What do you do if you pull your back while lifting?
Treating a Pulled Back Muscle in 8 Steps
- Apply cold. Cold helps reduce inflammation, which is the primary source of pain in the first few days.
- Use compression.
- Rest.
- Stretch.
- Pain medication.
- Perform strength exercises.
- Get a massage.
- Apply heat.
Can I lift weights with a strained back?
When you’re experiencing back pain, your impulse may be to keep your back immobile, so you don’t trigger further pain. This idea seems like it would be especially true for adding resistance to your workout in the form of weight machines, free weights, or resistance bands.
How long does it take for a pulled back muscle to heal?
Compared to many other kinds of back injuries, a pulled muscle is usually straightforward to diagnose and easy to treat, and symptoms usually resolve within 4 to 6 weeks. Some severe muscle injuries, such as a complete muscle tear, can take months to heal.
What should I do if I hurt my back lifting something heavy?
Information
- Stop normal physical activity for only the first few days.
- Apply heat or ice to the painful area.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
- Sleep in a curled-up, fetal position with a pillow between your legs.
Should I lift weights if my back hurts?
Done properly, lifting weights doesn’t usually hurt your back. In fact, it may help relieve chronic back pain. But when you have acute (sudden) back pain, putting extra stress on back muscles and ligaments could raise risk of further injury.
How do you know if a back injury is serious?
Any of the following symptoms could indicate a severe back injury….You should see a doctor right away if you have:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- problems with urinating or passing stool (poo)
- numbness or pins and needles to the arms, legs, hands or feet.
- fever.
- paralysis.
- blood in the urine.
What does a pulled back muscle feel like?
Symptoms to expect from a pulled lower back muscle—or any type of lower back strain—typically include: Dull, achy low back pain. Strained muscles usually feel sore, tight, or achy. Pain that feels hot, tingling, or electric is more likely caused by an irritated nerve root, not a pulled muscle.