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How To Treat Lower Back Pain Pulled Muscle

Initial Treatments For Low Back Muscle Strain

How to Exercise with low back pain after low back pulled muscle

Most cases of a pulled back muscle are treated using standard self-care or non-invasive treatments. Some typical first-step treatments for a pulled low back muscle include:

  • Anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen reduce inflammation, which often contributes to pain. Anti-inflammatory medicines are available over-the-counter or with a prescription.

    See NSAIDs: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

  • Over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen, minimize pain by interfering with the way the brain interprets pain signals. Acetaminophen may also be included as an active ingredient in prescription medications, such as in combination with an opioid.
  • Muscle relaxants may be prescribed on a short-term basis to reduce muscle spasm. Most muscle relaxants do not affect muscles directly, but rather dampen pain receptors in the central nervous system. These medications have many side effects, and muscle relaxants also carry risk of addiction.
  • See Muscle Relaxants: List of Common Muscle Relaxers

  • Ice packs reduce inflammation that can occur shortly after a muscle is injured. Typical recommendations include applying a cold or ice pack for 10 – 20 minutes at regular intervals throughout the day, and using a towel or other barrier between the ice and the skin to prevent an ice burn.

Lower Back Pain: How To Tell If Its Muscle

When a patient visits my office with back pain, its my job to uncover the pain generator. We talk through the patients history, discuss their symptoms, and make a determination as to next steps. If need be, I prepare their case to be looked at by a surgeon, but generally, my goal is to help patients avoid surgery and find relief with more conservative measures.

Most cases of back pain are not caused by serious conditions. But its important to always rule out the possibility that a patient has another internal issue that mimics back pain . Colitis, kidney stones, gallbladder issues, vascular problems, or an aneurysm are examples of serious conditions that are capable of causing pain to radiate into the back, making it feel like youre experiencing back pain.

A thorough fact-finding investigation should help determine the cause. When did the pain start? How long did it last? What makes it better or worse? Key to determining the pain generator is the patients description of their condition and their medical history. For example, if a patient describes the pain as having come on suddenly and causing nausea, nearly prompting a trip to the emergency room, then disappearing just as suddenly, they may be suffering from a kidney stone rather than back pain from a spinal condition.

  • Muscle pain
  • Disc pain

Lets take a look at each type in more detail.

Where Can I Get More Information

For more information on neurological disorders or research programs funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, contact the Institute’s Brain Resources and Information Network at:

Office of Communications and Public LiaisonNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNational Institutes of HealthBethesda, MD 20892

NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient’s medical history.

All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.

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Apply Heat To The Pulled Back Muscle

Try applying heat directly to the area that is strained or sprained right after the ice. This is a powerful way to double-shock your back muscles out of the pain-spasm cycle.

Apply 20 minutes of ice followed by 20 minutes of heat and repeat up to three times.

This should provide some relief from even severe lower back pain.

There are many ways to apply heat, including a long hot shower, ultrasound, heating pad, and pain cream.

If you want the gold standard in heat for pain relief, try a far infrared heating pad, which produces heat that penetrates much deeper than the superficial heating a standard heating pad offers.

As heat is applied, your back muscles relax and circulation increases again as your body sends fresh blood supply to cool the area back to normal. Repeat heat treatments as necessary.

Your Pain Becomes Worse With Certain Movements

Treatment For A Pulled Lower Back Muscle

Pulled muscle pain will usually be more intense within the first few hours of sustaining this type of injury. You may also notice pain that gets worse with certain movements. For instance, discomfort may suddenly worsen if you bend, get up from a seated position to a standing position, or even with certain sleeping positions.

Also Check: Advil For Back Pain Dosage

How To Heal A Lumbar Pinched Nerve

There are a few possible causes for a pinched nerve .

But no matter the cause, there are 2 simple steps you have to take to NATURALLY cure your pinched nerve.

Do not fool yourself to think that it will go away or heal on its own and please do not start relying on dangerous pain medication to keep your sanity.

So, what did you find? A pinched nerve or a pulled muscle?

To your health and happiness,

Meital

How To Treat Lower Right Back Muscle Strain

The initial pain from a muscle strain may be severe, but it will likely subside over a few days. Read:A Guide to Lower Right Back Pain

Muscle strains occur when a muscle is pulled beyond its normal limit, causing the muscle fibers to overstretch or have small, microscopic tears. While this type of injury is typically minor and heals without complications1, the pain may be severe and your back may be markedly stiff.

See Lower Back Muscle Strain Symptoms

A back muscle strain is usually the result of an indirect injury1,2 such as from swinging a golf club or twisting the right side of your back to lift a child off the floor. Sometimes, you may also strain a tendon along with the muscle.

Also Check: Does Aleve Help Lower Back Pain

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Lumbar Strains

In order to determine if your back pain is indeed caused by a lumbar strain, you should seek medical advice. Your doctor might first perform a physical examination exam. If he/she finds anything that represents a cause for concern he/she may refer you to have an MRI scan.

