What does pulled hamstring feel like?

A mild strain to one of the muscles in the hamstrings group could feel like a slight cramp.

Depending on how bad the strain is it can feel like a "knot" to "getting shot in the back of the leg".

As far as what actions you will feel it in, that would depend on a variety of factors.  A couple factors would be: which of the hamstrings muscles were affected, what degree of strain it was, how "high" or "low" the strain was, and how much load is put on that point during each of the given excersizes.

In my experience, it is fairly typical for a mild strain to only hurt during an action that puts stress on it.

OK. What do I do now? Lay off the running for a week or two. How long? Should I try to run easy, but shorter duration?

chevy57

I'm not an M.D. so I couldn't tell you how to treat it.

As has been mentioned, if you are really concerned you could check in with a sports ortho for a consult.

I can tell you what I hear quite a bit from atheletes and patients I work on.

Most athletes I have seen for strains are generally told to not stress it for a minimum of five days (mild strain) to significantly longer the greater the degree of the strain is.

As far as other treatment methods, most of the athletes are told to R.I.C.E. and take anti inflamatories through the rest period.

Note that none of us will be able to be sure if you have a muscle strain or something else going on.  Even a doc generally isn't going to make that call based on an online interaction.  So if it is a serious concern you'll need to see someone in person.

Good luck!

Joshua

I get these cramp/spasm like sensations in my left hammy every now and then when running, this is the same one I pulled (grade 2) back in December.  I've pulled each hammy in my life time, sucks when it happens. I do the following when I'm feeling things in my hammy, does it work, seems too and I feel better.

• Take a hot bath
• stretch all muscles in the legs, lower back, gluts, etc
• Hydrate, take some electrolytes 
• get a massage, use a roller (the stick )
• Chiropractic (regularly)
  

I pulled my hammy sprinting (playing soccer) and it felt like a steel cable getting tight.  I hobbled off to the sidelined where I proceeded to stretch (rip) my biceps femoris muscle.  I hobbled the next day but by lunch I was in the hospital barely able to move.  Being in the Navy I was prescribed what else...Motrin.  The next day I was in excruciating pain and went back to the hospital.  I was black and blue from my arse to my calf.  I finally got some real meds and by the time I had an MRI a 2cm tear was found along with 3 other smaller tears.  It sucked! Took 8 months to recover fully and I still get nervous.  Tri sports doesn't seem to effect it to much although I notice I slight tightness during pool workouts if I try to sprint (this weekend seeing my 50m sprint time thanks to am earlier post).  For me, I just need to give up sprinting sports which sucks,,,but at least I got tri.

Back to your point...lay off for the 5 days!  It is a precation yes...but worth it if you are nervous.

 It hurts just thinking about it...

once again, i'm not a doctor, but i do play one on t.v........

find a bone-crusher that does A.R.T. and get them to assess it. i've had fantastic results to hamstring and quad injuries.

just my $0.02.....

Well, I hope this isn't close to the case with you, but what I always assumed was a chronic glute/hamstring pull ended up to be nerve pain from a herniated disc.

I am 3 weeks post surgery and wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Don't wait, get it checked out and treated.

G

OK,

Based on the descriptions here I am certain I do not have a pulled hamstring. I am going to eliminate  running this week and see how it is next week. Thanks for the descriptions.

chevy57