Swollen Muscles from Injury or Chronic Condition

The body’s injury repair and defense mechanism use various responses to deal with damage. For example, muscles, particularly soft tissue, use inflammation and swelling to immobilize the damaged area, which in turn involves enhanced recovery as blood flows to the targeted area. However, swollen muscles can become a painful problem when the system is not working correctly.

Causes and Issues

The most common cause of a swollen muscle tends to be overuse, such as in sports injuries. Damaging muscles at the microscopic level during use makes them bigger as the body recovers and builds more muscle tissue in response to the subsequent use. However, conditions like Polymyositis trigger muscle tissue irritation and inflammation, making it painful to use the body area. Polymyositis can be developed all over the body, and in specific areas, it makes things extremely hard for the patient in terms of mobility. Other similar conditions fall into a group of medical conditions known as inflammatory myopathies.

Typical Treatment

In the case of sports injuries or similar, our chiropractor will examine you to determine if the muscle pain is due to a tear, strain, or contusion. These injuries can produce significant swelling and pain as the body part becomes immobilized to allow healing. The typical healing treatment, usually from a sports injury chiropractor, is to apply a rotation of heat and cold therapies to help the body improve circulation to the area, reduce swelling and increase repair. In addition, elevation helps by lowering blood pressure, which contributes to pain. We may also prescribe pharmaceuticals to relieve pain and reduce inflammatory effects temporarily.

In the case of an inflammation condition not caused by an injury, painful symptoms can persist. Common symptoms include joint pain, a lack of flexibility, loss of strength, and stiffness. Once diagnosed, the patient is given pharmaceuticals to reduce inflammation and over-response of the body’s system. Physical therapy is often also applied.

Our Chiropractic Approach to Swollen Muscles

As a chiropractor, Rob + Katie Traux make a point of dealing with muscle pain issues holistically. Remember, muscles are part of a more extensive system of how the body works for mobility and strength. So, systemic muscle pain is often related to other aspects of the body's functions. Utilizing a mechanical approach, our Santa Rosa Beach, FL office approaches sports injuries and chronic muscle pain from all possible causes versus just where it hurts alone. More often than not, this approach is far more effective than just a pharmaceutical approach and ice alone. Call us at (404) 429-2505 to schedule and make an appointment.