Treatment of the lumbar spine can be done with some simple steps. But thats not as easy as it seems. The actual treatment is time-consuming as it becomes difficult to find relief and symptoms usually last for weeks and even months. But some aspects of the treatment can ensure fewer episodes of the injury in the future.

This isnt to say that you cant do anything to reduce pain in the short term.

For the time being, to temporarily relieve pain you may want to try:

· A sensible amount of bed rest

· Applying an ice pack on the affected area

There are also things you can do to relieve pain in the long term, such as:

· Staying active

· Performing muscle stretching exercises to release any tension inside the affected muscles

· Performing muscle strengthening exercises that will help prevent future injury

· Engaging in physical therapy for which it is recommended that you use a medical device to go with it

Taking any kind of muscle relaxants or anti inflammatory over-the counter medication is not recommended, however, as they can be highly addictive and can cause a series of side effects.

Treating Lower Back Pain: How Much Bed Rest Is Too Much

How to treat a pulled muscle in lower back | B Episode 43

Back pain is one of the most common reasons why people visit a health care provider. The good news is that the pain often goes away on its own, and people usually recover in a week or two. Many people want to stay in bed when their back hurts. For many years, getting bed rest was the normal advice. But current studies recommend no bed rest at all and stress that staying in bed longer than 48 hours not only wont help but it may, in fact, actually delay your recovery. Heres why:

Staying in bed wont help you get better faster.If youre in terrible pain, lying down for a day to help ease the distress may seem like a good idea, but moderating your activities and staying active in a limited way is a more effective way to control your symptoms. Research suggests that if you can find comfortable positions and keep moving, you may not need bed rest at all.Research shows that:

  • Lying down longer than a day or two day isnt helpful for relieving back pain.
  • People can recover more quickly without any bed rest.
  • The sooner you start moving, even a little bit, or return to activities such as walking, the faster you are likely to improve.

Who needs bed rest?Almost no one! The only people who might require time in bed are those with unstable spinal fractures awaiting surgery.

When should I see a health care provider?You should see your health care provider right away if:

  • Heat or ice
  • Ultrasound
  • Manipulation

Check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program.

Also Check: Back Pain Advil

How Is Back Pain Treated

Acute back pain usually gets better on its own. Acute back pain is usually treated with:

  • Medications designed to relieve pain and/or inflammation
  • analgesics such as acetaminophen and aspirin
  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen may be sold over the counter some NSAIDS are prescribed by a physician
  • muscle relaxants are prescription drugs that are used on a short-term basis to relax tight muscles
  • topical pain relief such as creams, gels, patches, or sprays applied to the skin stimulate the nerves in the skin to provide feelings of warmth or cold in order to dull the sensation of pain. Common topical medications include capsaicin and lidocaine.
  • Heat and/or ice may help ease pain, reduce inflammation, and improve mobility for some people
  • Gentle stretching upon advice by your healthcare professional
  • Exercising, bed rest, and surgery are typically not recommended for acute back pain.Chronic back pain is most often treated with a stepped care approach, moving from simple low-cost treatments to more aggressive approaches. Specific treatments may depend on the identified cause of the back pain.

    Light Exercises And/or Dynamic Stretches For Low Back

    This roundtable discussion with doctors discussed the importance of movement and exercise for people with a low back spasm, and not resting too much.

    Use Caution:

    The three simple exercises below will help mobilize and stretch the strained area, as well as activate and strengthen surrounding areas, which can help with long-term pain relief.

    Leonâs Notes:

    Furthermore, ONLY DO THESE EXERCISES/STRETCHES ONLY after your pain has lessened⦠So you may want to start doing these only after 3-6 days have passed.

    Read Also: Does Aleve Help Lower Back Pain

    Find A Natural Way To Treat Lower Back Muscle Strain Backrack Spinal Decompression Treatment

    Backrackis a unique spinal decompression device that has been carefully engineered bythe brightest minds on Harley Street to treat back pain associated with musclestrain. It is safe for at-home use, requires no supervision, and the best part?There are no side effects associated with this form of treatment.

    Soif youre ready to take your recovery from back pain to the next level, jointhousands of people who have already achieved that thanks to the Backrack.

    Effective Treatments For Pulled Strained Or Torn Back Muscle

    3 Quick Steps to Recover from a Sprained &  Torn Back Muscle

    Jenny Hills, Nutritionist and Medical Writer Health

    Most people will suffer from back pain caused by a pulled, strained, or torn muscle in their back. Your back contains muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support your upper body, give you strength for performing tasks and help move your neck, shoulders, and arms. Pulling, straining, or tearing a muscle can cause shooting severe pain if you suffer an acute injury. Or, back muscle strain caused by overuse can cause deep aches and chronic pain that can affect your daily activities.

