Hamstring "popped"

While deadlifting this morning (conventional, not stiff leg), my hamstring "popped" about halfway up from the floor. I was focusing on ham and glute engagement; good form; etc. And watching in the mirror, so I know my form was good. It hurt, but not a lot. Deadlifts were my first exercise; this was around 10:45. I put the weight down without completing the movement; waited a few minutes; took 50 lbs off the bar and gave a "test pull". I probably could have gotten it up, but it seemed like a really dumb idea, so that ended deadlifts for the day.

I did a little gentle stretching as I finished my back workout to sort of test things out, and was able to get pretty good range of motion and no sharp pains, though it did (and does) hurt some.

I also did bent over barbell rows after this happened - very carefully - and was able to do those without causing any kind of major pain in the hamstring (wasn't sure I'd be able to).

I have no lumps or bumps; no bruising (it's now about 2-1/2 hours later). It does ache - but no sharp pain.

So... WTF happened? I don't think I tore it, though that was the first thing that came to mind. Maybe a partial tear? A long time ago - like 30 years - I got a hernia lifting a heavy wall while building a house and it was a similar "pop" without much noticable pain. Pretty much a non event. Likewise, I ruptured a tendon in my thumb about 6 or 7 years ago and it was a similar thi g: a "pop" and sone discomfort, but I didn't know anything serious had happened. That ended up requiring surgery.

This is right in the middle of the muscle, not at an insertion point.

Any guesses?

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could be a minor strain or pull. it could also be a partial tear or even scar tissue breaking lose. no real way to know what's going on without an mri. if their is no bruising holes dents or lumps, then it most likely isnt a full tear. now the one down side is that when tendons pop, they dont bruise. so if you did pop a tendon again you wont know unless you get it checked out. now the big indicator on a tear is the sound. you and every one around you can and will hear it, it is very very loud

If a "very loud" sound is a qualifier for a full thickness tear, then I didn't tear it. Thank goodness for that. Nor do I have any lumps, knots, dents or holes. Still no bruising. And, maybe most important, everything seems to work normally; it just hurts a little. Well, more than a little, but not horrible. Did some walking around this afternoon and evening, including up a pretty steep grade. Some discomfort but nothing that made me modify my gait or limp or anything.

The pain has traveled to my knee a bit, though. I might take some Advil before bed (took some after my workout). Hopefully it doesn't stiffen up too badly over night....

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Originally Posted by Northeastconfederate

If a "very loud" sound is a qualifier for a full thickness tear, then I didn't tear it. Thank goodness for that. Nor do I have any lumps, knots, dents or holes. Still no bruising. And, maybe most important, everything seems to work normally; it just hurts a little. Well, more than a little, but not horrible. Did some walking around this afternoon and evening, including up a pretty steep grade. Some discomfort but nothing that made me modify my gait or limp or anything.

The pain has traveled to my knee a bit, though. I might take some Advil before bed (took some after my workout). Hopefully it doesn't stiffen up too badly over night....

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when i tore my hamstring it cramped up something fierce every time i brought my leg up to my butt. it was also black and blue from the top of my butt check to the bottom of my calf over night. no loud sound and no deformities going on then most likely you didnt tear anything really bad. not a doc or an mri but i would lean more toward a strain or severe pull

I have had that happen. Mine bruised up half my hammy. I babies it for 2 months and was fine. I physio acquaintance at the gym saw my bruised up hammy a couple days later and told me I popped several fibers but it would heal fine.

Did it feel like electricity on your leg with a tactile pop?

Probably the same thing. He said being able to walk meant it was not major but let it heal. Also once you pop it, it will have a propensity to pop again as you lost a bit of structure in the muscle. Stretch super good and EASE back in.

hope you heal up fast bro.

i heard/felt my bicep "pop". My music was too loud to know if it was audible to the point of anyone else hearing it. When I tried to curl with that arm my heart sank. BPC 157 helped a lot. i never had it checked out so idk what happened exactly. I hope it was scar tissue. Aint no one got time fer dat haha.

Little bit of an update on this. I noticed this morning that my upper calf - just below the knee joint - is all purple. What I think must have happened is that my hamstring did bruise, but deep enough that it never showed. But the accumulated blood has now migrated due to gravity and is now visible.

