Help! pulled quadrecep!!

DanielleLynis

I pulled my quadrecep a few night ago playing softball. How can speed up the healing process as I have a softball tournament this weekend?

mbaker566

i would ask your dr

Cherimoose

Yeah, forums aren't appropriate for medical advice. But generally speaking.. what speeds the healing of partially torn muscles (when there's no swelling or bruising) is warmth and regular, light movement.. but only movements that don't hurt. Try cycling.

What were you doing when it happened?

tomatoey

Cherimoose wrote: »

Yeah, forums aren't appropriate for medical advice. But generally speaking.. what speeds the healing of partially torn muscles (when there's no swelling or bruising) is warmth and regular, light movement.. but only movements that don't hurt.

How long is it a good idea to wait after the injury to do this, for a mild sprain? I understood that rest is important for the first 48 hours, then activity - or is that outdated?

sunglasses_and_ocean_waves

You cannot. See your dr.

Cherimoose

tomatoey wrote: »

Cherimoose wrote: »

Yeah, forums aren't appropriate for medical advice. But generally speaking.. what speeds the healing of partially torn muscles (when there's no swelling or bruising) is warmth and regular, light movement.. but only movements that don't hurt.

How long is it a good idea to wait after the injury to do this, for a mild sprain? I understood that rest is important for the first 48 hours, then activity - or is that outdated?

Well, your body starts repairing the injury immediately, not 48 hours later. The process is facilitated by using the muscle in pain-free movements, so i would start asap. You'll have to experiment to find what you can do and when.

tomatoey

Cherimoose wrote: »

tomatoey wrote: »

Cherimoose wrote: »

Yeah, forums aren't appropriate for medical advice. But generally speaking.. what speeds the healing of partially torn muscles (when there's no swelling or bruising) is warmth and regular, light movement.. but only movements that don't hurt.

How long is it a good idea to wait after the injury to do this, for a mild sprain? I understood that rest is important for the first 48 hours, then activity - or is that outdated?

Well, your body starts repairing the injury immediately, not 48 hours later. The process is facilitated by using the muscle in pain-free movements, so i would start asap. You'll have to experiment to find what you can do and when.

This makes so much more sense than RICE. Thank you, Cherimoose

DanielleLynis

Thanks for the advice. I started running to first base when I injured myself. The initial first few steps I took is when I could feel the pain. I know for a fact that my body wasn't warmed up enough when we started playing. So i'll be sure to stretch the next time I'm out on the field. For the record... my thigh isn't bruised or swollen. But I could feel a large not in my muscle.

cheshirecatastrophe

tomatoey wrote: »

Cherimoose wrote: »

Yeah, forums aren't appropriate for medical advice. But generally speaking.. what speeds the healing of partially torn muscles (when there's no swelling or bruising) is warmth and regular, light movement.. but only movements that don't hurt.

How long is it a good idea to wait after the injury to do this, for a mild sprain? I understood that rest is important for the first 48 hours, then activity - or is that outdated?

Sprain = ligament damage.
Strain = muscle damage.

I have no idea if they're handled differently, but they *are* different injuries so they might be. (And I'm not sure if there was a typo somewhere; I'm just clarifying. )

tomatoey

cheshirecatastrophe wrote: »

tomatoey wrote: »

Cherimoose wrote: »

Yeah, forums aren't appropriate for medical advice. But generally speaking.. what speeds the healing of partially torn muscles (when there's no swelling or bruising) is warmth and regular, light movement.. but only movements that don't hurt.

How long is it a good idea to wait after the injury to do this, for a mild sprain? I understood that rest is important for the first 48 hours, then activity - or is that outdated?

Sprain = ligament damage.
Strain = muscle damage.

I have no idea if they're handled differently, but they *are* different injuries so they might be. (And I'm not sure if there was a typo somewhere; I'm just clarifying. )

No, good catch, thanks for the correction, it's useful. I've used those words interchangeably for both kinds of injuries (although I conceptually appreciate the difference).

I've also heard conflicting advice for both (eg RICE all the way for everything; rest tendons and ligaments only, vs get right in there with the rehab right away..). But I am fairly clear on the idea that tendons apparently do NOT actually get inflamed outside of blunt trauma, contrary to what a lot of people believe.

Sometimes it's a while before you can see anyone, so having a clear idea of what to do in the super-acute phase is helpful. Just hard to know what's what

tomatoey

DanielleLynis wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. I started running to first base when I injured myself. The initial first few steps I took is when I could feel the pain. I know for a fact that my body wasn't warmed up enough when we started playing. So i'll be sure to stretch the next time I'm out on the field. For the record... my thigh isn't bruised or swollen. But I could feel a large not in my muscle.

So it was a sharp, immediate pain? Have you seen a doctor yet?

gainthatmuscle

you need to see a doctor for advice on proper healing. you cannot speed up the body's healing process

Holly_Wood_888

Don't run this weekend - have someone run for you - I did the same last summer and it can take up to 6 weeks to heal!
RICE
Rest
ICE
COmpression
Elevation

Cherimoose

Holly_Wood_888 wrote: »

Don't run this weekend - have someone run for you - I did the same last summer and it can take up to 6 weeks to heal!
RICE
Rest
ICE
COmpression
Elevation

The doctor who coined the term RICE now says ice can delay healing
http://drmirkin.com/fitness/why-ice-delays-recovery.html

DanielleLynis

Thanks again everyone. Just thought I'd give you all a follow up. I did see my doctor and he told me that I twisted the cartilage in my knee. I've never heard of that before but apparently it can be done. I have another appointment next week to see how im healing. I was told to not play ball for the time being and was prescribed some anti inflammatory pills. Right now my knee doesn't hurt. Yesterday I was on my feet quite a bit and I noticed I had some fluid in my knee when I went to bed. This morning when I woke up it seemed to have gone away through the night.