Leg pain

[Sixguns]

I started playing softball a few weeks ago and my during my second game, something happened to my left leg. After the game I had a burning from my knee to to my hip area. The burning as gone away but I still have a huge knot about in the middle and now every game it it seems to come back. I have always stretched before each game and has seemed to help but any idea what I might have done?

 

[Glitchny]

Is it the front of your leg (quad) or the back (hamstring)? May have pulled a muscle.

 

[Sixguns]

Quad

 

[Glitchny]

Is it always sore? Or just when you're being active? If it's not very painful or noticeable just walking around then it's prob not a pulled muscle, could just be a bruised muscle.

If so all you can really do is rest it, ice it, and maybe wrap it before you play.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Is it always sore? Or just when you're being active? If it's not very painful or noticeable just walking around then it's prob not a pulled muscle, could just be a bruised muscle.

If so all you can really do is rest it, ice it, and maybe wrap it before you play.

I'll post on this later, but you can't really have a bruised muscle without direct trauma or a pretty severe strain. There are differing degrees of "pulls," some of which you can have no pain with lower level (or even higher level) activities. I'll give some more details later today.

 

[Sixguns]

Is it always sore? Or just when you're being active? If it's not very painful or noticeable just walking around then it's prob not a pulled muscle, could just be a bruised muscle.

If so all you can really do is rest it, ice it, and maybe wrap it before you play.

For the most part, its only a problem while I am running. Every now and than I might feel it a bit while walking though. Ive tried to rest it as much as I can but with games twice a week its hard. I would sit a game but we are short right now and I dont want my team to lose just because of me.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Ok, did you first notice it after or during the game? Do you remember a certain event after which you felt the pain? When you say "knot," do you mean it feels knotted up (perceptually) or that there is a physical knot there (touchable)? There are several potential causes. The most obvious is something like a quadriceps strain, but it could even entail injury to the hip joint (which can refer pain into the thigh and groin) or back (nerves coming out of the spine can refer pain there as well). If it does bother you, stop playing, see a physician, and get a prescription for physical therapy. Your long term function isn't worth a few games that nobody remembers down the line.

 

[Sixguns]

Ok, did you first notice it after or during the game? Do you remember a certain event after which you felt the pain? When you say "knot," do you mean it feels knotted up (perceptually) or that there is a physical knot there (touchable)? There are several potential causes. The most obvious is something like a quadriceps strain, but it could even entail injury to the hip joint (which can refer pain into the thigh and groin) or back (nerves coming out of the spine can refer pain there as well). If it does bother you, stop playing, see a physician, and get a prescription for physical therapy. Your long term function isn't worth a few games that nobody remembers down the line.

Thats about it. I started feeling the pain about mid way through the game. It hasnt been as bad and is getting better. I like I bolded, there is a bump in my leg where the pain starts which then moves down my leg.

 

[Miramonti]

Interesting injury, never had anything like it. Please update the thread with how recovery goes.

Personally I wouldn't be a fan of playing thru a bulge in the leg like that - it sounds like it's in a vulnerable state right now, and I'd be most concerned about further injury with potentially have longer term ramifications.

If you're playing the outfield, which is all about explosiveness to the ball off the bat, you'd be putting a LOT of stress on the damaged area in the sprints to field the hits.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Thats about it. I started feeling the pain about mid way through the game. It hasnt been as bad and is getting better. I like I bolded, there is a bump in my leg where the pain starts which then moves down my leg.

That can be a portion of the muscle that doesn't move well, scarred over before, or it can be part of the balled up portion of muscle that tore. You can massage it to help it move better, which should help reduce some of the tension through the painful area. In addition, some light knee extensions will help put some good, healthy tension through the muscle to promote healing and get some good blood flow to the area. Ideally though, you will have to reduce your activity for a period of time. It takes at least a couple of weeks for a proper scar to form where damaged muscle fibers are. If you don't let that happen, you either get a chronic condition or improper healing. Neither are good.

 

[Sixguns]

Forgot to mention that it really hurts when I curl my leg and thats about the only time its an issue.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Forgot to mention that it really hurts when I curl my leg and thats about the only time its an issue.

That puts the quadricep on stretch. That's pretty typical with a quad strain - it's actually one of the tools we use to assess for muscular strains. We stretch, static test (make the muscle contract in a specific position), and feel for restrictions within the muscle. We (physical therapists) also watch recruitment strategies, asymmetries, etc. That's still a pretty straight forward quad strain.

 

[Sixguns]

Took it easy in my game last night. I didnt run and was really careful. Everyday it seems to be getting better. Would applying heat or ice help?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Took it easy in my game last night. I didnt run and was really careful. Everyday it seems to be getting better. Would applying heat or ice help?

Not at this stage of the game, no. If it's getting better, then great. Just make sure not to overdo it and give it time (4-6 weeks) before you go 100% again.

 

[Sixguns]

Its been almost 2 weeks since the last time I really tried anything and my leg feels really good. The only time I feel anything now is when I try to stretch a bit. But even than it really feels like a normal stretching muscle. I have a game tonight but not sure if I want to try it or wait until Friday.