Pulled Muscle in back(?)...what Worked for You?

You might try a chiropractor. I had what I thought was a pulled muscle in my shoulder/arm a couple months ago and it ended up being a pinched nerve. The chiropractic treatments helped tremendously. Also, fish oil is a fantastic anti-inflammatory with non of the side effects of the drug based options.

I had what the doctor thought was a pulled muscle, and after getting xrays taken, I ended up having three herniated discs in my lower back. I did not pick up anything unusally heavy, it was just at the angle that I had started picking it up. If it causes you too much grief, you should have an xray. If its a pulled muscle, try going to a Chiropractor a few times, and if that doesnt work, get the xray. Hope everything gets better for you. Ive been there, I know how you feel.

ICE..ICE....ICE. It helps with inflammation.
The doctor prescribed the naprosyn for inflammation so continue taking it regardless of whether you think it works for the pain. The pain will get less as the inflammation gets less. But KEEP taking the NAPROSYN. Stop the excedrin back if you are taking the naprosyn.
Stop as much things as possible and give your back as much rest as humanly possible. I know, the kids, etc.
I also got news for you, it sounds like you wrenched really good, and it will be a while before you feel normal again. You are thinking that this will heal quickly but back strains usually don't and you can take up to six weeks to heal. You are probably not feeling very good because you are continueing to irritate your back by not resting it, not taking the meds as prescribed and thinking there is a quick cure. You may not have time to deal with a bad back, but you really have no choice if you can barely walk after 2 weeks. I would imagine that the shot made you feel great and then you overdid it the 2-3 days the injection was in your system, so that when it wore off you were even worse.
Again, Rest, Meds as prescribed (there is a reason he gave them to you even if he didn't explain very well), and Ice.
The only other thing to try is a chiropractor. I have had really good luck combining all those things above for my recently pulled back. It happened at work. It took 8 weeks to feel better and is still sore if the doctor puts his thumb in it in certain places, but I can walk and bend again.
It really is your choice. Make things easy, get a girl to come help while you are there. Eat pre-made food, get mother to come help. Etc.
Back problems will continue to plague you if you don't treat it the way it needs, to completely heal. You can have an achilles heal in your back. With a weak spot for a long time to come and a back that will contine to be weak and easier to injure.
Take care of your back.
Good Luck,
L., RN

wow I like the massage idea when can we go!!
You might talk to a pharmacist and ask if you can take the naproxen and the exedrin not at the same time but like every 2 hours apart?
Then when you have to pick up the one yr old make sure u use your legs and not your back. the 5 week old ( i dont figure he is super big right) shouldnt be a problem.
Try and take it as easy as you can.

I have a friend who is a current player in the NFL (starter...so plays a LOT) and he swears by deep tissue massage. He gets at least one a week and sometimes more during the season after playing. I do not know the name of a great place to go but I would ask a physical therapy or sports medicine place for a reference.

Good luck
TF

Hi K.,
Sorry to sound like a broken record but a chiro is the way to go. For years I suffered with back/neck problems off and on due to muscle problems. I used meds most of the time until they just didn't seem to do the job. I now go monthly to my chiro for adjustments and no problems! At first I had to go often to get me the much needed relief but now it's just monthly. My husband now goes too. It helped SO much.
Until you can see one I would highly suggest using ice packs for pain relief. Hope you get better soon.
C.

CHRIROPRACTOR!! If you are in Frisco area I could recommend a great one!

I pulled a muscle in my back once & struggled to stand up straight for a week. No medicines helped. One trip to the chiroprator & I was good as new!!

stretching.....very slowly...a little at a time. don't push it too hard.

Chiropractor, Chiropractor, Chiroractor

Doctors don't usually agree with Chiropractors and Chiropractors don't agree with Doctors so one would never tell you to go to the other. However, I've been to both for my screwed up back and have only found long term relief from a chiro. It's also not something that if you start it you have to keep going. I just go once or twice a year.

Go see a good reliable Chiropractor (if you are in the Abilene area I can give you some names) and let them access you.

Good Luck!

First, I would keep taking the Naproxen because it is an anti-inflamatory medicine, the more you take, the more it builds up in your system. It's not a 'pain' medicine as you know it, but it will help with the pain in the long run. Second, I have been using Therma-Care Heatwraps. They usually come 2-3 in a box. The back wraps truly wrap all the around your waist (Im assuming it is your lower back) and close with a velcro. If it is higher up in your back, they make one that has flaps to adhere to your your skin. I usually put one on in the morning and it works for about 8-10 hours. Some people like it better to sleep in, but I get too hot that way. It doesnt burn your skin, but it does get really nice and warm; helping to relax the tension in the muscles. Hope this helps!

Try Theraguesic. Then massage it with a good massager.

You have received a lot of feedback on what to do about your back now. Once healed I would suggest yoga to keep from re-injuring your back. I use to throw my back out about every six months. My doctor suggested yoga and it has really helped.

Good luck on a quick recovery. I know how debilitating it can be.

I just hurt my back a week ago. If I don't take two motrin every 6 hours the pain is unbearable. For the first 72 hours I used ice packs and now I use a heat pad (15 min every 6 hours)...it also seems to help a little. If the next thing you try doesn't help I would definitely see a chiropractor.

I agree with most of the responses. See a chiropractor. I recently had muscle spasms in my back that were making it impossible to take care of my 2 month old and my toddler. I'm now seeing a chiropractor and getting weekly massages and feel great! If you need any recommendations for a chiropractor, I'd be happy to give you the info for mine. She's awesome and her office is family friendly.

Ice helped me the most. 20 minutes every hour if you can. Naproxen did absolutely nothing for me. The ice relieved the swelling so the muscle relaxers could help. Keep taking the excedrin if it helps. If you don't feel any relief soon I would call your doctor back.

With children your ages, it is almost impossible, but for me I was supposed to not lift anything, and rest for a week or two. and they gave some back exercises. Well I didn't think I could (rest) so therefore I was a long time getting back to normal and wished I had taken the advise. Don't know if you could get a babysitter or day care for just few days, and do bed rest a few hours a day or not.

Deep tissue massage combined with trigger point therapy twice a month helps me.