Prescribed Medication

Pain medications (analgesics) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be used if required to help manage your hamstring pain. However, these medications will not cure your condition; they will merely treat some of your symptoms.

These drugs aren't recommended for everyone or for long term use, as pain medications can cause liver damage, and NSAIDs can cause gastrointestinal difficulties (such as upset stomach, diarrhea, ulcers and intestinal bleeding). They can also trigger other serious side effects, and even inhibit the body's natural ability to heal itself. COX-2 Inhibitors (prescription NSAIDs like Celebrex, Bextra or Vioxx, block the COX-2 enzyme involved with prostaglandin production responsible for inflammation) have been linked with risks of heart attack, stroke and in some cases death. The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) asked manufacturers to withdraw some COX-2 Inhibitors (Vioxx and Bextra) from the market as well as put a big black warning label on the packaging outlining the risks involved with use (Celebrex).

Steroid injections may initially help reduce inflammation and swelling of your pulled hamstring. However they are very controversial, as they can trigger a hamstring tear (this is influenced by the severity of injury and frequency of injections). Botox injections have also recently been used to relieve pain and tension. Ask your doctor if any of these are options for your condition. These types of injections should be used with caution and only under the supervision of a medical professional.

Some health professionals have also recommended natural supplements such as Glucosamine, MSM, Chondritin, Capsaicin, Devil's Claw, Arnica or Yucca Leaf to help relieve pain and/or strengthen your tissues. Hyaluronic Acid (Hyalgan) injections have also had some success.

Natural Treatments for Hamstring Pulls

Although medication can be helpful to reduce the pain and inflammation of a hamstring pulls and strains, side effects can be damaging overtime. Use of NSAIDS and pain medication is not recommended over a long period of time. The following home therapies can be used to treat your hamstring in a natural, non-addictive way that will not harm your organs or increase your risk of other diseases.

Below, we outline some natural conservative treatment options that many of our clients have had success with for hamstring pulls and muscle spasms:

Hamstring Spasms

Hamstring spasms are frustrating to live with especially when they occur during activity and sports. Keeping your body hydrated and replacing electrolytes during and following activities are positive steps toward preventing spasms. When a spasm occurs, there are home treatments you can use to relax the muscle and reduce the spasm. Proper treatment will get you back to regular activities sooner, stop your pain, and reduce the risk of hamstring muscle injury and further spasm.

If you are getting spasms due to a pinched nerve from a spinal injury, you really need to see your physician. You might be able to use conservative treatment methods to help reduce the frequency or severity of such spasms, but the underlying cause will remain without assistance from a physician or surgeon.

The most widely recommended conservative - yet effective - treatments for muscle spasm are:

• massage
• change of diet - eat foods rich in postassium, magnesium and calcium
• drink more water - stay hydrated
• heat application
• stretching
• increase blood flow

Outside of change in diet, the remaining conservative treatments for muscle spasm focus on heat and stretching. Cold compression IS NOT a good method to deal with hamstring muscle spasms, but can be used if you suffer re-injury of your hamstring due to the spasms or other activities. If your hamstring is swollen, inflamed and you currently are not experiencing spasms, cold would be recommended to get the swelling down. The rest of the time, when you are suffering from hamstring muscle spasms, you should be using a T•Shellz Wrap^® - a heat based medical device - to relieve your hamstring muscle spasms.

Promoting blood flow within a muscle or soft tissue injury to help improve muscle function and/or heal muscle strians/tears is a concept that has been utilized for centuries. This is where the focus has to be if you are seeking long-term improvement.

Oxygen and nutrients, carried within the blood, are critical for the body to heal itself. Without proper blood flow, recovering from an injury or condition will be delayed...sometimes for a very long period of time.

To view more information about conservative treatments for hamstring pulls, go to our pulled hamstring treatment page.

Who Should Use the T•Shellz Wrap^®

We recommend the use of a T•Shellz Wrap^®:

• If you are experiencing muscle spasms, the T•Shellz Wrap^® will introduce heat and increased blood circulation to the area (Localized Enhanced Circulatory Response) - exactly what is needed to stop a spasming muscle.
• If you are dealing with conditions affecting your range of motion such as an impingement or even arthritis.
• If you have a chronic leg condition that has lasted for years- this device is intended to kick start the recovery process and help strengthen the surrounding and supporting tissues. Many of our past clients had suffered for years, then were completely amazed at the results only after a few months of treatments.
• If you are encountering hamstring spasms at work , the T•Shellz Wrap^® will help relax your hamstring prior to work and after a day at the job. This will help reduces the frequency or risk of muscle spasms.
• If you are still trying to enjoy your favorite activities such as gardening, tennis, golf, etc - use the T•Shellz Wrap^® prior to activity to help reduce chances of re-injuring or re-aggravating those targeted tissues.
• If you are experiencing atrophy in your hamstrings or quadriceps and want to reduce the chance of re-injury - this is a perfect treatment to use on a regular basis.
• If you have been to a physical therapist (PT) for some form of soft tissue treatment, massage or stretching, then this is exactly what you need.
• If you have injured your leg and need surgery, then you will find the T•Shellz blood circulation boost to be a powerful tool after surgery to help surgically repaired tissues recover for long-term health. (once the surgery wound has healed and your physician has given the ok - 6 weeks after surgery minimum)
• If you are experiencing tightness in your muscle(s) and want to reduce the chance of re-injury while stretching - we recommend the use of a T•Shellz Wrap^® before you stretch.

I want to learn more about Surgery & Post-Surgery Recovery

I want to learn more about Circulation Boost

I want to learn more about Ice & Heat: Which Is Better For Treatment?

I want to learn more about Stretching for the Hamstring

I want to learn more about Soft Tissue Injury Treatments

During your recovery, you will probably have to modify and/or eliminate any activities that cause pain or discomfort at the location of your soft tissue injury until the pain and inflammation settle. Always consult your doctor and/or Physical Therapist before using any of our outstanding products, to make sure they are right for you and your condition. The more diligent you are with your treatment and rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results!

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If any question or concern arises, call us or simply send us an email at any time (we check our emails constantly all throughout the day and night.. even on holidays!). We will respond as soon as possible.