As a skeletal and muscular structure, the back is a complex mixture of some of the most important bones in the human body as well as some of the most massive stretches of muscle. As a result, the problems that can arise when a person puts too much stress on their back while lifting a heavy object can be incredibly painful. If a muscle is pulled or torn because of an improper lift, the sufferer can try a wide range of treatment options to return to their previous level of strength.
One of the most immediately prescribed and relied upon options to help heal damaged back muscles is pain relievers. Cortisone shots and anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen may be used to treat the symptoms of an injured back. If a patient simply needs to wait until a muscle heals before returning to work, these drugs may be used to ease the recovery process.
If deeper damage has been done to the muscle, a course of physical therapy may be followed in order to rebuild damaged tissue. Physical therapy can help to strengthen muscles that may have atrophied in the recovery process, preventing future damage to that area as well as making the healing period more effective. Physical therapy is especially common if surgery was required to repair muscle damage.
Another option generally followed on a patient’s own schedule is to regularly stretch when the muscles in the back are healthy enough to support activity. By stretching, problems that may lead to later back pain can be worked out during the healing process, avoiding the need for more expensive treatments later.
To learn more about how workers’ compensation can help cover some of the costs of these treatments as well as provide adequate healing time, contact a workers’ compensation attorney.