A variety of muscles help to displace stress and stabilize your spine as you move, and considering all the movements they make in a day, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they can end up suffering an injury. Spinal muscle strains and tears are pretty common, especially in active individuals who are putting a lot of pressure on their spine. And while the majority of these strains are mild or moderate in nature and don’t require surgical intervention, you shouldn’t just push on with your day and assume that pain will eventually resolve. In today’s blog, we take a look at how you should treat spinal muscle pain from mild strains, tears and overuse.
Causes Of Spinal Muscle Strains
Spinal muscles can become strained, overstretched or torn in a variety of different ways, but the most common cause is from some sort of overexertion. Lifting heavy equipment, twisting too far in one direction or just trying to set a new personal best with your workout are common ways to strain a muscle in your back. Even non-intense actions can lead to spinal muscle strains. Repetitive actions, like operating a machine press or bending over to weed out the garden can all lead to spinal muscle strains even if the action itself doesn’t lead to an acute moment of injury. These types of strains are caused by repetitive microtrauma in the muscle.
Spinal muscle strains are pretty easy to self-diagnose, especially if your recent actions have put a lot of strain on your spine. Aside from a dull pain that may get worse with activity, some symptoms that may present with a spinal muscle strain include:
- Inhibited range of motion
- Tenderness
- Numbness
- Pain when pressure is applied to the area
If you are dealing with any of the above symptoms and you were recently physically active, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with a muscle strain. We’d be more than happy to help provide treatment, but for mild to moderate strains, you can likely skip the doctor’s appointment and take measures into your own hands.
Treating Spinal Muscle Strains
The following is general medical advice about caring for mild spinal muscle strains. If you have significant pain or may be dealing with additional injuries, consult with a specialist in your area.
The first thing you’ll want to do is give your back some rest. For the next 24-48 hours, give your spine a little rest from activity. Take it easy in the short-term to help protect the area and allow it to heal. You may also find it helpful to ice the area and take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain medications.
After 48 hours, you still may have some soreness, but you’ll probably be better off if you start to test the area again and work to strengthen it. You shouldn’t jump back in the weight room and start lifting, but being active can help to push healthy blood to the area and ease the muscle back into handling stress. Walking or other low-impact exercises can be great for a back that is recovering from a strain. You can see how your spine responds to light activity and progress from there, or you can target the area with some simple stretching and strength training exercises. This will help work to improve your range of motion and flexibility, and it will help ensure the muscle can adequately handle stress.
Over the course of a few days or weeks, you should begin to regain more confidence in the area and you’ll likely notice a decrease or elimination of your mild symptoms. However, it’s a smart idea to keep finding ways to strengthen the area even after symptoms resolve to help prevent any potential setbacks in the future.
If pain persists or gets worse, or you need help with any other spinal issue that you are facing, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and his team today.
