My hamstrings (both) have been hurting like a biatch for about 4 days. I asked the school trainer after I googled my problem and tried to self diagnose myself. I have L-3, L-4 and L-5 herniated disc with L-3 and L-4 having spinal canal stenosis. She (trainer) thinks it sciatica. The other thing I thought it may be from my google search is hamstring tendinitis. Anyone ever suffer either that can tell me how to treat such problems? I have a PT appt Monday for my back and I will tell them to see what they say. I don’t know if either of my problems can be helped by the physical therapist or I need to go to the Dr. Which raises another question, what type of Dr. I need to visit for that.

I have similar back problems. Do a duck walk. Squat down like a catcher in baseball and take some small steps. It helps me a lot. If it’s gonna work you’ll know in a minute or two.

Thanks Paul, I’ll try that right now.

Anyone else have this problem?

I had hamstring tendinitis in both legs last year. In Dec 2019 I aggravated my right hamstring while running/sprinting and just didn't let it recover adequately. I tried to "run" through the injury and wound up with issues in both legs within a few months. I didn't stop running until the summer 2020, when I just couldn't raise my legs without soreness/pain.

I saw a doctor and was told to rest them (no running for at least 3 months). I tried to run after 3 months and still had some significant discomfort in my left leg. I would try to give it a go about once a month after that. It wasn't until this past February that I was pain free. I was pretty careful once I did start running to not aggravate them again. No trouble these days.

For me it came down to rest and not putting an exercise load on them until I was pain free. I did various stretching but that never seemed to help in my recovery but we are all different and the way you are injured will be different than mine.

Lots and lots of stretching.

Difficult to diagnose without a physical exam, but if you perform sciatic nerve flossing exercises/stretches this would treat the two most likely diagnoses (hamstring tendinitis vs sciatica)

maybe a roller with the stretching

My experience with sciatica was very much like you described. If it is sciatica, you will want to rub and massage on your hams, but it will not help at all because it is from nerve impingement on your back.

Lay flat on your back on a firm surface. Slowly pull one knee up and pull it into your chest as hard as you can while keeping the other leg straight and flat. Exhale to make more room and pull it tighter and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat on the other leg. Then slowly pull both at the same time.

This stretch can be done even better if you have someone help push your leg down. Have them push your leg into your chest just to the point of pain, then back off and hold. They need to push from under your knee. Pushing from your shin or top of the knee puts a lot of pressure on the knee. Probably best if your wife helps, because it puts you in sort of a vulnerable/intimate position.

Seeing as how you already have lower back issues, this should provide immediate relief. As you stretch like this more often, you will find it provides more and more relief that lasts longer and longer.

Burning quads and hams is an early sign of diabetes.
My quads are either Burning or numb. It is weird, some days the are completely numb.
Oh well, I am drinking a large Coke . It seems to help.

Another stretch you can do is sit on the floor and fold your left leg to the side with the sole of your your foot pointing behind you. Fold your right leg the same way in the same direction as your left. (sole pointed to your left) now bend at the waste over your right knee like you are trying to put your chin on the floor. Go as far down as you can and hold. you will feel it in your hams and back. Switch directions and do the other side.

Thanks fellas. I had an MRI that diagnosed the spinal canal stenosis and an order was sent to a physical therapy joint. I’m going in the morning for my initial evaluation. I’m hoping they can figure out my problem and get me going to alleviate the hamstring pain. I appreciate all the suggestions and stretches you men have mentioned. I thought I read somewhere that stretching wasn’t good for one of the problems (sciatica or tendinitis) because it aggravated it even more. Guess I’ll find out tomorrow.