stretch gently, to take Advil or Aleve and to use ice or heat.

I did have a mishap on my bike a few days before all of this started - I swerved trying to avoid being hit by a car, then swerved so I wouldn't hit a curb -- ended up unclipping my feet in a rush and tipping the wrong way off a curb, and the bike came with me - ramming the nose of the seat into the left side of my butt. That hurt like none other, and the doc says it might have caused a deep bruise that's irritating the hamstring. I'm getting some tingling in the hamstring area and in my foot, too, so he says another possibility is my back might be the culprit. My back and hip x-rays were o.k., but I do have scoliosis.--

The doctor told me that hamstring problems can be a real mystery. He's sending me to physical therapy which I'll be starting Friday and he's also put me on Mobic, which is an anti-inflammatory. Wish I had some better suggestions - I do feel your pain. :(

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Originally Posted by Deborajen

I'm getting some tingling in the hamstring area and in my foot, too, so he says another possibility is my back might be the culprit. My back and hip x-rays were o.k., but I do have scoliosis.--

The doctor told me that hamstring problems can be a real mystery. He's sending me to physical therapy which I'll be starting Friday and he's also put me on Mobic, which is an anti-inflammatory. Wish I had some better suggestions - I do feel your pain. :(

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Awhile back, my hamstring was so bad I couldn't run on it. It was due to my lower back disk problems. Went to PT for a few months where we did some hammie strengthening, stretching and icing afterward. The PT said to make sure that my lower back stays supple and strong and that my hammies also stay flexible & strong. So far, knock wood, no problems.

BTW I've been on mobic for fifteen years. It's been a lifesaver for me and my arthritic body.

My fitter tells me that he isn't surprised my hamstring is giving me a little trouble. He said that when we are on platform pedals that our hamstrings are hardly engaged, but when we are clipped in they are certainly in use. It does seem to be improving since I only had one medium ride this weekend although I did do some light hiking.

Last night I went to spinning class and tried to back off a bit, and just got in from an easy 45 minute spin at the park. Trying to work my way up to a normal long ride this weekend, we will see how it goes!

Today I took it easy and went for a 19 mile ride - and most of those were flat. No quad or hamstring pain at all during the ride and I was clipped in :) Tomorrow will shoot for 40-50 miles and see how that feels. My fitter raised my saddle a couple of MM yesterday, which was part of the problem.

I did notice, however, when I got off the bike a little tenderness in my hammie where it attaches at the top of my leg. I have noticed in the past when I've had really sore quads that it was like the soreness had to "work it's way up" and out. I am hoping that is what is happening here.

Each time the soreness is less and less, so I think that I have adopted the right approach - though it was hard today to limit myself to 19 miles...though it was quite windy!

Have you tried rolling it out? When I strained my vastus intermedialis last year (no idea how) I was hesitant at first to use the foam roller, but once I got into it, SMR cleared it right up.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Have you tried rolling it out? When I strained my vastus intermedialis last year (no idea how) I was hesitant at first to use the foam roller, but once I got into it, SMR cleared it right up.

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No, I have not yet tried this. Didn't even think about it :o I have a small roller at home that I've never really used, will try it tonight.

I want to ride tonight, but am thinking it might be wiser to do some gentle stretching instead, I had quite short rides both Sat/Sunday, and went to spinning class last night though I did take it easier than usual. Tomorrow I've a meeting with my trainer, so I think I will just give my leg some TLC tonight.

I had a gentle ride last night - I was aware of the hamstring's existence but it didn't hurt. Tonight I went to spinning class, and noticed it a lot more - especially in standing climbs. I tried to take it easy but noted at one point that there was targeted warmth in the area - though not pain, not quite... sigh.

No state forest exploration for me tomorrow I suppose. Will continue with the gentle rides and break down and try and roll it.

I am hoping the "warmth" doesn't mean much - I did back off even further at that point.

Are you icing it and/or taking any pain relievers?

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Originally Posted by indysteel

Are you icing it and/or taking any pain relievers?

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I wasn't sure if icing was called for this long after whatever happened, or if heat is better. I did some research on the internet and all the references were for icing right after the injury. I do take ibuprofen from time to time, though can probably take it a bit more consistently.

