Pulling a muscle is never fun, but some pulled muscles are certainly worse than others. Although this is the case, how are you supposed to know when a pulled muscle needs actual medical treatment to properly heal?

Our AFC Urgent Care Easley team provides some helpful answers and additional info below, so keep reading!

What Is a Pulled Muscle?

A pulled muscle, which is commonly referred to as a muscle strain, is when your muscle fibers are overstretched or torn. This usually happens as a result of fatigue, overuse or improper use of a specific muscle.

Strains can happen to any muscle on the body, but they’re most common in the lower back, neck, shoulder and hamstrings.

Muscle Strain Signs

• Sudden onset of pain
• Soreness
• Limited range of movement
• Bruising or discoloration
• Swelling
• A “knotted-up” feeling
• Muscle spasms
• Stiffness
• Weakness

Are All Muscle Strains the Same?

No, they aren’t. Muscle strains vary in severity, so more serious cases will require further medical care for you to fully recover. If you aren’t sure whether your muscle strain is severe, we’ve listed some signs of serious injury below.

No matter the severity of your muscle strain, trying the R.I.C.E. approach for immediate self-care is always the right call—even if you need to visit our AFC center for medical care. Rest, ice, compression and elevation of your injury will help with the pain and swelling, and will drastically lower the risk of your strain becoming worse over time.

Signs of a Severe Muscle Strain

• The pain doesn’t subside after a week
• The injured area is numb
• There’s blood coming from your injury
• You can’t walk
• You can’t move your arms or legs
• You heard a “popping” sound when the injury occurred
• You have a fever
• You have major swelling of the injured area

Have you suffered a severe muscle strain and aren’t sure what to do next? Don’t wait to visit our AFC Urgent Care Easley center today to let us take care of you!