If you pull a muscle in your back it can take a while to heal. Your pulled muscle may have left you unable to go about your daily duties and possibly even hunched over, unable to walk fully upright. You should plan on taking it easy for at least a couple of weeks, but you don't want to stay in bed for more than a day or so. The good news is there are plenty of things you can do to get some relief from the pain and to help the muscle heal itself so you can get your life back to normal. Follow the advice in this article to make your recovery time as easy as possible and relieve some of the pain.

See your doctor

The biggest favor you can do yourself is to get in to see the doctor right after you pull a back muscle. They can prescribe you something for the pain and inflammation. They may also give you a shot of a very strong anti-inflammatory that will give you some instant relief and will last for most of the day. Putting off a visit to the doctors will only cause you unnecessary pain and suffering.

Stock up on anti-inflammatories

If you are unable to get to the doctor, you want to make sure you have a full bottle of over-the-counter anti-inflammatories on hand. Take one as directed on the bottle around the clock after you first injure your back. When the anti-inflammatories reduce the inflammation of the affected muscles it will also reduce the pain you feel.

Use ice and heat therapy

You want to alternate between ice packs and hot packs. You don't want to keep either of them on your back for longer than twenty minutes at a time. Using the ice packs will help to reduce the inflammation. Using the heat packs will cause more blood flow to come to the area which promotes healing. Both are very important with regards to controlling pain and promoting quick healing.

Get a massage

A massage can help to stretch out the muscle and help you feel relaxed. It will also increase blood flow to help the healing process. When you get a massage, you want to make sure you express how you are feeling. A good massage will help you feel better, but allowing someone to rub too hard can leave you feeling in worse shape than you were before.

Do stretches

A good stretch to do for a pulled back muscle is to lay on your back and pull your knees up to your chest. Grab your knees with your arms and hold the position for a few seconds. You want to do this stretch two to three times a day for the best results.

You may feel excited to get back to your normal routine as soon as the pain starts to alleviate. However, you want to make sure you continue to take it easy so you don't re-injure yourself.

For more information, contact a business such as The Chicago FIX.

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