My usual habit is to ignore things like this until they go away :o I am trying to get better. I will take ibuprofen before bed tonight, and tomorrow when I get in from riding (gently) will ice it.

I swear all of this started after hiring a trainer/mt to stretch me...last time THAT is going to happen!

My name is Catrin and I've been in denial over my hamstring problem...ignoring it isn't working :o

I am now icing it after every ride/workout + taking ibuprophen, and my rides are shorter with fewer hills until it heals. The quad is now healed, but the hamstring is just going to take longer. I have accepted that, I don't have to like it.

Thanks for the helpful comments - I am thankful that I had already decided not to do the brevet before this happened or I would be quite upset with my leg. I wish I knew what happened, but will probably never know for sure.

So now, perhaps, the best thing to do is to not think about my 70 mile rides of just a few weeks ago, but focus on what my leg will allow me to do now and once it is healed work my way back to the same distance. I still want to do a century this fall, but if this takes too long to heal then it won't happen...

I didn't read back through all of the comments to check, but have you worn compression tights after a ride?

And have you thought about taking a week off altogether? I know it sucks to do so, but at this point, I'm not so sure just easing back is doing the trick.

I'm not overly familar with hamstring issues. Mine get tight, but that's about it. I do know that my own tendency to ride or run through pain generally just leads to more and/or prolonged pain. In the very least, stop doing any climbs in spin class.

I agree with Jonathan that clipless pedals will help you better engage your hamstrings, but that alone won't cause an injury. Temporary soreness, yes, but probably not injury. Did this also coincide with him raising your saddle? That could also be a culprit I suppose in that the higher the saddle, the more you're stretching your hamstring.

To me, all of this just reinforces the fact that I think you could stand to add some yoga or pilates into the mix. Cycling involves such a limited and repetitive range of motion. It helps to do something to counter the long hours on the bike. In reading your 2011 cycling goals thread, I see that your winter workouts largely revolve aroung cycling or spinning. I, personally, use the winter to broaden things a bit and give my body a chance to move in different ways. I find that I'm less injury prone when I do that.
Just my random thoughts....FWIW. :)

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Originally Posted by indysteel

And have you thought about taking a week off altogether? I know it sucks to do so, but at this point, I'm not so sure just easing back is doing the trick. ...

To me, all of this just reinforces the fact that I think you could stand to add some yoga or pilates into the mix. Cycling involves such a limited and repetitive range of motion. It helps to do something to counter the long hours on the bike. In reading your 2011 cycling goals thread, I see that your winter workouts largely revolve aroung cycling or spinning. I, personally, use the winter to broaden things a bit and give my body a chance to move in different ways. I find that I'm less injury prone when I do that.
Just my random thoughts....FWIW. :)

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I also do strength training 3 times a week, and my trainer does focus some of our time on exercises that works on my full range of motion. We do have free mat pilates at my club, I will give it a shot to see what I think about it - I pretty much am limited to what I can do at my club right now. I have not heard much good about the yoga classes there...

Several things happened at the same time - I paid someone to stretch me (which I think was at least partially responsible) and I moved to clipless pedals and did several quite long rides on them right off the bat.

Jonathan isn't surprised over the hamstring issue, especially with the mileage I tend to ride - though frankly I am still unsure if it is just sore or has an actual mild strain. The localized warmth I felt the other day leads me to assume a light strain. The only reason the saddle was raised was because my shoes have a higher sole than the Keens I used on the BMX pedals which had the effect of lowering my saddle. My saddle is still almost an inch too low though...

It actually feels better on the bike than when doing climbs on the spinning bike - so will stop doing those for a week or so. I have backed off on the intensity on the spinning bike, I generally hit it quite hard.

The reason I haven't taken a full week off the bike yet is that every time I ride it feels better than the time before. Yesterday was the closest I've come to really feeling like myself on the bike for two weeks :) I stuck to flat roads with only 3 moderate hills, and they were pretty short. It was only 23 miles, but that's the furthest I've ridden since the Hope Ride...

Thanks for your comments Indy, they are always helpful. I haven't tried compression tights...

I'm still doing battle with my hamstring, too. If I come up with anything - causes, solutions, etc., I'll let you know. It's really frustrating, I know.

