The time it takes to recover from a muscle strain (pulled muscle) will depend on how bad your injury is. It also depends on how active you need to be afterwards. Some injuries take a few weeks to heal, while more severe strains may take months to fully heal.
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.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen (Tylenol) also help reduce pain and swelling. As the pain decreases, you can use heat on the muscle. Stretching and light exercises to bring blood to the injured area can also be useful.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
With a pulled muscle, however, the pain is usually immediate. “The pain from a pulled muscle is intense, sharp, and localized to where the injury occurred and can also be associated with swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the joints nearby,” said Gregory.
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.
Their study found that, as we age, the lines of communication to the stem cells of our muscles deteriorate and, without the full instructions, it takes longer for injured muscles to heal. Even then, the repairs aren't as good.
Do not do activities that involve heavy lifting or twisting of your back for the first 6 weeks after the pain begins. Do not exercise in the days right after the pain begins. After 2 to 3 weeks, slowly begin to exercise again. A physical therapist can teach you which exercises are right for you.
Massage can relieve tension and restore blood flow to sore muscles, whether they're sore from overuse or underuse. Athletes use sports massage to recover from exercise faster. Cold therapy. For recent injuries or acute, throbbing pain, cold therapy can help by reducing inflammation and swelling.
After 3 days, either heat or ice may be helpful if you still have pain. Rest the pulled muscle for at least a day. If possible, keep the pulled muscle raised above your heart. Try not to use a strained muscle while it is still painful.
Ice. Apply ice to the injury for 20 minutes each hour you're awake. Ice can help reduce inflammation. Never apply ice directly to bare skin; instead, wrap the ice pack in a towel first.
Rest, ice, compression and elevation can help relieve pain and inflammation during the first few days of your recovery. After the first few days, you can start moving it again. Crutches. If your injury is in your lower body, you might need to use crutches to keep weight off the muscle when you walk.