An unfortunate mishap!

[Last Fearner]

I thank everyone for your input and well wishes.

I went to a walk-in clinic yesterday, and the doctor said that I will probably heal completely in a few weeks. It appears to be a strain and slight bruising, but no tear (upon initial examination). The doctor said that my range of movement in the leg, even with the injury, is exceptional. I have very little discomfort until I reach a full stretched position, then I can really feel it. Also, I have the muscle strength to lift, bend, and straighten my leg in any the natural directions possible.

Recommended to rest the leg for now, alternate ice and heat as needed, and use Aleve or Ibuprophin as a pain reducer and anti-inflammatory.

To clarify some of the other questions, when I said that I can usually start kicking "cold," that doesn't mean that I tend to do that. For me, it is like if some people touch their fingers to their shoulder with no problem, but to place their hand on top of their head is a stretch of the muscles, they might not want to put on a hat without stretching first. My muscles are limber enough that I don't need to stretch to put on my hat (just a silly analogy).

I can kick the head level of a bag without warm up, or risk of injury, yet I usually warm up before doing a lot of strenuous kicking. I can drop down in the full front splits without warm-up. This particular injury was not due to failing to warm-up, because I was warmed up. It occurred near the end of class after I had been kicking quite a bit, and my muscles were warmed up and stretched. The range of movement required to do this kick in a front hip position is not a difficulty for me. The "freak" occurrence, I believe was possibly just a muscle spasm, or involuntary contraction at the moment I executed the kick. There did not seem to be any way to predict or prevent it, but I suppose it is possible that a good half-hour of stretching before class might have reduced the risk???

Anyhow, what is done is done, and fortunately I'm on the way to recovery already (no limp, and much less pain). Thanks again for you well wishes.

CM D.J. Eisenhart

 

[shesulsa]

I'm very glad to hear your injury is minor, Mr. Eisenhart; that is very good news.

I'm sure you know, but for the benefit of the reading audience, hamstrings do heal more slowly than we feel, I think. They lose soreness and discomfort before they are ready to be used vigorously; so if you'll allow me to advise ... please take the rest period seriously.

:asian:

 

[FieldDiscipline]

Thats good news.

On the subject, when I did a similar thing (not as bad though I'm pleased to say) last year I kept re-hurting it. Had acupuncture and medical massage ONCE, problem solved. I've become quite evangelical about it since! Worth a thought.

 

[rutherford]

I tore the Achilles Tendon in my right leg just about 3 months ago at a seminar. I'd warmed up well beforehand, and my orthopedic specialist hasn't given me a good reason as to why it occurred. I'm still in rehabilitation.

 

[morph4me]

I once had something similar happen, when I was in my early 20's I did a side kick and felt something pop on the inside of my thigh, I ended up having a bruise from my knee to my crotch and every time I tried to stretch after that, it felt as if someone was stabbing me in the thigh. Unfortunetly, I was young and stupid and never did anything about it, just let it heal naturally, which affected my flexibilty. Now that I'm old and stupid I would probably go to the doctor and have it checked out. I hope this isn't going to affect you teaching at the M&G.

 

[zDom]

I had something similar happen back when I was instructing as a first dan with a basic head-high roundhouse

Sorry to hear this happened.

Please, don't rush your recovery. Be patient and let it mend properly and entirely.

I imagine it will be difficult taking it easy for awhile (it was for me) and may feel like you may never be right again (I felt that way) but be patient and let it mend right so you can be back at 100 percent somebody.

Hang in there

 

[Sukerkin]

I think that the patience aspect should be strongly emphasised when it comes to recovery from injuries internal to limbs.

One reason why I have a scar an inch or so wide and eight inches long down the inside of my forearm is that I didn't wait before starting to try and get my fingers and hand working again after my accident. So when they cut the stitches the whole thing just opened up again because it hadn't knitted together {actually seeing the plates that have replaced the bones inside your arm is not fun I can report :lol:}. The scar on the outside of my arm is only 5mm or so wide and a lot less pronounced because they left that one alone after taping me back shut again.

I can imagine how aggrivating it will be to see your physical condition wane due to inactivity but it's a lot better in the long run to let things recover first (tho' I'm sure we're not telling you anything you don't already know, myfriend .. we're just concerned that's all).

 

[DArnold]

Last Tuesday evening, I injured myself while teaching class. It was a "freak" incident that I still am not sure why it happened. I have been stretching and teaching long enough to walk into the Dojang, and start kicking "cold" at head-high level with no warm ups. It is usually safer to do some, but I don't often require it.

I had been teaching an entire class of kicking combinations, and was holding the kicking targets for my students to do line drills. The last one I wanted them to try was a jumping twin front kick (sometimes called a "tiger kick"). You crouch slightly, jump straight up and bend both knees, then do two front kicks at the same time to two different targets.

I had a student holding the targets for me to demonstrate at about shoulder height and four feet apart. I have done this kick many times with no problems, however, recently I have been stretching a lot more outside of class, and my leg muscles are sometimes tight the next day. I jumped, kicked, and "POP," I felt (and heard) something snap in the back of my right leg, from the back of my knee to my hip. The hamstring (and/or ligaments) tore loose, and I felt the most intense pain.

I turned the class over to a senior rank, and casually left the room (although I could barely walk, I kept that concealed). I sat in my office with ice on the leg for a while. I returned to dismiss the class, and students later said that I was white as a sheet. It was the worst injury I have felt in my entire career as a student and instructor.

I am gradually getting over it, but still hobbling a bit. Has anyone else here been through this particular agonizing pain?

