Strange restriction of movement & some pain...Odd!

[monions]

Hi,
for the past 3 or 4 months I've had a strange injury which I'll do my best to try and explain. Bear with me...

It's on the left side (I play football/soccer & my left hammy has always been a little tighter than my right side), at the very top of the back of the leg just under my bum cheek. More on the inside vs the very back of my leg.

It only hurts occasionally & when it does it's like a pinch.

I stretch every morning & since the pain started I've been very conscious of making sure my hamstrings are well stretched. I've got a good (and similar) range of motion in both legs, until I try one thing. Laying my back I raise my right leg to say 90 degrees (so it's straight pointing upwards), from there I can fully open my groin (arc my leg outward to the floor) & fully close my groin (arc my leg inward across my body pretty much to the floor). When I try and do this with my left leg I can open all the way outward to the floor, but as soon as I start to bring my leg inward & accross my body, I get a sharp pain in the area I mentioned above! So, what the heck is causing that pain & what can I do to get a full range of motion back?

I can ride a bike, I can swim (crawl & breast stroke) & I can jog (on flat ground) at a light pace without any pain or discomfort. When I try and increase the pace I get problems. I've also noticed that I get pain when I'm walking up even the slightest of hills/gradients (although stairs are fine). I can also do squats/lunges without a problem - not sure if that's relevant?!

I've tried resting & did nothing apart from walking for a month, I thought this might shift the problem but it didn't. I then went to visit a physio, who said I had a tight pelvis which was causing a pull on the left side, after that I got some ultrasound & some massage but it's not really done anything to cure the problem. If anyone has any suggestions or advice I'd be more than greatful. I've already missed the whole of pre-season training & I'm now missing matches!

I'm not sure if I should have posted this in the buttock pain section, it's probably relevant in a few different areas (legs/groin/hip). Hopefully someone out there will be able to give me a clue on what I've done to myself & how to fix it.

Cheers!

[Heidi]

Hi

Have a look at piriformis syndrome.

This can cause pain in the hamstrings, where there has been no hamstring injury. It may also explain your difficulty with adducting your leg in a flexed position:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/back/buttocks/piriformis.htm

[monions]

Hi Heidi,

Thanks for getting back to me. I've done a load of research on piriformis & the symptoms do sound similar to what I'm experiencing. The only thing I'd question or have reservations about is the fact that my buttock (at the very top of hamstring on the inside) hurts a lot when I'm trying to put my leg accross my body when the leg is fully extended (and as mentioned it opens all the way fine). All the literiture I can find appears to suggest if it's piriformis it would affect the outer rotation vs inner.

I've tried the common piriformis stretches & yes, I can feel the stretch but there's no discomfort or pain in the piriformis muscle. I'm starting to think this could be a hamstring issue, you thoughts would be appreciated.

Mik

[Heidi]

Hi again!

If piriformis is tight then it limits the range of internal rotation, as the muscle is an external rotator.

If it is a purely hamstring problem then you will find that there is a tender spot somewhere in the muscle. Somewhere where you can apply pressure and it will be sore/painful.

Another thing you might want to consider is the SI joint. Any problems in this region may cause compression of a nerve which may produce symptoms on the inner thigh.

Have a look at our si joint page: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/back/buttocks/sacroiliac.htm