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wrldtrv
666 Posts |
 Posted - 04/30/2005 : 22:56:45
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This is a very curious situation: I'm a runner who has had chronic hamstring tendonitis for as many years as I can remember. Sometimes I'm free of it, but not for long. It's always in the same spot at the insertion into the knee and usually mild. The problem seems to worsen sometimes if I run more than usual or if I overstretch.
Well, I never thought too much of it until last week. That's when I thought maybe I'd see a doc and get a referral for physical therapy to figure out the problem once and for all. Okay, adding to the story, on the same leg, in the middle of the hamstring muscle itself I have had a lump that is very obvious when I flex the muscle. I've had it for at least 20 years, but never thought too much of it. Turns out it is an old fairly severe partial rupture (tearing away) of the muscle from its tendon. So, the swelling upon contraction is simply the useless part of the muscle that broke away and never reattached itself. I don't know how it happened originally, but it has never interfered with my running. Though I don't run that much nowadays I have run about 10 marathons in the past 20 yrs since the injury occurred.
Here's the baffling thing. The tendonitis I went to the doc for was not a big concern--until he told me about the rupture. Then, my mind began to imagine the worst. I feared I would do more damage if I continued to run even though I have been running for at least 20 years since the injury without too much problem. Suddenly, I became hyper-aware of my hamstring and began to experience not only the initial tendonitis, but weakness throughout the hamstring. I've become paranoid about running at all. Anyone else experience any similar problem? Does this sound like TMS?
Thanks very much,
Rick
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2005 : 07:18:26
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Sounds like TMS to me. In fact, the original tendonitis is probably also TMS. Your brain is aware of the spot of prior injuries and often induces TMS symptoms in the exact spot.
A 20 year injury has healed completely. Clearly your brain has capitalized on your newfound "knowledge" to induce more symptoms. Classic TMS. |
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wrldtrv
666 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 22:15:25
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Thanks for your opinion Dave. You're probably right because, clearly, I've done nothing different in the weeks since getting the diagnosis of the 20 year old partial rupture to create these new symptoms. In fact I have been pretty much abstaining from running and doing some strengthening and stretching instead. More incriminating is that symptoms vary throughout the day. I can be perfectly fine and then it will feel sore, weak, or tight without doing anything.
Rick |
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Hamstring Tear