Chief Master D.J. Eisenhart

Yep,
See a doctor.
Did this when I was getting ready for international competitions. Practicing Yong gye and the back kicks at the end.
Up, great kick, landed face first on the cement.
Practice was done for the day while I lay making love to the cement.
The white as a ghost is shock.

If you don't see a doctor it could, as described, have long terrible
implications.

Also because the hamstring hurts most people have the misconception that you need to work on it more. Well it's already streatched out so the problem usually lies in the quads on the front of the leg have now become tighter. The muscle pairs balence each other out and now the backside is longer and the front tightens up.
Most people think they have to work on the torn muscle when in reality it is already pretty loose.

 

[Touch Of Death]

Last Tuesday evening, I injured myself while teaching class. It was a "freak" incident that I still am not sure why it happened. I have been stretching and teaching long enough to walk into the Dojang, and start kicking "cold" at head-high level with no warm ups. It is usually safer to do some, but I don't often require it.

I had been teaching an entire class of kicking combinations, and was holding the kicking targets for my students to do line drills. The last one I wanted them to try was a jumping twin front kick (sometimes called a "tiger kick"). You crouch slightly, jump straight up and bend both knees, then do two front kicks at the same time to two different targets.

I had a student holding the targets for me to demonstrate at about shoulder height and four feet apart. I have done this kick many times with no problems, however, recently I have been stretching a lot more outside of class, and my leg muscles are sometimes tight the next day. I jumped, kicked, and "POP," I felt (and heard) something snap in the back of my right leg, from the back of my knee to my hip. The hamstring (and/or ligaments) tore loose, and I felt the most intense pain.

I turned the class over to a senior rank, and casually left the room (although I could barely walk, I kept that concealed). I sat in my office with ice on the leg for a while. I returned to dismiss the class, and students later said that I was white as a sheet. It was the worst injury I have felt in my entire career as a student and instructor.

I am gradually getting over it, but still hobbling a bit. Has anyone else here been through this particular agonizing pain?

Chief Master D.J. Eisenhart

Once I was showing off and dropped into the splits without a warm up and bam I did some serious damage. Another time i had a new student kick a bag. He tore his leg up and never darkened our door again. The positive thing, however, is that your incident, mine, and that of the student, didn't happen on the street during real combat.
Sean

 

[TKDmel]

Last Fearner, I was partner stretching and when I signaled for my partner to stop, he didn't. I then heard that "pop" as you stated. I've been dealing with the stiffness ever since, and that was about 2o yrs. ago. Good luck on your recovery. Btw, I used accupunture and it really did improve. Needless to say I do not personally advocate partner stretches any more.

 

[Last Fearner]

Thanks again to everyone who has commented. Reading each of your posts has helped to reinforce my decision making process, and some comments have brought a smile to my face!

They lose soreness and discomfort before they are ready to be used vigorously; so if you'll allow me to advise ... please take the rest period seriously.

Absolutely, Shesulsa! And thanks for saying this!

On the subject, when I did a similar thing (not as bad though I'm pleased to say) last year I kept re-hurting it.

Please, don't rush your recovery. Be patient and let it mend properly and entirely.

I think that the patience aspect should be strongly emphasised when it comes to recovery from injuries internal to limbs.

I can imagine how aggrivating it will be to see your physical condition wane due to inactivity but it's a lot better in the long run to let things recover first (tho' I'm sure we're not telling you anything you don't already know, myfriend .. we're just concerned that's all).[/quote]
I appreciate all of your comments, and I will be patient, and observe the recovery time, while I continue to work on other aspects of training, including upper body techniques.

Back in the '70s, one of the fellow Black Belts I trained with had injured his knee, and had to have surgery on it. He would have probably healed fine, but he continued to work-out and push himself. He re-injured it again, and then another time. Each time getting weaker, and having more scar tissue so it continued to give him problems. I learned that lesson long ago, and will always heal before pushing too hard.

I've been dealing with the stiffness ever since, and that was about 2o yrs. ago.

20 YEARS AGO!! Wow, that's not very encouraging! Well, I hope yours gets better, and that mine will improve in shorter time. :uhyeah:

Did this when I was getting ready for international competitions. Practicing Yong gye and the back kicks at the end.
Up, great kick, landed face first on the cement.
Practice was done for the day while I lay making love to the cement.

Thanks for the smile on this one! :ultracool My visit to the Dr. gave me a positive prognosis.

The positive thing, however, is that your incident, mine, and that of the student, didn't happen on the street during real combat.

Yes, this has come to my mind also. That is why I always attempt to remain in control, on balance, and not let anyone know that I am hurt (unless it is really serious). I consider this real-life training for if I were to be injured in a fight. I test myself to see if I could avoid showing a weakness to my attacker, protect the injured area, and use other techniques to win the fight. Even now, as I am recovering, I have to know that my Taekwondo training is not so reliant on kicking (like some people think TKD is), and be prepared to defend myself and my family effectively without using my legs.

I hope this isn't going to affect you teaching at the M&G.

Absolutely not! Thanks for your concern, though. My portion is primarily Hoshinsul, so I will be concentrating on upper body pressure points, joint locks, and self defense controls. I will leave the fancy kicking to Master Stoker (Terry). Although, I had originally hoped to be able to demonstrate my flexibility in doing the splits, and kicking head high (as we've had some discussions about that topic here at MT), but we'll see how I'm doing by then. I won't push it, but I will know what I can do when it feels stronger.

CM D.J. Eisenhart

 

[Miles]

Sorry to hear of your injury but am happy that you've consulted a physician and are not seriously hurt!

Miles