I've been going to PT for a little over a week now and it's been getting worse. My therapist has added some stretches and has done massage at two of the sessions. The first one felt really good for a few hours and then became really painful, and I was sore all over the next day. I swore I'd drunk enough water, but apparently not. She massaged again and I was sore afterwards but improved a few hours later (I drank LOTS of water). She doesn't really know the cause but says my legs are very flexible but my back is tight. She says if the back is tight the legs have to give and vice versa. I've been thinking for years that my hams are tight - ? She says it could also be piriformis but I've been stretching that for three months now. She's added a "big gun" piriformis stretch to my regimen - says that still might be a cause. Anyway, I go back on Tuesday and she says if I'm not better she might try iontophoresis.

Right now I can only walk for a few minutes without the ham getting really painful. Except for some really short jogs (less than a minute at a time), I haven't tried running since June. Riding bike feels o.k. but the doctor recommended I hold off on that until the pain settles down. Standing is the worst. Standing to cook, even something quick like macaroni and cheese, is hard. It's SO frustrating! I'm stretching and taking my Mobic - and here it is, fall, beautiful weather, and I'd just love to go for a run or do some good riding -- ugh!

Well, keep hanging in there. Misery loves company, but hopefully we'll both be rid of this soon.

I certainly hope that things improve for you soon! It sounds like your problem is more advanced than mine.

Had a talk with my fitter about this yesterday, and he seems to think that it is related to my saddle height and that it won't resolve until we get my knee angle closer to 30 degrees rather than the 45 degrees it currently is on the bike. We are inching the saddle up, 3mm every few weeks, and he isn't recommending we increase the timing or distance of that. There were good reasons why the saddle has been so low.

If it doesn't start to improve soon then I will need to seek the advice of a PT - ideally one who is also a fitter if there is such a person in the region. I did take the weekend off the bike. Went hiking today (a gentle 3 mile hike in an area that is flat). The hamstring was fine during the hike, though it was aching a little on the drive home. Considering last week it starting hurting after 3 laps on the track at my club I am hopeful!

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Originally Posted by Deborajen

I'm still doing battle with my hamstring, too.

I've been going to PT for a little over a week now and it's been getting worse. My therapist has added some stretches and has done massage at two of the sessions. The first one felt really good for a few hours and then became really painful, and I was sore all over the next day. ... She says it could also be piriformis but I've been stretching that for three months now. She's added a "big gun" piriformis stretch to my regimen - says that still might be a cause. Anyway, I go back on Tuesday and she says if I'm not better she might try iontophoresis.

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Deborajen-- It sounds like you're going through something similar to what I experienced more than ten years ago. Piriformis syndrome ended my running "career." I was a long-distance runner, half-marathons were my preferred event. For months, I thought it was a hamstring issue but it was PFS, which resulted in sciatica. Chronic pain when sitting, which was horrible since I'm a desk-bound bureaucrat. Took a long time to get better and luckily, I haven't had a major recurrence of it.

I highly recommend seeing an Osteopath for an evaluation/treatment.

I've been suspecting piriformis might be my problem, too. I tried doing some new stretches from a running website back in July and the piriformis stretch seemed to pull a "bad spot." But after stretching it regularly for three months, it's not really getting better so I don't know. I don't have any pain when sitting (thankfully! I have a desk job, too). If I recline, though, and the pressure is above my sit bones, that hurts and then I get tingling in my hamstring and foot.

I'll see what happens at PT tomorrow.--

Catrin - This might sound kind of odd but when I worked for an orthopaedic surgeon years ago, he used to say that one thing that can help a hamstring pull is running backwards. I've tried a little of this at the park when walking my dog with no luck but might give it a try on the elliptical at the gym. It sounds really wierd to me but on the other hand it's the reverse mechanics of walking/running/pedaling which seem to aggravate the muscle. I don't know about you, but I'd try anything right about now.

Good luck with the PT today!

I am feeling better - after taking the weekend off I went to spinning class last night and after weeks of this it seems to, finally, be resolving. Not saying that I didn't get a twinge or two, but that was all :) Will take a gentle ride tonight in my favorite park and see what it feels like.

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Good luck with the PT today!

