Damnstring
I landed on my mat yesterday after work, tired and run down, but craving the practice.
First uttanasana: damn, my left hamstring insertion (the one that went snap) hurts, but maybe it will loosen up.
Fifth uttanasana: okay still hurts a lot. Actually hurts more than before. Engage quads more. It will loosen up.
Prasarita series: Engaging my quads as much as possible, but hamstring still screaming.
Parsvotanasana (2nd side): Sh*t sh*it sh*t.
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (2nd side): F*ck f*ck f*ck.
I quit after standing. The thought of all the forward bending in seated made me cringe by this point.
The problem is this: ever since the first injury occurred, I've had quite severe pain whenever I need to sit for long periods of time. This usually occurred after long drives -- that was before I got a desk job. Now I have a desk job and have no choice but to sit for nearly eight hours a day. I suppose taking regular stretch breaks will help. And maybe it will come and go.
Last time it was this bad I nearly burst into tears in the middles of class. And when I explained the injury and the pain to the teacher then, he suggested taking a few days off to let it heal. Apparently I'm creating new, mini-tears in the tendon every time I practice. Great. I'm considering accupuncture, as I know this has worked for some other ashtangis.
I finished practising at about 6:15 last night...my hamstring was still throbbing by the time I went to bed at 10:45. And it's still aching right now. I guess this means class tonight isn't on the menu.
I'm so frustrated....that just as I'm getting back into my practice on a regular basis this happens. Oh well, I suppose it's all part of respecting your edge and not getting too attached....
Comments
Hahaha - Sorry, I couldn't help but laugh...only because I swear probably just as much as you did on the standing sequence.
Posted by: Tiff | October 26, 2006 11:10 AM
sitting is horribly uncomfortable with the insertion tears. I found the only thing to help me through it was to sit on a tennis ball. weird? probably. but somehow sitting upon a tennis ball in the middle of my glute seemed to be the only thing to help. Especially while in cars. Also, it's hard work, but if you strengthen your legs and press thru the big toe mound while sitting (for a shorter duration, otherwise it's too much work), it also helps a lot. I had this problem for over a year and it's not 100% gone, but i did recently sit in a car for an 8 hour drive--tennis ball-free and pain-free. Email me if you want some more practice experiences--I practiced through it and i believe it's the only way, to avoid having your hamstrings heal in a shortened state.
Posted by: karen | October 26, 2006 11:45 AM
Karen- It doesn't sound strange at all -- I do the same thing, only with a wine bottle (okay, last night I used a vodka bottle straight out of the freezer!). A tennis ball would definitely be more portable and less incriminating!
I've been working a lot on pushing through the big toe mound...
Unfortunately this injury is 2.5 years old and doesn't seem to be going anywhere. But this seems to be a particularly bad flare up..usually it's much more manageable.
Thanks for the advice, and I'll email you if I have anymore questions.
--A
Posted by: Andrea | October 26, 2006 11:53 AM