Welcome to the Christmas Eve edition of What Is Going On With Coco’s Hamstring. Don’t worry, I promise to keep it short so you can get back to your last-minute shopping, wrapping and baking—or maybe you’re already relaxing.
Trying yet another location for our tree—in the living room we rarely use.
Taking My Hamstring From Humbug To Hopeful
It’s been a roller coaster of a week, with two MRIs, checking messages in three different MyChart accounts, and seeing a new orthopedist.
First the Grinchy results that had me saying “Bah, Humbug!” and humming the hamstring blues. The MRI of my femur showed a 50% partial-thickness tear at the origin. 😩 The orthopedist who has been overseeing my treatment referred me to an orthopedic surgeon, which sent me running to Google to find another orthopedist who might try shockwave therapy, or at least PRP.
Amazingly, I found a doctor at a practice close to home—and she had an opening on Friday. The only hitch was I had forgotten to get a disc of my MRI, so I had to go back to the hospital to pick that up, but luckily that went smoothly. The new doctor I saw focuses on non-surgical treatments, and is a runner. She thinks shockwave therapy is worth a try, although because my hamstring is torn, she said PRP may have a better chance of success. We decided to try shockwave first, since it is non-invasive and—according to her—less painful than a PRP injection into my hamstring would be. 😳
More hopeful news—I can start the treatments next week.
Other hopeful news—she said indoor cycling should be fine, and for everything else I can just let pain be my guide. She also said to keep up my PT exercises—at least the ones that don’t bother my hamstring too much.
Weekly Wrap
I’m not going to recap all my workouts, but I will share the stack of Peloton Holiday upper body classes I plan to repeat at least one more time this week.
OK, maybe I won’t tack on that Flash 15 class again
I alternated upper body strength days with light lower body days, taking Barre or bodyweight classes, and modifying or replacing exercises per my hamstring, i.e, replacing jackknives with tuck-ups and avoiding classes with RDLs.
My “cardio” was mostly walking with Scooby—or between my office and the hospital to get my MRI and then again to get my MRI disc—and a few Peloton holiday rides I took in easy mode.
While my hamstring is limiting what I can do, there is still a lot I can do—and for that I am grateful.
A huge thank you to Deborah and Kim for hosting the Weekly Run Down link up.
🎅 I hope your holidays are more hopeful than humbug! 🎅
🥰 Having your care and support makes mine more merry even when I’m short on endorphins. 🥰
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Sorry about the partial tear. I had the same thing and it took a looong time to heal. After that, my sports chiro did some manipulation to the scar tissue in there. If I run fast, I occasionally still feel tinges of it. Hope the shockwave therapy works wonders for you. Merry Christmas!
Ugh! I’m hoping it works, but know I’ve got a long path ahead.
Glad to read hopeful.
My mood right now is Bah Humbug.
Happy Holidays. Hope you have a nice day with family.
Glad to read that you finally got your answers and will start your treatment. I think you will be glad you did! Merry Christmas
Yes, and I’m glad to find an ortho near me who does these treatments!
I’m hopeful for you that things go well with the shockwave therapy. And how amazing to be able to get an appointment with the doctor so quickly.
Merry Christmas, Coco!
It was a medical miracle itself!
I’m glad things seem to be heading in a more positive direction for you. I’m gonna snag those Pelo upper-body workouts you shared for later…I love Ben! I hope all goes well for your Christmas 😉
His holiday duo is a good stack!
I’m so sorry that you have that tear, but at least now you know what it is! I think conservative treatment is best and hopefully, it will heal without surgery.
Merry Christmas Coco!
Thanks, Wendy! I hope it works.
That does sound hopeful — and what amazing luck to have the dr available & ready to start treatment next week! A true holiday miracle. Fingers crossed that this can be resolved with no surgery!
Merry Christmas, Coco!
Right?! I think it’s a sign. 😉
Oh, a tear?? I wonder how that happened – was it a single incident or just overuse that stressed the hamstring over time?
So good that you found a good RUNNING doctor who even has time! And yay that you can use the bike!
You will be back to running pain free very soon, I’m very sure of that!
Ugh. That is NOT a good Christmas present. But it does explain why it’s still hurting after all this time, and after all the therapy you’ve already done. Yes, focus on what you can do (think how strong your upper body is getting!) and know that you’ll get there in the end. We are all rooting for you!
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!!!!!!
I really hope the shockwave helps! What a frustrating time I’m sure. Wishing you all the best in 2024 Coco.
Lots of hugs. I hope that the non-surgical solution works, and you can get back to your happy running self.
Have a very merry Christmas. l hope Santa is extra good to sweet Scooby!