Caring for a torn hamstring muscle centers on the injury's greatest symptom --- leg pain. Providing pain relief, in many cases, also suppresses muscle tissue inflammation. Home treatments conveniently address both symptom and cause in this manner, to help repair a torn muscle in the upper leg. When thigh muscles tear, proper treatment encourages the tissue fibers to regenerate and knit back together. Tissue that has sustained too much trauma to heal on its own may require surgery to restore muscle integrity.
Identification
The hamstring muscle group, located at the back of the upper leg, opposes the quadriceps muscle group at the front of the leg. The location of leg pain should identify the injured area for treatment. According to the NYU Langone Medical Center, patients might see swelling and bruising. After a severe thigh injury, physicians may prescribe magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, tests, to distinguish one or more torn muscles among the hamstrings.
Time Frame
While soreness from a pulled muscle can come on slowly, most patients will notice leg pain immediately following a thigh muscle tear. First aid should be begin at once and last until the initial swelling subsides, usually 24 to 48 hours.
Complete bed rest should not exceed that period. While patients may regain mobility sooner, full recovery from a muscle tear can take 2 to 3 months, as the NYU Langone Medical Center reports.
Features
First aid includes getting off the affected leg and applying ice packs. The National Institutes of Health notes that these treatments reduce the swelling that contributes to pain. Patients can relieve intense pain with over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Easing stress on the hamstring muscle with a cane or crutches will aid recovery. Performing stretches and strengthening exercises will ensure a return to fitness for the torn muscle.
Considerations
Continuing treatment and gradually restarting exercise may make the difference between swift recovery and re-injury. The NIH notes that in between cold pack applications, patients can begin to move the hamstring muscles through their range of motion, and then weight-bearing movement and exercise can be resumed. Finally, patients can complete their therapy with strength-building exercises.
Prevention
Muscles tear when people twist or overstretch them due to a loss of balance or an attempt at too much force. To avoid these situations, the NIH recommends exercising to keep muscles toned, and maintaining a healthy weight. Patients recovering from a torn muscle should not engage in sports or exercise when they have fatigue or leg pain.