I am feeling better - after taking the weekend off I went to spinning class last night and after weeks of this it seems to, finally, be resolving. Not saying that I didn't get a twinge or two, but that was all :) Will take a gentle ride tonight in my favorite park and see what it feels like.

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edited: The 16 mile ride last night went just fine - so we will see what happens with a longer ride :D

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Originally Posted by Deborajen

Right now I can only walk for a few minutes without the ham getting really painful. Except for some really short jogs (less than a minute at a time), I haven't tried running since June. Riding bike feels o.k. but the doctor recommended I hold off on that until the pain settles down. Standing is the worst. Standing to cook, even something quick like macaroni and cheese, is hard. It's SO frustrating! I'm stretching and taking my Mobic - and here it is, fall, beautiful weather, and I'd just love to go for a run or do some good riding -- ugh!

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Ask your PT to explain the symptomology of a lumbar anterior derangement to you (in particular how it effects WOMEN), and have her show you the flexion (bending forward) movements to correct it. Once it's corrected, the ham and piri will stop freaking out. The tingling with extension will also go away.

Also, ask her to teach you to stand properly in a neutral pelvic tilt, with knees unlocked and core engaged.

I guess this is just going to take time to heal completely. This week has gone so well for my leg, was even able to hammer it on my ride last night. Today? 15 minutes until my ride the hamstring started to hurt a little going up a hill in my favorite park. Good thing I was in the park - which meant that I was close to my car. Otherwise I would have just ignored it. Instead...I went home and iced it, took some ibuprophen. I could still feel it when I got home :(

Hopefully this means that I can ride tomorrow since I listened to my leg today :) May just go for the elliptical at the gym instead though...I WANT to go have a nice LONG ride on my bike tomorrow ...dagnabbitx&@*#$Y)Y%#@ Perhaps a short one, we will see...

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Ask your PT to explain the symptomology of a lumbar anterior derangement to you (in particular how it effects WOMEN), and have her show you the flexion (bending forward) movements to correct it. Once it's corrected, the ham and piri will stop freaking out. The tingling with extension will also go away.

Also, ask her to teach you to stand properly in a neutral pelvic tilt, with knees unlocked and core engaged.

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I'll be sure to ask her about that at my next visit on Wednesday - thank you! At my appointment a few days ago, she did some more massage but worked the lower back a little more, and she also mentioned again that the back is always suspect when the hamstrings act up, especially when there is tingling in the legs and feet. She didn't add any back stretches yet, but she seemed to be a little more suspicious of the back. It'll be interesting to see what she says next time.

This backing off thing is for the birds.....but I AM doing it. Went to spinning class tonight and agreed with the instructor that all I could do was to just spin easy - he knows me as he said "none of this seeing how much you can do and waiting until there is pain to back off" (he is also my personal trainer).

It was quite hard to do that, but I just sat there and spinned?...spun? for 50 minutes - and stayed in the seat. My trainer isn't shy and he gave me "the eye" once when he thought that I was pushing too hard. Since EVERYTHING gets my hamstring's attention am trying to find some way of exercising - though this barely got my heart rate up to 105...so I probably did it right :rolleyes:

Tomorrow after work I have a deep tissue massage scheduled with one of the specialists at the spa that happens to be located in my health club - the entire place is a medically based facility. I am sure it won't be a pleasant experience, but hopefully it will be therapeutic.

Should there not be improvement by Friday morning, I have an appointment scheduled with my doc.

I want to ride my bike this weekend...

If you don't seriously STOP and let the damm thing heal, you won't be riding at all.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

If you don't seriously STOP and let the damm thing heal, you won't be riding at all.

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I think that I had to see for myself that even spinning that gently wouldn't help...it did not seem to hurt anything, but I am now stopped. In the past I've always gotten away with just continuing through while something healed. I mean, I was back at work once 6 days after major surgery (that wasn't by choice).

So I have the deep tissue massage scheduled for tonight after work and while I am still meeting with my trainer we won't be doing any lower-body work. I can't even find a sore place with my fingers, though the warmth I get sometimes indicates inflammation. The guy I am seeing tonight is quite good at this - I would prefer to see a woman but this is the best MT they have that has an opening this week.

Went to a massage therapist this evening and had a good massage that focused on my hamstring. He did not think it a good idea to do a full deep tissue massage, though he did do that along with other things.

