Pulled muscle in chest

[cclngthr]

Doc,

A few days ago, I apparently yanked a upper chest muscle on my left side. Since I have Cerebral Palsy, my muscles are under constant tension anyway due to that and I do walk with crutches (I do not take meds for it) it is extremely sore at this point.

Would heat or cold make the muscle relax a little? I notice that it is worse in the morning right after I get up and right after I go to bed. I'm assuming that the muscle is being stretched and after being up or laying down, it gets easier to deal with.

Any ideas what I could do to make it easier to move around easier (I use a wheelchair most of the time)?

[Doc]

Get fresh pineapples or drink pineapple juice. Contains bromelain a natural anti-inflammatory, it will help the muscles heal quicker too. If you don't want to eat pineapples you can take Advil or Aleve but they don't work like bromelain does.

In addition try Biofreeze (pain relieving gel) and use as needed.

Since it's been a couple days you can try moist heat 20 minutes on and 1 hour off. If you feel relief after the hour after using the moist heat continue to use it, if it gets worse after removing the moist heat and the hour after switch to ice. Same time parameters 20 minutes on, 1 hour off.

You can also massage the muscles in the area that hurts going against the way the muscle lays (like against the grain of wood) called tranverse friction massage. If you do massage it vigorously you may need to put ice on for a short time afterwards.

Keep as much mobility as you can, but not in a way that causes you extreme discomfort.

If after 4 days it isn't getting better or if it continues to get worse get in to see your MD.

Thanks for asking and let me know how it goes.

[cclngthr]

Originally Posted by Doc

Get fresh pineapples or drink pineapple juice. Contains bromelain a natural anti-inflammatory, it will help the muscles heal quicker too. If you don't want to eat pineapples you can take Advil or Aleve but they don't work like bromelain does.

In addition try Biofreeze (pain relieving gel) and use as needed.

Since it's been a couple days you can try moist heat 20 minutes on and 1 hour off. If you feel relief after the hour after using the moist heat continue to use it, if it gets worse after removing the moist heat and the hour after switch to ice. Same time parameters 20 minutes on, 1 hour off.

You can also massage the muscles in the area that hurts going against the way the muscle lays (like against the grain of wood) called tranverse friction massage. If you do massage it vigorously you may need to put ice on for a short time afterwards.

Keep as much mobility as you can, but not in a way that causes you extreme discomfort.

If after 4 days it isn't getting better or if it continues to get worse get in to see your MD.

Thanks for asking and let me know how it goes.

Will do (I do have fresh pineapple handy, did not think that would help...).

I get this on a semi-regular basis if I overdo it. I use my upper body constantly to move around and I think what pulls the muscle in my chest is my arm strength has become stronger, which pulls the chest muscle too far. I did have scoliosis surgery in 1980 (due to a 45 degree angle) so my spine is rigid. That probably has made the chest muscles weaker over time).

Another question:

Is there any exercise I could do to strengthen my chest muscles (once this is cured) so the occurence is reduced? When this does occur, it usually lasts 2-3 days and lessens over time. Yesterday it was better, but this morning it was back to square one.

About the massage, the soreness is right on my left breast area and going to the left side. In what position does the muscle lay? Is it left/right or up/down?

Would it be advisable to suppliment the pineapple juice solution with Advil at night and early in the morning when I am very stiff and sore?

Thanks for the ideas.

[Doc]

For your chest try pushups if you are able to do them

Just eat or drink pineapples throughout the day. You can take Aleve at night if you would like.

Pectoralis muscles as they go toward their insertion towards the shoulder area they angle at about a 45 degree, in the chest area the pectoralis muscle fibers are going across towards the shoulder with less of a 45 degree angle.

[cclngthr]

Originally Posted by Doc

For your chest try pushups if you are able to do them

Just eat or drink pineapples throughout the day. You can take Aleve at night if you would like.

Pectoralis muscles as they go toward their insertion towards the shoulder area they angle at about a 45 degree, in the chest area the pectoralis muscle fibers are going across towards the shoulder with less of a 45 degree angle.

Thanks Doc.

[cclngthr]

A friend referred me to her naturalpath doctor and he prescribed the Bromelian capsules @ 500mg each 3 times/day with pineapple (as you suggested) suppliment. Once the pain is gone, take the pineapple supplement as a dietary thing. My own doctor wanted me on Baclofen, a drug that is commonly prescribed to people with CP along with a short term Rx of a strong pain killer similar to tylenol with codeine and another muscle relaxant (a bit much if I say so).

I am from the style where a drug is the last thing you should be concerned with. It irritates me to find American society thinking that taking a pill will solve everything.

[Doc]

Thanks for the update. I like just about any healthcare professional including naturopathic doctors .

We all need to work together for the good of the people that need help!

[cclngthr]

Another question for you Doc,

Are there any alternative muscle relaxers available that you know of that are good? I am quite stiff in the mornings (usually) and would like an opinion about a way to ease the stiffness.

[Doc]

Yes, there is...I just can't remember the name. I'll have to get back to you on that.

[cclngthr]

Let me know. I have heard of a few, but want a professional opinion before I get it.