Seeking Professional Advice On Leg Injury

[ChrisxF]

Hello,

About 3 - 4 months ago, I injured something in my right leg. It feels like it is mainly located in my thigh. Initially I noticed just a minor popping in my right thigh every now and then with certain motions. I figured that the injury was nominal and would likely just heal with time, so I pretty much ignored it. More recently over the last 1 1/2 months, I have noticed tightness in that thigh and up towards the right hip at work as I pull pallets and walk a lot. Also, it seems the more active I am with the leg use, that I also notice my right leg haveing other odd feelings in it to go with the tightness. Though the leg does achieve some soreness with alot of use, I really do not experience any pain with the injury. This is more a matter of I know that something is messed up and not performing correctly, and so I have backed off of my usual physically active lifestyle in fear of further injuring it since I apparently did not take care of it correctly in the first place. As I just stated, I am typically very active including the P90x workout program (which if you aren't familiar with it, has some pretty intense leg workouts and core workouts which require a lot of leg use), and I also do a lot of running mixed in with that program.

So basically I am looking for some professional advice as to what I need to do here to get this leg back up and running so that I can get back to my old lifestyle. If anyone can help me diagnose what part is actually injured, what may have happened, and possibly even what I need to do to treat it, I would greatly appreciate your time and input. I don't have a great deal of funds to just bolt out and see a PT or doctor, so I'm trying to be as resourceful as I can beforehand and see if I can fix it or have family / friends help.


Thank you!


Chris

P.S. Based on what I've researched, it seems like it would fall into a Grade I injury.

[Heidi]

Hi
Its a good sign that there isn't really any pain with it. It may have just been a small injury which has healed but with excess scar tissue which is very inelastic - making the muscle less elastic - and resulting in some tightness in the thigh.
This can be fixed with a lot of stretching and some sports massage.
The only thing that concerns me slightly is when you said "other odd feelings". Can you explain these a little further?

[ChrisxF]

Hey Heidi! I really appreciate the feedback. Thinking about it, I've really only had one other odd feeling (aside from the tightness and small noticble soreness when really bending the leg in odd angles). It's kind of hard to explain, but it I guess I could say it just feels like a a certain muscle or tendon just feels different more toward the inside part of rear thigh and down the calf sometimes after excessive walking (usually at work). It's not a painful or problem causing feeling by any means, just felt weird I guess. Almost like I'm getting a more exclusive feel of it moving around in there as I'm walking or being mobile.

Does that answer your question somewhat I hope?

What exactly would you recommend as far as "a lot of stretching and some sports massage"? Certain stretches? PT or experienced to help with sports massage? Any good resources, etc?

Thanks again - I really appreciate it and look forward to more of your insights.


Chris

[Heidi]

Hi
So the problem is at the back of the thigh? The hamstring area? I just presumed the front, sorry!
From what you say about the tightness, strange feelings and sometimes them radiating into the calf, I think it could be worth considering that it is a sciatic impingement, most frequently coming from the buttock. Read more here: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/back/buttocks/piriformis.htm

Although you may not actually feel anything in the buttock (this is not uncommon), compression of the nerve in this area could result in all of the symptoms you describe.

As for stretching exercises, look at this page: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/stretching/allstretches.php
and try the piriformis stretch and any of the hamstring stretches.

Some massage may also help but you should definately get a professional to do this. I would recommend both the hamstrings and the buttock get some attention.

[ChrisxF]

Hey
It is hard for me to pinpoint exactly where it is. Based on my judgement it feels like it is more in the hamstring region of my leg (and perhaps more toward the inside left). The feeling I have felt radiate somewhat down the leg is by no means a "pain", just an odd feeling like something is moving irregular (wish I could explain this part better). The tightness itself seems to be located more noticeably toward the upper inside part of my thigh heading toward my hip and groin. The popping I had mentioned before just seems to have a random location in the middle (this only happens here and there with certain extensions). Trying to diagnose what is actually damaged is confusing for me in that I feel like most of the noticeable strain seems to be in the back of the inside thigh when i try to test move and stretch the leg, but again I get that tightness towards the inner front and on in towards the hip / groin. Perhaps I should go try and have it diagnosed by a doctor or physical therapist related professional? Or perhaps there are some things I can do or more info I could give you to help you help me diagnose it?

I took a look at the sciatic impingement page you recommended. It is possible, but it doesn't seel like too many of the symptoms match up with my situation here. Again it is very possible i'm just not experienced enough to see it though. I tried the range of motion exercise on that page as well and did no notice anything significant as far as my foot turning up on my right leg when I would try raising it.

When you say I should definitely get a professional if I get massage, are you referring to someone like a PT or are there professionals who specialize just in sports massage?

What do you think from here?

Thanks again for all your help Heidi.


Chris

[Heidi]

If you can then yes definately get is assessed by your Doctor or a injury specialist.
I am not sure where you are based (e.g. UK/USA etc) so can't really recommend as the health care systems are so different.
In the UK there are many different options, you can either see a sports injury therapist or a physio - I would recommend either of these as they will be able to do massage but will lso be able to assess the injury and offer a rehab programme if needed. You can see just a sports massage therapist, but bear in mind that that is all they are qualified to do. No real assessment or exercise rehab.
With a groin/thigh/hip problem such as this, it is difficult for a professional to actually diagnose the condition, so there is very little chance of you doing this yourself, or even me doing it via this forum. What any therapist needs is to speak to the patient in depth about it and to assess the entire area and even the surrounding areas to determine a possible cause and develop a treatment plan.

[aaliya]

Hi.. I have read these all solutions... and I really think that the second one is little more better.. I will surly go for that,,

[stevedav]

I could state it just feels like a a certain sinew or tendon just feels distinct more in the direction of the interior part of back thigh and down the calf occasionally after unwarranted strolling (usually at work). It's not a sore or difficulty imitating feeling by any means