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Pulled Muscle

(2 discussions)

Hi,

Anybody got any suggestions to help a very badly pulled muscle?

It is in my neck / back and went about 2 weeks ago. It was just starting to feel a little better when it went again last night. I have been awake litterally all night ‘cos of the pain, and just holding my head up hurts, also taking a deep breath and lifting or relaxing my arm on that side hurts. So basically I am having to tense the whole area to avoid further pain, which won’t help. I have had pulled muscles many times, but never as bad as this one. Last time it went it took over 6 months to clear up 100%.

Is there anything a Physio can do. ie. help to massage it out. Or just gentle massage to help relax the area?

I have tried Deep heat, Ibuleve, a hot water bottle, and when it 1st went I took some codene (despite codene makeing me feel very sick! I was desperate) but even that didn’t help at all!

Any suggestions on how to ease it or help speed recovery would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks,

Sarah.

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2 comments

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    9 10

    Thanks Lulu,

    I originaly did it in bed! Then two weeks later made it much worse doing Ju Jitsu. (I thought it was well enough to cope!)

    I usually do gently stretch a pulled muscle, but even after 2 weeks and with it feeling alot better than when it 1st went, any stretching, no matter how gently I tried would make it worse and make it ache again! So I have now decided not to try and stretch it, but just to leave it and avoid anything that hurts it. Don’t worry, I haven’t totally imobalised it, just stoped pulling it about.

    I find a hot shower eases it alot!

    I think it will take some time, I have never been in that much pain from a pulled muscle before, and I have had a few!!!

    Again, thanks for your help! The analogy of thinking of a flesh cut makes alot of sense and is very useful!! Cheers

    Sarah.

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    9 10

    Hi Sarah, You haven’t mentioned how you did it? Heat can be a wonderful soother but sometimes it can make the situation worse. If you have any inflamation there, then heat will add to the heat already given off by the injury.When we injure ourselves, the body rushes to the defense & tries to repair the damage but as it does so, it causes alot of heat to be given off as the immune system fights the problem. Applying further heat to the site will only lead to the site swelling further. Applying an ice pack or cold compress will help to bring the temperature of the swelling down and therefore the pain. For the 1st 24-48hrs apply ice packs/compress for 5-10mins @ a time. After removal of the cold pack the site will flush with fresh blood and clean out the injured site which will help it to repair quicker. After 48hrs, it’s OK to start applying heat as the muscle is now ready to relax. This is a good time to start stretching the muscle gently & also giving it a lot of self massage. Associate a muscle tear with a physical flesh cut, When it first happens we usally run it under cold water to clean it but it also shrinks the blood vessels and therefore the imflammation is reduced and the pain subsides. After time the body becomes more resiliant and that sore becomes more relaxed to the touch. We then start to rub that affected area because it makes it feel better. That gentle massage helps the body heal itself. This is something we do all the time without realising it but it works! Your just applying it on a larger scale!
    Good luck Sarah, Lulu

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