What a Pain, Pain is!

Some of you may know about this, for others it will be new information and rightly so. No one likes to sit around and use their connection time to complain about aches and pains. But, it is something I have been wrestling with for over two years now. Maybe one of my readers out there will have an idea of something I can try that I don’t yet know about.

I have had chronic pain in my hamstrings and glute muscles–what I’ve learned is called the ischial tuberosity, and what I call the “sit bone” muscles. I believe I suffer from what is known as hamstring tendinopathy, aka high or proximal hamstring tendinopathy. When I read the descriptions for this ailment my symptoms match up exactly and completely.

It all started in the spring of 2019 while I was in Abu Dhabi visiting family and friends. We went on a kayaking trip through the mangroves. The tide was low and we had to kayak farther than normal. I recall stepping out of the kayak and immediately feeling something go awry in my back and legs. The torquing motion of paddling from side to side, paired with my legs being in a bent position for such an extended period of time, was the event that started this very long road of pain that has caused me to seek out treatment after treatment.

First things first, I had to deal with a misaligned spine that caused pain in my back, hips, and legs. I couldn’t sit for any amount of time. It took me (and my dedicated and kind Turkish colleague/friend) a few months to find a chiropractor to address the misalignment. We first went for a few visits to a government hospital which had a doctor that did SOME manipulation of the spine. But it was not enough. I’ve gone to chiropractors on and off over the years. I know what it feels like when the spine is misaligned and a couple adjustments is often all it takes to right the wrong. I found a chiropractor during my years in Mongolia, and we did finally find one in Izmir.

After being patiently on his waiting list for a few weeks, I finally got to see him in April and May of 2019. He had trained in the U.S. and had excellent English. He assessed my alignment–my left side was an inch shorter than my right and my pelvis was also tilted too much in one direction. Three adjustments was all it took and my back returned to good working order. In that time I also acquired a softer mattress as the hard one I inherited seemed to cause hip and back aches as well (In Asia the mattresses are very hard/firm and I struggle with this always at hotels, etc).

I thought I would be back to myself from that point, but it has proved more complex. While my back was corrected, and I had no pain there, by the summer of 2020, a year after being in alignment, I continued to have a nagging pain in my hamstrings and glutes. I quit running as anytime I ran the pain in those muscles was exacerbated. Covid lockdowns and online teaching caused me to be stuck at home and engaged in far too much sitting–a position that increases and intensifies my pain. In early 2021 I had an MRI that revealed grade 1 muscle strain and my chiropractor’s recommendation was to stretch and strengthen. He said he could refer me to a sports medicine doctor–I took the name and number–but that doctor works far on the other side of the bay and getting there and back on any regular basis would prove to be difficult.

Instead, I hired a personal trainer in my neighborhood in April of 2021. She came to my apartment for the first two months as sport studios were closed down because of Covid restrictions. Once her studio opened up, I went there 2-3 times a week. She assessed my strength and range of motion capabilities. We used reformer pilates and functional movements to begin to address my health and the pain situation. While I enjoyed the workouts, my pain did not decrease (nor did it increase). She took me to her doctor–an orthopedic guy–for another/new opinion. He did a quick ultrasound on my hamstrings and then ordered an MRI which I had done last November. No major issues were revealed; however, he recommended I try a round of physical therapy and referred me to two places that he thought might meet my needs.

In February and March of this year I completed five weeks of physiotherapy at MEST Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center located in Kaya Thermal Hotel. Three times a week I spent 3-4 hours working with their staff and resting in the thermal pools. My battery of treatment included: exercises and stretching with a physiotherapist (thanks, Naz!), followed by multiple machines (Tecar, Electrotherapy, and Heating) managed my Rania (the technician), a deep tissue massage (by the amazing Phun from Thailand), and ended with spending time in the various thermal pools.

Despite keeping a positive attitude and wanting so very badly to become pain free, it did not come to pass. The pain in my hamstrings and glutes continues to be in the 6-9 range (on the pain scale of 1-10) every day. The head physiotherapist said I could try taking Braline, this food supplement, once a day for three to six months. I have ordered a two month supply and am waiting for it to arrive.

On Friday the aching pain in my muscles was so strong that it drove me back to doing online research. It seems that one treatment is ultrasound-guided steroid injections into the tendons. I emailed a doctor here in Izmir that appears to offer this service and await a reply. If I don’t hear back early next week, then I will see about calling or WhatsApping.

I am at my wit’s end on what to do. Over the counter medications (ibuprofen, Alleve, acetaminophen, etc) have no impact. Some nights, when I sleep too long with my legs in a bent position, the pain wakes me up. I want to cry in some moments. 

It gets exhausting–wrestling with pain on a daily basis. And it’s boring to talk about (which is why this post will hopefully be all I ever write about it). I try to ignore it, to forget about it, but it is ever present. Unfortunately, the ONLY thing that seems to deaden the pain is alcohol. But that, of course, is not a positive daily habit to ascribe to. The head physiotherapist said maybe I should see a psychiatrist and try anti-depressants. 😆 If you know me at all, you know that I do not suffer from depression. My life is rich with meaningful work, a loving family, friends all over the globe, and a real joy with spending time solo. He did also recommend that I change up my daily routines. That I am doing.

I find myself exiting the Covid time warp in these days and I am returning to a routine which I loved (pre covid). I am getting up early and working out at home (I have a mat, bands, changeable weights, and fitnessblender.com) in the mornings before work. This leaves my evenings free for Turkish lessons, meet-ups with friends, and seaside walks for sunset. In the coming days I hope to hear from my next doctor to see what might be possible, I will start the supplement, and continue to adapt to the reboot on life routines. 

If any of my readers have any thoughts or recommendations, please feel free to comment here. I cannot accept that I should have daily pain for the rest of my life. There must be relief. I’ll sign off here with this fun picture of Ziggy interrupting my morning workout. She does this every time!