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

For a mild strain, you may be able to return to normal activities within three to six weeks with basic home care. For more severe strains, recovery can take several months. In severe cases, surgical repair and physical therapy may be necessary. With proper treatment, most people recover completely.

How does it feel when you pull a muscle?

Symptoms of pulled muscles can include soreness or tenderness, muscle spasms, inability to use the muscle at all, and overall weakness with the muscle itself. You may even feel pain without moving the muscle, or increased pain when standing, twisting, or walking.

Am I sore or did I pull a muscle?

The difference between soreness and a pulled muscle

With muscle soreness, you won’t feel it until a day to two later. With a pulled muscle however, the pain is usually immediate.

Does a muscle strain hurt to touch?

Symptoms of muscle strain. Muscle strain symptoms vary, depending on how bad your injury is, but may include: pain. tenderness when you touch the muscle.

Should you massage a pulled muscle?

Massage. Therapeutic massage helps loosen tight muscles and increase blood flow to help heal damaged tissues. Applying pressure to the injured muscle tissue also helps remove excess fluid and cellular waste products. A 2012 study found that massage immediately following an injury may even speed strained muscle healing.

Is heat good for a pulled muscle?

A pulled muscle should first be treated using the R.I.C.E. method. During the first 72 hours, heat should be avoided to prevent increased swelling and inflammation. After about 72 hours, heat can be incorporated into treatment to increase blood flow and aid the overall healing process.

Can a pulled muscle get worse?

In most all cases, pain from a pulled back muscle gets better after only a few days. But if it lasts for more than a week or two or the pain is severe, it’s time to call your doctor.

How should you treat a muscle strain?

approach — rest, ice, compression, elevation:

1. Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort.
2. Ice. Even if you‘re seeking medical help, ice the area immediately.
3. Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the area with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops.
4. Elevation.

Does ibuprofen help heal muscle strains?

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) have played a role in treating musculoskeletal injuries for decades, but data proving their effectiveness in speeding healing (compared to providing pain relief) is surprisingly scant.

Does a pulled muscle heal on its own?

Most muscle strains do not require surgery, and a full recovery is expected. If there is a partial tear then the athlete can return when they are pain free and have normal strength and motion. This usually occurs following anywhere from a few weeks to a few months of appropriate treatment and therapy.

What will a doctor do for a pulled muscle?

For pulled or strained muscles, doctors recommend the RICE course of treatment: Rest. Ice the affected area with an ice pack or bag of frozen peas, approximately 20 minutes at a time, several times per day, for 24 to 72 hours after an injury.

Should I go to urgent care for a pulled muscle?

MUSCLES, TENDONS AND BONES

Go to an urgent care clinic or contact your primary care doctor for swelling, bruising and pain with movement and the inability to bear weight or use the extremity.

When should I go to the doctor for muscle pain?

Get immediate medical care if you have muscle pain with:

Trouble breathing or dizziness. Extreme muscle weakness. A high fever and stiff neck.

How long should muscle pain last?

How long does DOMS last for? DOMS typically lasts between 3 and 5 days. The pain, which can range from mild to severe, usually occurs 1 or 2 days after the exercise.

Does xray show muscle strain?

An X-ray may be necessary to be sure you don’t have a broken bone, but it won’t show a muscle injury. An MRI is the best type of imaging for looking at tissue.

Is sprain worse than strain?

Strain vs Sprain, which is worse? One is not technically worse than the other. Strains affect the tendons (an easy way to remember this is sTrains = tendons or muscles), and sprains affect the ligaments. Both tendons and ligaments are connective tissues, and both are measured by severity.

Does muscle strain show on MRI?

An MRI will not show muscle strains or other problems with soft tissues. The pain usually will go away on its own, although it may take several months.

How is sprain and strain diagnosed?

The main difference is that with a sprain you may have bruising around the affected joint, whereas with a strain, you may have spasms in the affected muscle.

How does a doctor diagnose muscle strain?

If a doctor suspects a muscle strain, they will perform a physical examination and ask a person about their symptom history. They may also order imaging studies, such as X-rays, to make sure that the bone has not broken. As part of the diagnosis, a doctor will usually designate the injury as a grade 1, 2, or 3 strain.