How do you know you've pulled a muscle?

Author: Gabriel Mante  |  Last update: Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Symptoms of a pulled muscle include: Bruising, swelling or redness at the injury site. Difficulty using the affected muscle. Muscle weakness.

What a pulled muscle feels like?

Muscle tears symptoms

If it's a chronic muscle strain, you may develop pain gradually over a few days. If it's an acute muscle strain, you'll feel pain immediately, and it may even feel like tearing. You may also feel your muscle weaken, and you may feel that you can't use it at all.

How long does it take for a pulled muscle to heal?

On average, the following recovery times apply: Minor strains that affect only a small portion of the muscle tissue can recover in 4 to 6 weeks. More severe strains that affect a large part of the muscle take 8 to 12 weeks. If you've also injured a tendon, your muscle strain may take more than 4 months to heal fully.

How do you relieve a pulled muscle?

Rest – stop any exercise or activities and try not to put any weight on the injury. Ice – apply an ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a tea towel) to the injury for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Compression – wrap a bandage around the injury to support it during the day.

What is the difference between a pulled muscle and a torn muscle?

A torn muscle, which occurs when muscle fibers are ripped or severed due to excessive force or overstretching, is distinct from a pulled muscle, where fibers are merely stretched while remaining intact.

How do you know if you strained a muscle?

Can a doctor do anything for a pulled muscle?

Prescribing medications or giving injections for pain that won't quit. Providing home-care guidance, including specific stretches or strengthening exercises. Referring you to physical therapy for additional assistance during your recovery. Giving you self-care recommendations to lower your risk of re-injury.

How to tell if pain is muscular or internal?

Muscular pain often feels localized, tender to the touch, and worsens with movement or specific activities. It may also be accompanied by muscle spasms or visible signs of inflammation. Internal pain , on the other hand, may feel deeper, more widespread, and unrelated to movement.

Is it OK to rub a pulled muscle?

It's important to note that you should never massage a strained muscle that hasn't been given 72 hours to rest. Massaging a freshly-strained muscle can actually increase inflammation and even cause further injury, so be sure to wait at least three days before attempting any massage therapy.

What is the best home remedy for muscle pain?

Heat And Cold Packs

Alternating ice and heat therapy can be an effective way to ease muscle and joint pain. This method can help increase blood flow to muscles, loosen stiff joints and distract the brain from pain.

Is heat good for a pulled muscle?

After an acute injury, ice should be used to minimize swelling for the first two to three days. After this period, heat can be used to increase blood flow and assist the natural healing process. Applying heat too early may cause additional swelling by increasing blood flow to the injury.

Is walking good for a pulled muscle?

Even with mild strains, it's important not to overdo it. Swimming, walking, and stretching are good activities to begin with, increasing intensity gradually. Moderate to severe strains require a longer recovery period.

When should I be worried about muscle pain?

Get medical care right away or go to the emergency room if you have muscle pain with: Trouble breathing or dizziness. Extreme muscle weakness with problems doing routine daily activities. A high fever and stiff neck.

What not to do with a pulled muscle?

Gentle stretching to the area can be beneficial, but the key is to keep it gentle. Avoid any prolonged sitting, bending, heavy lifting, twisting, or driving - all of which can make the pain worse. Giving the area of pain a rest, at least for the next 24 hours, will most likely be beneficial.

Should I go to urgent care for a pulled muscle?

However, you should consider visiting an urgent care center if you experience any of the following symptoms after a muscle strain: Persistent pain or pain that radiates down the legs or arms. Joint pops or cracks when the injury occurred or if you move the affected area post-injury.

What does a muscle knot feel like?

Muscle knots feel like small, tender lumps or nodules. They are palpable and can be felt when touched. However, knots can be discreet and exist deep in the muscle, and a person may have to press hard into the connective tissue to feel the knots or trigger points.

Should I stretch a pulled muscle?

Do wait three days to a week after the injury, depending on severity and symptoms, to begin stretching. Using pain as a guide; if you feel sharp pain in the injured area, it means it is too early to start stretching. Do wait until the inflammation mostly goes away before the first stretch.

How do you get rid of muscle pain asap?

5 Ways to Ease Sore Muscles
  1. Acetaminophen. Skip ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. ...
  2. Stretching—after a warm up. Limbering up relaxes and lengthens tight muscles, says Edelstein. ...
  3. Heat therapy. Warm temps can increase blood flow to sore muscles big time, says Edelstein.

What is the best muscle relaxer?

The best prescription muscle relaxants are baclofen, carisoprodol, methocarbamol, tizanidine, dantrolene, cyclobenzaprine, orphenadrine, chlorzoxazone, and metaxalone. Naproxen (Aleve) is one of the strongest OTC medications for muscle pain, cramps, and spasms.

How do you heal a pulled muscle ASAP?

Use an ice pack or slush bath of ice and water for 15 to 20 minutes each time and repeat every two to three hours while you're awake for the first few days after the injury. Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the area with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops.

Can a doctor do anything for a pulled back muscle?

A back specialist can typically diagnose a mild strain or sprain by reviewing your symptoms and learning how your injury occurred. Depending on the severity of the pulled back muscle, they may recommend additional treatments, such as: Prescription medications for pain or inflammation. Muscle relaxant drugs.

What is the difference between pulled muscle and strained muscle?

Minor injuries may only overstretch a muscle or tendon, while more severe injuries may involve partial or complete tears in these tissues. Sometimes called pulled muscles, strains commonly occur in the lower back and in the muscles at the back of the thigh (hamstrings).

Is muscle pain sharp or dull?

Soreness or pain

Your muscles may feel a dull ache, tight, and achy feeling when you try to use them. This may also be present at rest but is more common when you try to use them. Pain causes an ache or sharp pain at rest or pain when exercising. May be more constant than muscle soreness.

What is the best medicine for muscle pain?

This is a personal preference. Some feel acetaminophen works better for them, whereas others find ibuprofen better relieves a headache. Muscle ache or pulled/strained muscle. Ibuprofen typically works better for this kind of pain relief, due to the anti-inflammatory effects.

What does a pulled muscle in the back feel like?

A pulled back muscle can begin as a sudden, sharp pain when lifting or bending. The pain can also increase gradually, getting worse as the days go by. It's a common injury, but there's little comfort in that fact—especially if it stops you from doing the things you enjoy.

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