Apparently my hamstring (the one with the word bicep in the name) wants to enter a rock and roll band because he said it is tight enough to get a tune from it. Joking aside, he said that my hammie is so tight that it is probably trying to protect an injury such as a microtear or something of that nature.

It feels better already, though it is still quite tight. He gave me some stretches. I will still stay off the bike for a few more days and stretch/ice. There is inflammation, which is what the warmth is from. The sorest place he found is where that particular hamstring attaches at the top, though there is another sore place in the middle of the hammie in the middle of my thigh.

I do feel better about the whole thing as there doesn't appear to be any real damage. Part of the tightness may well be related to the height of my saddle - it isn't high enough - but I am just speculating here.

So stretch, stretch, stretch, and when I get back on the bike this weekend I will take it quite easy. Really.

Catrin - I really hope your hammie heals quickly and also that you can get your form to where you can put your seat up to proper height... one thing you are missing is the amount of extra power you will have when you are fitted with your knees at the correct angle. Riding with your seat so low may also have an impact on your knees down the road...

Take care and don't give up!

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Originally Posted by tctrek

Catrin - I really hope your hammie heals quickly and also that you can get your form to where you can put your seat up to proper height... one thing you are missing is the amount of extra power you will have when you are fitted with your knees at the correct angle. Riding with your seat so low may also have an impact on your knees down the road...

Take care and don't give up!

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It has now been 8 days since I was last on my beloved steel steed, I can see that she is pining for the open road!

The leg is feeling much better, though still icing at the drop of a hat. Tomorrow afternoon I am going to give it a shot and see what it feels like to ride again, it has been a HARD 8 days! No warmth in my hamstring in two days and no pain.

So will take it easy tomorrow, make sure I warm up on the flats, and resist the urge to go find every hill I know to climb and no hammering... I would like to get 20 miles in, at least, but will listen to my body.

My saddle has been raised a few more millimeters, and that will happen every week or two until it is where it needs to be. No more long rides though (>40 miles) until that happens though - there are reasons why my fitter has chosen this approach and, for me, they are good ones.

best wishes! Hope you have a nice ride :)

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Ask your PT to explain the symptomology of a lumbar anterior derangement to you (in particular how it effects WOMEN), and have her show you the flexion (bending forward) movements to correct it. Once it's corrected, the ham and piri will stop freaking out. The tingling with extension will also go away.

Also, ask her to teach you to stand properly in a neutral pelvic tilt, with knees unlocked and core engaged.

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Thanks again, Knotted, for the recommendation.

I've had a couple more PT sessions and I asked about anterior lumbar derangement. She explained what it was and said it's a possibility as is spinal stenosis (walking the dog and leaning back/getting pulled is more painful than pushing a cart in the grocery store), and she put me on some stretches and strengthening exercises for the lower back. I'd been doing piriformis and hamstring exercises for several weeks and they weren't helping much.

Today, I mentioned that I noticed that crouching helps with the spasms and she said that sounds more like psoas muscle. Lying on the table on my back with my left leg hanging off the side was painful in the "spasm" area, lying on my back rotating both legs (knees bent) side to side was painful in the same area (left side) when rotating knees to the right - both of these she said point to the psoas muscle. She sounds very convinced that this is the problem, and since the exercises do pull the sore area I'm a lot more confident we're on the right track now, too. The only doubt I have is that the tingling didn't sound like a psoas symptom, but she did say that everyone is built differently.

Anyway, I hope I'm finally on track to getting this thing settled down. I'll keep doing the exercises and listening to my body. It sure would be a lot easier if body parts didn't blame each other so darned much!

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Originally Posted by Deborajen

Today, I mentioned that I noticed that crouching helps with the spasms and she said that sounds more like psoas muscle. Lying on the table on my back with my left leg hanging off the side was painful in the "spasm" area, lying on my back rotating both legs (knees bent) side to side was painful in the same area (left side) when rotating knees to the right - both of these she said point to the psoas muscle. She sounds very convinced that this is the problem, and since the exercises do pull the sore area I'm a lot more confident we're on the right track now, too. The only doubt I have is that the tingling didn't sound like a psoas symptom, but she did say that everyone is built differently.

