Question
I started to suffer from lower back pain a few years ago but only when walking slowly with my 85 yr old mother , then i started to get pain when walking normally & after about ten minutes of walking & if stood still after walking would get an ache in my left leg starting at the hip & going down my leg .I had some physio on it & it improved slightly.I saw an advert in a local paper about back pain & migraines & thought it could be the answer. I was X Rayed & told that i had one hip lower than the other & damage to vertibrae in my lower back & neck . I had 3 appointments a week when he would do stretching excercises on my legs & used the table to crunch my back & also crunched my neck .I had stretching excercises to do at home for my legs & neck . things did improve & i had less appointments . He said that my hips were now level & that i needed work on my Hamstrings to strengthen my legs . This involved laying on my back & he would push my leg as far up as it would go , i also had an excercise to do for my Hamstrings at home & was told not to do it if it hurt. After one appointment when he crunched my neck & pushed my legs as far as they would go i spent the next 4 days with pain in my neck & legs & couldn't bend .When i next saw him he apologised but told me that this can happen because my muscles were not used to this excercise & things would improve . At this app he left my neck alone but carried on with my Hamstrings & on my left leg pushed my leg up so it was above my head & pressed his thumb really hard into the back of my knee which was very painful .I didn't have any appointments the following week as he was on holiday . Things did not improve & i still couldn't bend down so i stopped the treatment & he said i should see an Orthepaedic Consultant for this new problem as he couldn't help with it . this was about 6 weeks ago & still have pain in my groin area & backs of legs & knees . I get into the bath i cannot sit down & cannot bend to dry my feet or pick things up from the floor .If i sit for any length of time i have pain in the back of my legs & knees & if standing i have the same pain when i try to sit . also have pain in my groin & knees when trying to turn over in bed .I have consulted my GP & i have an appointment for an X ray & have been given painkillers .Hope this helps , not easy to explain the treatment .
my original question was - Had treatment for lower back pain & migraines, things improved until treatment was started on my Hamstrings , had to stop As i now cannot bend & have pain in my legs when sitting or standing . this has been going on for about 6 weeks & is not getting any better . Just think that maybe the Chiropractor has damaged the muscles in my legs . What do i do ?  

Answer
Christine,

If you suffered damage to Just the Hamstrings they should be getting progressively better over a 6 to 8 week period of time. Unless they are ruptured which you would have felt a tearing sensation as well as a hot burning feeling at the same time. Also if they ruptured you would visibly be able to see where the muscle group actually balled up in the back of your thigh. This would have caused excruciating pain at the tear site. So i doubt that has happened. Your inability to bend forward is not purely a Hamstring mechanism. Your pelvis and Lumbar spine are also involved. I would suggest following through with the orthopedic and tell him what you are thinking. You could have a MRI of your entire leg to diagnose any damage to the hamstring. I would also suggest an MRI of the lumbar spine as well. This is the only way you can asses what has taken place. Your symptomatic picture points to more than just your hamstrings. Please re contact me once you have completed the MRI with the results and to ask me any further questions.

You actually maybe a candidate for manipulation under anesthesia. The rsults of your MRI will help me to determine what else should be done in your case.

I hope these suggestions helps you to a correct diagnosis and treatment program.

Sincerely,

Dr John Q quackenbush
Chiropractic Physician