    Treating muscle pain in your back usually requires getting plenty of rest to prevent irritating the inflamed tissue even more. Also, hot and cold treatment can be effective in speeding up the recovery time by helping to reduce swelling and inflammation. Pulled back muscle treatments also include essential oils that are effective to treat pulled, torn, or strained back muscles as well as Epsom salt bath.

    In this article, you will learn about the best and most effective treatments for strained lower back muscles, pulled or torn upper and middle back muscles, and how to treat back pain in general.

    First, its important to know something about the muscles in your back.

    Read Also: How Much Advil Can I Take For Back Pain

    Pulled Back Muscle Symptoms

    The soft tissue in the lower back may become damaged for many different reasons, but some of the most common may include3:

    • Twisting the spine or using poor form while lifting a heavy object
    • Falling in a way that puts too much pressure on the spine
    • Poor posture that stresses the connective tissues in the spine
    • Sports injuries caused by pivoting, twisting, or physical impact
    • A sedentary lifestyle followed by sudden intense exercise, since weak muscles and ligaments are more vulnerable to injury4

    A sprain or strain in the back may cause symptoms such as5:

    • Dull, aching pain in the lower back
    • Difficulty standing, sitting, and twisting
    • Stiffness in the lower back
    • Muscle spasms
    • Pain that radiates to other areaslower back sprains and strains may radiate to the hips or buttocks, while injuries in the upper back can cause neck or head pain

    Although sprains and strains are different injuries, the treatment and symptoms are similar.

    How To Tell If Your Lower Back Pain Is Muscle

    by Dr. Don DuffAug 20, 2019

    The low back is a fairly complicated structure, so its no wonder the majority of peopleexperts estimate up to 80% of usexperience pain in this area of our bodies at some point in our lives. In fact, back pain is one of the most common reasons for visits to the doctors office.

    The key to relieving back pain is understanding the cause. But diagnosing the of a patients pain isnt always a straightforward exercise. It could be muscle, joint, or disc-related in some cases, it may even arise from issues unrelated to the back. So how can you tell if your back pain is muscle- or disc-related, or attributable to something else entirely? Well cover all the possibilities in this post.

    Also Check: Advil Vs Ibuprofen For Back Pain

    Can You Diagnose Strained Back Muscle

    Medical professionals diagnose mild strains by studying the medical history of the patients. A qualified healthcare provider reviews the symptoms of the patients and the reason for injury or performs a physical examination.

    If patients have severe sprains and strains and there is loss of mobility and weakness, a healthcare provider takes an X-ray to rule out aherniated disc or fractured as the back pain cause.

    Strained back vs. herniated disc is a common phenomenon that confuses many people. It is important to understand that disc herniation is a more painful condition than back strains and requires long-term treatment, depending on the severity of your condition.

    How Do I Know If Ive Strained My Back

    Pulled Muscle In Low Back? 3 DIY Treatments

    It’s no surprise that the anatomy of your back is very complex in of itself since you rely on it for many different things. But to understand what causes a strained back, let’s focus on three components: tendons, muscles, and ligaments. In order for you to move, run, and twist, you need all three of these components to work properly. Since they are constantly working to hold your body upright, they are very prone to injuries such as tearing, pulling, and over-stretching.

    Its important to understand that muscles get strained and ligaments get sprained! These are both considered soft tissue injuries, and people often use them interchangeably, but they are actually different

    A sprain occurs when a ligament stretches or tears.

    A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon stretches or tears.

    Already confused? Read more to see a breakdown of the anatomy of your ligaments, tendons, & muscles in your back.

    The most common symptoms of a torn, strained, or pulled muscle include:

    • Sore or tenderness in your lower back
    • Pain that occurs suddenly
    • Pain that increases when you stand, walk, or twist
    • Stiffness in the back region
    • Pain that radiates to your legs, buttock, or thigh areas
    • Weakness in your muscles and tendons

    Luckily for you, treating a back strain can be as simple as 1, 2, 3. Try doing these stretches, exercises, & prevention methods to help say goodbye to that annoying pain in your back!

    Recommended Reading: Does Aleve Help Lower Back Pain

    Symptoms Of A Pulled Back Muscle

    Symptoms of a pulled back muscle depend on where the injury is. The spine is divided into three major sections: the neck, upper back and shoulders, and lower back.

    For a pulled muscle in the neck, you might experience:3

    • Pain in the neck and upper back area
    • Limited range of motion in the neck
    • Stiffness in the neck
    • Pain radiating to the shoulders or arms
    • Headache

    Pulled muscles in the shoulders and upper back may cause:

    • Pain in the area between the spine and shoulder blade
    • Muscle spasms in the upper back
    • Knots and tightness in the upper back and shoulders
    • Pain when moving the shoulders

    In lower back strain injuries, many people experience symptoms such as:3

    • Aching and stiffness in lower back muscles
    • Pain that worsens with movement
    • Pain that radiates to the hips and legs
    • Limited range of motion
    • Muscle spasms in lower back area
    • Pain when sitting, standing, or walking

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