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Lumbar muscle strain
How long does lumbar muscle strain need to rest?
Generally speaking, for lumbar muscle strain, it is recommended to rest for three to four weeks. During this time, it is important to avoid strenuous activities and exhaustion to allow the symptoms of lumbar muscle strain to gradually alleviate. However, this type of lumbar muscle strain is due to chronic damage to the lumbar muscles. It is difficult to achieve complete healing through rest alone, and the healing time can be very long. It is possible that after resting for three to four weeks, the symptoms can be completely relieved, but symptoms such as back pain may recur after subsequent excessive exertion or intense exercise. Therefore, for patients with lumbar muscle strain, in addition to absolute rest, we also recommend using some physical therapy methods, such as massage and acupuncture, to help relieve back pain and promote the recovery of lumbar muscle injuries.
What should I do if I have a strained lumbar muscle?
In clinical practice, the patient suffers from lumbar muscle strain. In terms of treatment, it is necessary to promptly stop lumbar activities, avoid exposure to cold in the lumbar region, avoid repeated external force stimulation, and prevent further aggravation of the condition. Lumbar hot compresses should be applied, using spectrum radiators, microwave devices, and physical therapy devices for treatment. Frequent use of traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and application of traditional Chinese manual massage can reduce the degree of adhesion and hardening of lumbar muscle tissues, restore muscle strength, toughness, and elasticity, and alleviate the patient's clinical symptoms. For areas of significant lumbar pain, closed injection is used for transcutaneous drug delivery of traditional Chinese medicine at acupoints. Analgesic drugs, mainly oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, can also be used to reduce local pain.
Where does lumbar muscle strain hurt?
Under normal circumstances, for patients suffering from lumbar muscle strain, the pain is mainly located on both sides of the waist, primarily manifesting as soreness. This soreness becomes more pronounced especially after walking excessively, sitting or standing for long periods, or bending over to lift heavy objects. The usual treatment involves advising the patient to rest as much as possible and to wear a lumbar support belt to protect the waist. Additionally, treatment can include medications such as oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, and drugs that promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. Moreover, for such patients, some physiotherapy methods can also be combined, such as acupuncture, massage, traction, massage, electric heat treatments, and cupping. Gradually, the patient will recover.
How long should one rest for a lumbar muscle strain?
For patients with lumbar muscle strain, it is generally necessary to rest for about seven to ten days, which is beneficial for the improvement of clinical symptoms of lumbar muscle strain. However, if vigorous exercise, fatigue, or exposure to cold occur later, it may cause the symptoms of lumbar muscle strain to recur. Therefore, even after recovery, it is necessary to pay attention to rest and protection, avoid cold exposure, and prevent external injuries. Topically, some ointments that activate blood circulation and disperse stasis can be used. Wearing a lumbar belt to protect the spine, taking oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications, and medications that activate blood and resolve stasis can be effective treatments. This can be accompanied by acupuncture, massage, heat therapy, and cupping as physiotherapy methods, and gradual recovery can be achieved. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)
Will lumbar muscle strain cause soreness in the buttocks?
Lumbar muscle strain is very common in clinical practice, and it is actually a syndrome that combines many diseases. For example, lumbar muscle strain may be accompanied by degeneration of the lumbar spine, or disc herniation, or scoliosis, or specific spinal diseases, such as ankylosing spondylitis. These conditions can ultimately lead to lumbar muscle strain. Hence, if lumbar muscle strain is accompanied by different diseases, it can cause pain in the buttocks. For instance, in the case of lumbar disc herniation, when the herniation compresses the nerves, it not only causes lumbar muscle strain but also leads to pain and soreness in the buttocks. Additionally, if the strain is located lower down, it similarly can cause a sensation of soreness in the buttocks.
Can lumbar muscle strain be cured completely?
Whether lumbar muscle strain can be completely cured is related to the severity of the condition. Generally, patients with mild conditions should rest and may use anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, or treatment methods such as hot compresses, physical therapy, and massage. Symptoms can be effectively relieved within a few days, and recovery is possible. For more severe cases, recovery may be slower if patients do not rest properly, and there could be recurrent episodes as well. Thus, patients with lumbar muscle strain should also pay attention to rest and recuperation routinely, develop correct habits for using the lower back, and reduce heavy physical activities involving the lower back. Additionally, it is important to stay warm and prevent exposure to cold. Patients can also use anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, and drugs that promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis to facilitate recovery. Heat compresses and physical therapy can be used as well. These methods play an active role in improving symptoms and promoting recovery. (Note: The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
How to alleviate pain from lumbar muscle strain?
For patients with severe pain, topical ointments that activate blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis and reduce swelling and pain can be effectively used to alleviate the symptoms of pain caused by lumbar muscle strain. Additionally, local heat application or massage can be actively performed to effectively promote local blood circulation and the absorption of creatine kinase, improving the symptoms of lumbar muscle strain. Furthermore, oral administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs that activate blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis can be used for treatment. It is important to rest and protect the affected area, wear a lumbar belt for protection, avoid sitting or standing for long periods, and refrain from bending over to lift heavy items or heavy lifting. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can I run with a strained lumbar muscle?
Generally, it is not recommended. For lumbar muscle strain, it is first advised to rest in bed. After the pain eases, one can take gentle walks and do some lumbar physiotherapy and heat applications. Exercises such as the 'little swallow flight' and other aerobic activities, as well as swimming, can be done. Jogging is also acceptable, but it is advised not to engage in fast, high-intensity, or prolonged running to avoid significant injury and fatigue to the lumbar muscles.
What should I do if I have a lumbar muscle strain?
Patients with lumbar muscle strain primarily suffer from back injuries due to long-term heavy physical activities involving the waist, poor posture, and chronic wear and tear, causing symptoms such as lower back pain and restricted movement. Those suffering from lumbar muscle strain should first focus on rest and develop proper habits of using their waist to avoid engaging in long-term heavy physical activities. At the same time, symptomatic treatment may include the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, combined with heat application, physical therapy, massage, or trigger point injection. These methods can actively improve pain symptoms and promote recovery.
Treatment methods for lumbar muscle strain
Firstly, some non-surgical treatments, namely conservative treatments, should be carried out. The majority of patients can see significant relief in their symptoms after conservative treatment, and some of them may even be cured. Conservative treatment begins with general treatment. Primarily, it involves bed rest after the onset of lumbar muscle strain symptoms, ceasing work, and minimizing bending activities. Additionally, wearing a lumbar support is advised to prevent further injury. Secondly, it is appropriate to exercise the muscles of the lower back. If the strength of these muscles is increased, not only can it enhance the stability of the lumbar spine, but it can also reduce pressure inside the intervertebral discs and delay the aging and degeneration of the spine. Thirdly, physical and rehabilitation therapies should be employed. This mainly includes traction, physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture, and external application of traditional Chinese medicine. The goal is primarily to relax spasmodic back muscles. At the same time, it can alleviate pressure within the intervertebral discs and reduce the inflammation around the nerve roots. Fourthly, if the pain is extremely severe and significantly affects everyday life and work, consideration may be given to taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications, along with muscle relaxants. This can result in very effective pain relief. If the outcome of standardized conservative treatment is unsatisfactory, surgical treatment can be considered. However, for lumbar muscle strain, non-surgical treatment is generally preferred, with only a few patients requiring surgery.