Anyway, I hope I'm finally on track to getting this thing settled down. I'll keep doing the exercises and listening to my body. It sure would be a lot easier if body parts didn't blame each other so darned much!

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Psoas muscle is anchored on the 5 lumbar vertebrae. If it is so tight that it is pulling you into an anterior derangement, a tight psoas could indirectly cause tingling. (via what position it forces the vertebrae to take and the corresponding weakening of the disc between them)

The problem with a derangement is that the outer wall of the disc becomes overstretched and weak, and tends to take a blobby shape instead of a nice firm-edged shape. (perhaps overstretched from the tight psoas yanking on the adjoining vertebrae like I mentioned above) Now you have TWO problems: a messed up disc wall that needs to be addressed so it can heal, and a tight psoas. The messed up disc wall is what ultimately causes the tingling in lumbar extension.

But actually, you have THREE problems to address: blobby disc wall, tight psoas, and WHAT THE HECK CAUSED THE PSOAS TO GET TIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Again, please ask your PT to coach you through lumbar neutral in standing and walking, coach you how to protect and re-shape the disc so the weak blobby area can heal, and analyze the forces your lumbar spine experiences that may have caused the whole business to start in the first place.

(based on what you said about supine lumbar rotation, it could be a lateral relevant derangement rather than an anterior derangement, both can cause tingling in extension. Your PT should be able to figure it out in about 5 minutes and will teach you how to push it back into shape and what to to do keep it there for the 7 days it takes to heal the disc wall.)

ETA: as far as her initial mention of spinal stenosis is concerned: your asymmetrical response to supine lumbar rotation pretty much ruled that out, which is why she didn't pursue it further.

The exercises are starting to help a little. I did learn lumbar neutral stance and walking with Chi Running not too long ago so I'm working on that again. We did talk about cause at the last PT visit. I have a full-time office job so I spend a lot of time at a desk. Also, back in February I got a new dog and have been walking her every day. Her pace is a very fast walk/not quite a run pace for me, so this means stretching out my stride more than I was used to. I'd hoped a longer stride would help with my running, but my PT agreed that this along with a lot of sitting at work might be what caused the current problems. So the walks are now at a slow pace to the park and then the dog can run on a retractable leash. PT is also having me get up and stretch several times throughout the day, plus continue with the other exercises.

Back to the doctor tomorrow - see what he says.

I saw the new physical therapist today, and I seem to have found someone very well qualified indeed. He is McKenzie certified, along with a lot of other certifications, years of experience, and is also a research fellow and professor. While he didn't actually say it, it seemed apparent that he thought my first PT didn't handle things properly. I don't know about that, I think he did his best, but results is what matters.

To make a long story short, he doesn't think the minor back arthritis has any role in my issues - he said that it is very, very minor. We just did the evaluation today and he took LOTS of notes (and a little hands on stuff), he thinks all of the weirdness with my hips/hip flexor/hammie/quad are explained by a dysfunction in my hips and soft tissue issues. More specific than that he won't say until our next session, but that is certainly more desirable over a fu**ed disc - he doesn't think it is that at all. Wheww :)

He is also contacting my personal trainer so that my training and PT won't be working against each other - and I see my trainer more often than I will be seeing the PT - the PT is QUITE the drive from me - even further than I thought.

Other good news is that last night, for the first time since early September, I was able to fully participate in spinning class without backing off :D Well, I didn't do the sprints, but THOSE can wait until I am on the bike - my trainer has advised me to hold off on them for now. Wonderful progress, even if some odd pains remain - but they have not bothered me on the spinning bike or regular bike :D

I'm glad you got evaluated by a new PT--one that seems to know what he's doing. Hopefully, he'll get you headed in the right direction. I'm glad, too, that he's talking directly to your trainer.

It makes perfect sense, my trainer is contacting him, he prefers that approach as well - in the end I am the one who benefits from the combined approach.

I AM feeling much better, outside of the odd pains and I am not surprised that he thinks my hip is playing a significant role...between his McKenzie training and other certifications, he has plenty of tools to work with. He did make an interesting comment that MRI scans are too quickly used because of false positives. Now he didn't say, yet, what he thinks the actual hip and soft tissue problems are...but at this point I don't care what it is called.