Hamstring Injuries

Dear MendMeShop,

I am a 44 year-old woman in good health. I eat a fresh diet and take high-quality supplements, including MSM, glucosamine, Zyflamend, and all the usual joint-recomended supplements. I injured both knees two years ago while kneeling to tile my family room and entry. Subsequently, a simple twisting squat ripped my left meniscus with a huge bucket tear that required surgery to trim so it wouldn't keep catching and re-tearing. I am not one to undergo surgery unless it is unavoidable, and even after a "simple" scope operation, it took me a full year to get full extension back on that knee, and I doubt I will ever be able to squat again. I run a cleaning business. A couple of months ago an employee had forgotten to return equipment to my van, and I had to mop some hardwood flooring for a client on my hands and knees. That simple ten-minute job put me back out of commission. The kneeling pre-injured the area, and when I stepped back onto my good leg two days later, I felt that familiar burn of a fresh meniscus tear. I was heartsick, dreading another surgery and the attendant expense, pain, and down time. I know from my previous experience that cartilage is hard to heal because of the poor blood supply, especially to the center. I knew it was just a matter of time before I tore it further. (My dad had multiple knee scopes before finally getting a replacement, but I was not going down that path if I could help it!) I got online and researched alternatives that would get me back on my feet. Delighted to discover Mend Me Shop and their professional athletic healing devices, I ordered the Inferno Wrap, Ice Wrap, and Ultrasound immediately. $400 would be a pittance relative to the $13,000 it costs to repair a torn meniscus (and that doesn't include rehab and lost income). During the week it took the package to arrive, I stayed off my feet as much as possible and iced the injured knee several times a day. My big hope was simply to avoid tearing the cartilage further before the stuff came. (With my surgery knee, I had re-torn it repeatedly before surgery.) The minute that I put that Inferno wrap around my bad knee, I was in love! The penetrating warmth felt amazing. I kept it by my desk and strapped it on when I would sit and work at the computer. The ultrasound I believed in because of the help it gave me in therapy for a shoulder injury, and this US device worked just like the one used on me in therapy. Every time I used it before bed, I awoke feeling so good I had to remind myself I had an injury and to be careful. And I kept icing the knee. Within two weeks I was walking evenly on both legs, if gingerly lest I inadvertently twist or bounce. But I was definitely healing. I didn't miss any work after the first week, though I moved more slowly than usual and occasionally felt that piercing reminder of the tear. I had to lie down and elevate my knee every two hours to get through the day, but it was slowly healing. Four weeks later I was feeling so good, and the day was so sunny, that I went skipping off the front porch and was reminded I have a torn meniscus! And so it goes to this day, some six weeks later: the injury is there, but it is gradually improving. The more I use the therapy devices, the faster it improves. The more I get lazy and feel perfect and neglect them, the more I slow down. But I work a full schedule without breaks and only occasionally am reminded of the injury. By God's grace and with many thanks to Mend Me Shop, I have avoided surgery! I have to say, too, how much the whole family has made use of the ultrasound unit. I have used it on my bad shoulder, wrists, my daughter's scapula -- whatever needs healing. It brings instant relief that lasts a good 24 hours. I love having in-home access to this equipment. It payed for itself in only three or four uses and will serve us well for years to come with our active lifestyles. A single ten-minute session with the physical therapist costs $180 ($50 out of pocket) -- and that is if she decides to treat that way and the doctor continues to prescribe treatment! I so prefer to take charge of my own health. Gratefully yours, Debbie Morgan

Rating: Five Star Rating

Debbie Morgan

Progression of a Pulled Hamstring

Hamstring complete/partial and tears, strains

This can be classified into 3 grades of hamstring strain severity:

Minor - Grade 1 Hamstring Strains involve stretching of your hamstring muscles which result in slightly pulled or excessively stretched muscles, or very small tears in your muscles. You will generally feel some specific point pain, tightness or mild cramping in your hamstring which will be a little uncomfortable, but will involve no swelling or no major loss of strength. These may diminish with activity, but will return with a vengeance afterwards.

Moderate - Grade 2 Hamstring Strains are more painful and involve a partial tearing of the hamstring fibers in your muscles, tendons, or at the tendon attachment to your bone. You will generally experience some pain that radiates down your leg during activity, while bending your knee against resistance, or when you touch your hamstring. Swelling, stiffness, decreased strength and range of motion (may not be able to straighten knee) will be apparent and can also cause you to limp. You may also experience some bruising (ecchymosis) due to bleeding within the injured muscle.

Severe - Grade 3 Hamstring Strains involve a complete tear (rupture) of your hamstring muscle fibers where your muscle belly attaches to your tendon or where your muscle belly rips in 2 separate pieces. It is very painful and rarer than the other strains. You will tend to experience a burning or stabbing pain, a lot of swelling and minimal strength, which may prevent you from walking without assistance or make it difficult for you to move your leg. Discoloration and widespread bruising in the injured area as a result of bleeding in the muscle tissue can also happen. You may also notice a break in your normal muscle outline that makes a gap under your skin where the muscle has come apart. This can be seen or felt with your hands and looks like a knotting of the muscle that produces a bulge.

