Muscle strains are common and are often caused by unaccustomed use or over usage of ligaments, tendons, or the soft tissues that link the muscles. However, when the pain of the muscle severe, it may be accompanied by some form of inflammation or even limited movement, which may indicate that muscles, tendons, or ligaments have been damaged, torn, sprained, or even strained – most commonly due to some trauma or sports injury. In this article we talk about muscle strains and when to call our home GP service for muscle strains in Sotogrande.
What are muscle strains?
A muscle strain occurs when your muscle is overstretched or torn, usually due to fatigue, overuse, or improper use of the muscle, causing pain and limiting movement within the affected muscle group. Strains may occur in any muscle, but they’re most common in your lower back, neck, shoulder, and hamstring, which is the muscle behind your thigh.
Mild to moderate strains can be successfully treated at home with ice, heat, and anti-inflammatory medications, but when the strain is severe it may require medical treatment.
Is it a muscle strain?
You’ll usually feel a muscle strain as it occurs. Symptoms include:
- sudden onset of pain
- soreness
- limited range of movement
- bruising or discoloration
- swelling
- a “knotted-up” feeling
- muscle spasms
- stiffness
- weakness
During a mild strain, the broken muscle can feel somewhat rigid, but still strong enough to be used. Severe muscle strain happens when the tendon is severely torn resulting in pain and very limited movement.
The symptoms of mild to moderate muscle strains typically go away within a couple of weeks while more severe strains may take months to heal.
When to call our home GP service for muscle strains in Sotogrande
In many occasions further detailed examination by our home GP service for muscle strains in Sotogrande is recommended, even if the findings confirm there is nothing seriously wrong. You should call our home GP service for muscle strains in Sotogrande immediately if any of the following apply;
- You have a serious loss of movement with the muscle ache
- You cannot put any weight on your joint
- You think the injured area appears deformed
- You are suffering from severe pain, and the area feels warm or swollen
- You are having accompanying symptoms such as morning joint stiffness, numbness, or fever
- The pain stems from a back injury or a lower back pain which is spreading to your legs
- The pain worsens throughout the day
- The pain persists for more than one week
- The patient suffering from the pain is a child or senior, as they may be more sensitive or unable to take certain medications
- The patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, as some medicines are unsuitable to take in these conditions