Posted by Signature Medical Group on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 in Orthopedics
You may be running, jogging or simply going through a workout. Then you feel some pain or something pop. In your legs, arms or maybe your neck.
You may have a strained, pulled or torn muscle.
Let the knowledgeable orthopedic and sports medicine specialists at Signature Medical Group help you. You can often see us the same day you make an appointment and we offer convenient hours at night and on weekends.
Symptoms of muscle strain, according to webmd.com, include:
- Swelling, bruising, or redness
- Pain while resting
- Pain when the specific muscle or the joint in relation to the muscle is used
- Weakness of the muscle or tendons
- Inability to use the muscle
Don't hesitate to call a Signature doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. You can trust us to evaluate the extent of the injury and offer the proper treatment for it.
The amount of swelling or local bleeding into the muscle can best be managed early by applying ice packs and maintaining the strained muscle in a stretched position, webmd.com recommends. Heat can be applied when the swelling has lessened. However, the early application of heat can increase swelling and pain.
Ice or heat should not be applied to bare skin. Always use a protective covering such as a towel between the ice or heat and the skin.
Webmd.com also recommends taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as naproxen or ibuprofen to reduce pain and improve your ability to move. Do not take NSAIDS if you have kidney disease or a history of gastrointestinal bleeding or if you are also taking a blood thinner — such as Coumadin — without first talking with your Signature doctor. In that case, it is safer to take acetaminophen, which helps lessen pain but does not reduce inflammation.
If you have more questions, a Signature doctor is willing to help. Make an appointment today and start feeling better.
About the Author