I've avoided any leg workouts since the "pop". I've been stretching gently - not enough, but some. It's still slightly sore, but only noticable when stretching or after climbing a bunch of stairs (I work at a power plant - I'm talking about enough stairs to climb 130 feet, not 1 floor). So it's definitely healing, whatever happened.

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Originally Posted by Northeastconfederate

So it's definitely healing, whatever happened.

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Good news

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Originally Posted by Northeastconfederate

Little bit of an update on this. I noticed this morning that my upper calf - just below the knee joint - is all purple. What I think must have happened is that my hamstring did bruise, but deep enough that it never showed. But the accumulated blood has now migrated due to gravity and is now visible.

I've avoided any leg workouts since the "pop". I've been stretching gently - not enough, but some. It's still slightly sore, but only noticable when stretching or after climbing a bunch of stairs (I work at a power plant - I'm talking about enough stairs to climb 130 feet, not 1 floor). So it's definitely healing, whatever happened.

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if it did bruise like that i would try to get an mri done. need to make sure how much damage you did and prevent from hurting something else in the future. will give you a better piece of mind at least knowing what's going on in there

Hm. Guns, I don't want to say, "I hate you for saying this", but....... I was just thinking about doing a back workout tomorrow morning, to include deadlifts. And was pondering the wisdom of deadlifting at this point. It feels pretty much fine except for a little bit of tightness. I should probably NOT deadlifts; I should probably test the waters with light weight stiff leg deads before diving into regular deadlifts or even squats, for that matter.

And I'm sure you're right: maybe I ought to call my sports orthopedist and go get it checked out (that's the only way I will be able to get an MRI, is with an appointment and resulting referral/prescription for it and then the follow up appointment. What a PITA.....

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Originally Posted by Northeastconfederate

Hm. Guns, I don't want to say, "I hate you for saying this", but....... I was just thinking about doing a back workout tomorrow morning, to include deadlifts. And was pondering the wisdom of deadlifting at this point. It feels pretty much fine except for a little bit of tightness. I should probably NOT deadlifts; I should probably test the waters with light weight stiff leg deads before diving into regular deadlifts or even squats, for that matter.

And I'm sure you're right: maybe I ought to call my sports orthopedist and go get it checked out (that's the only way I will be able to get an MRI, is with an appointment and resulting referral/prescription for it and then the follow up appointment. What a PITA.....

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i would def not be doing any deads or stiff leg while it feels off. if you stretch it with a load you could def cause a lot more damage than you already have. may be able to do some light leg curls to at least flush the area out but with bruising i would still lean more towards getting it checked out before doing anything on it at all

Well, I walk a lot of stairs at work. Not a few flights. I work at a power plant and am up and down stairs all day long. The hamstring has gotten so it feels fine taking stairs 2 at a time, no problem. So I decided to give a leg workout a try this morning before work. I stayed lighter than usual and worked up to my heavier sets incrementally, testing things out as I went. Squats, leg press and stiff leg deads. Like I said, all lighter than normal, but I felt good, so not TOO light. No adverse affects: no pain or soreness or even undue tightness. I still see the remnants of the bruising down at the top of my calf just below the knee joint; but this is definitely residual blood from an "internal" bruise at the site of the injury which was the middle of the hamstring, midway between the knee and glute. Not an 'active bruise, if that makes any sense.

Years ago, following shoulder surgery (rotator cuff repair), I asked the surgeon if I was right to believe that "as long as I'm not hurting myself, then I'm not hurting myself, right?" I'm sure this can't always be applied safely, but it seems to work most of the time!

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How are you feeling?

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Originally Posted by Uncle Ric

How are you feeling?

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I'm good! Thanks for asking. Have done several normal, heavy leg workouts; have started playing hockey again as of 3 weeks ago; spent all day yesterday splitting firewood (swinging a splitting maul is more hamstring instensive than one might think - especially when the 16 lb sledge has to come out for a stubborn log). No problems at all with the hamstring.

I never did get an MRI or go to a doc. I'm sure it was a small or partial tear - nothing else it could be, I don't think. But it healed up just fine.

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