Muscle Pain

TREATMENT OF MUSCLE PAIN

There is no need to simply “tough it out” with severe muscle pain. Pain can be debilitating and interfere with your day-to-day activities. With treatment, you can usually quickly to an active lifestyle. Treatment options may include trigger point injections and physical therapy.

In less severe cases, it may be possible for you to treat muscle pain at home. Rest the area and take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen. If possible, apply ice to the injured area to help reduce the inflammation. Never apply ice directly to the skin. Use a dishtowel or other cloth barrier to prevent frostbite, and apply ice for 10-15 minutes at a time. If the pain persists, it may be necessary to talk to your doctor about additional measures.

Trigger point injections target specific areas. Medication is injected directly into the muscle region itself to decrease inflammation and to calm the nerves that send pain signals. This pain-relieving procedure allows you to more fully participate in physical therapy which can further alleviate the underlying muscle strain.

Physical therapy may help to reduce inflammation and gets the muscle group moving again, easing stiffness, and speeding the healing process. Physical therapy can also be used to strengthen the muscle group and help prevent future injuries.

If the pain continues or becomes more severe, it must be considered that the injury is beyond a simple muscle strain. More tests may be necessary to determine the source.