Bad hamstring pull

Hi everyone newbee here..
Hello any advice please..
My wife fell I grabbed her but fell myself badly pulling my hamstring so after over 2 weeks of RICE therapy for a really bad hamstring pull when would you suggest some sort of heat or massage?  My leg is very painful and been icing and taking Ibuprofen since last Tuesday can't sit down to drive car without pain but now constantly aching  so just wonderingly what I should do now..
Phoned doctor he suggested using fenbid gel which is an ibuprofen gel and stop taking the ibuprofen tablets and just paracetamol have been doing that now for another week.. when should I start to do any sort of gentle stretching as am at the point where I don't know what to do next ..
I am a retired runner at 77 now but am always active and and an avid walker until this.
Would be grateful for any advicehas no physiotherapists available at the moment.
Thank you.
Len

Howdy Len,
I did this in the mid-eighties when I was still in my 30's. At the time, I thought stretching was a waste of time and after this, it has become an almost daily routine. I pulled mine really bad on a high step to the side. It was bad enough that the hamstring bruised. With compression and daily icing it took 6 weeks before I could walk without a limp and another 6 weeks before I could lightly run, easy climb and hike without weight. Then mud season took over and I started strength training, starting with quarter lunges and achieving full lunges with weights in about 4 weeks. New research now shows that you should not ice more than 20 minutes 3x to 4x/day and also use heat after every ice treatment. I think the heat would help speed up the healing. Now in my mid-60's thinking the rehab time would be 30% to 50% longer.
Terry

Hi TerryThanks for your reply.. Yes the bruise  has all come out now but very stiff and still painfull.. i can walk ok but trying not to limp as I have an old knee injury on same leg  from years of road running so that's playing up..Will try the heat after the ice and see how it goes as it's 2 weeks today I did it but after being so active and now nothing is so frustrating just not used to it and knowing when to start stretching so not pulling it again.
Thanks for your advice.
Thanks mate

Len, I pulled my hamstring quite badly on the second day of an overseas trip. I was barely able to hobble back to the car, and the bruise did not go away for a month. However,  I was still able to climb every day at a decent level (no heel hooks), and to hike all the approaches with twice daily massage, ibuprofen and use of a compression wrap. Ice packs were not an option. My wife is a PT and is also licensed for massage. Also, do not stretch a pulled hamstring! It’ll just piss it off.

Hey Len,

I'd be happy to discuss rehab strategies for you hamstrings if you would like. I am a physical therapist and strength coach based out of a climbing gym in Broomfield, CO. Feel free to reach out to me via email or check out my website to book a free consult (in-person or remotely).

Happy to help!

- Kevin

Email: kevin@theclimbclinic.com
Website: https://www.theclimbclinic.com/
Instagram: @theclimbclinic

Sure it isn’t a bulged disc?  When I did that, for the first week or so I thought I just pulled my hammy, then eventually the pain/numbness crept all the way to my foot. 

Get on a bike. And get on it regularly. Pulled my hamstring BAD two summers ago and this was what they told me right away. You need to gently load and stretch once the acute pin has gone, but right now staying off it will mean nothing other than a BIG ball of scar tissue on the tear. Bike is your best bet in the short term. Longer term, I found dry needling and ultrasound work to be edfective

Good luck!