The majority of hamstring strains are grade 1 or 2 strains that involve partial muscle or tendon tears that occur near the musculotendinous junction, where your hamstring tendon and muscle meet.

Should you seek medical attention?

This is up to your discretion; however any continued discomfort in your hamstring should be investigated. If you continue to experience the hamstring injury symptoms and have tried the suggested conservative treatments for 2-3 weeks, it is recommended that you seek professional medical attention. It is recommended you seek immediate attention if you:

hear a "loud pop" in your muscle when injured
have immediate severe pain, swelling or discoloration in your hamstrings
experience severe weakness in your leg (compared to other leg) and have difficulty walking
have a temperature over 100.4° F (38° C)
notice blue toe nails, numbness or coldness below your injury

BFST™ - Using Your Body's Natural Healing System

Inferno Wrap providing superior blood flow stimulation.

Your body can heal itself! In fact, your body starts healing itself the moment you are injured and it's the blood in your body that makes it all happen. Your blood is the transport mechanism for everything that is good inside you. It carries oxygen, nutrients, water and antibodies. Proper blood flow is essential to healing. Unfortunately, when you injure your body you stop moving and the swelling sets in. That means your vital blood flow can be reduced to a trickle! If you want to heal quickly, you need to keep your blood moving and that's where Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy™, or BFST™, comes in.

Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy™ promotes the flow of blood through the injured area without the need to exercise your already damaged tissue. You can really feel it work. Within moments of applying an Inferno Wrap™ you can feel the healing sensation and the increase in blood flow. During a treatment, and for quite some time after you finish, your injured area will experience increased blood flow even though your body is at rest. It's a soothing sensation and extremely effective. With BFST™ your injury is constantly being fed with healing, nutritious, oxygen and energy filled blood. This is exactly what your body needs to heal.

How An Inferno Wrap™ Works

Inferno Wraps™ have been specifically designed for the treatment of deep, soft tissue injury. Inferno Wraps contain a patented Energy Web™ which is flexible and shaped to conform to your body. This Energy Web™ emits a uniform wave of perfectly safe electro-magnetic energy over its entire surface. This energy travels deep inside your body and stimulates the blood flow needed to heal your injury.

Our Cold Compression Wraps are recommended as the best by several professional sports organizations, and countless medical professionals. That's why we sell them, because they are the best. We have noticed over time that our customers are so fond of our cold wraps that they are frequently coming back and ordering a second one. The wraps are becoming very popular with baseball and soccer trainers, and the wraps can be conveniently stored in a cooler for quick application on the field when needed.

Ultrasound therapy is also a helpful tool for pain prevention of an injured tendon, and having a portable ultrasound device at home can be a powerful and convenient treatment tool. If you have symptoms or are recovering from an injured tendon, using ultrasound on a regular basis before your activity or throughout the day will help relax your muscles, tendons and tissues, diminish pain and inflammation, soften scar tissue and contribute greatly to the healing of your injury.

If you suffer from mild inflammation or pain after certain activities or movements use ultrasound therapy when you complete the activity and then rest and elevate your area of injury. Limit the application of ultrasound to a couple of treatments per day (the manual will recommend treatment frequency depending upon the injury). In between ultrasound treatments, maximize your pain relief and injury recovery by using an Inferno™ Personal Therapy System. Proven Performance, Proven Relief - only found at MendMeShop.com. If you have been given a treatment plan by your health professional, make sure you adhere to it to ensure pain free living. In general, people who are committed to their therapies and exercises will have the best medical outcomes.


Or email us at service@MendMeShop.com

Dear MendMeShop,

I fell on my bike under a UPS truck (It wasn't moving yet) because I couldn't get my feet out of my clips and, consequently fell on my shoulder and tore my rotator cuff. The pain was almost intolerable, not to mention the inability to dress myself and do simple everyday tasks--like driving, working on computer, etc. I saw my chiropractor, received multiple massages, participated in physical therapy and alternated ice/heat packs. I knew from my masseuse that when you have an injury like this, it is very involved. There are several different muscles that support the rotator cuff and when they become inflamed, sometimes scar tissue is formed as your body starts to heal. The only thing that really seemed to help my shoulder improve and the pain subside was getting ultrasound at my Chiropractor's office, but since I couldn't afford to go that route on a daily basis, I searched online and found the MendMe shop's ultrasound wand. After two weeks of using the wand, I was able to slowly start to get my muscles to fire again and rehabilitate via swimming, light weights and simple yoga stretched. Now, I have full range of my shoulder and am ready to get back on my bike and try again!

Rating: Five Star Rating

Judy C

pain relief and injury treatment with ultrasound therapy

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Contact one of our Mendmeshop Customer Service Advisors for any questions help with ordering and recommended treatment directions