Owww muscle strains. Advice please!

**K9karen** · 07-10-2008, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by moosmom

Cold to bring swelling down. Then heat to relieve the strain.

Feel better!

Just what I was gonna say, Dr. Donna!
30+ years of physical therapy taught me well.

**Sirrahsim** · 07-10-2008, 09:32 PM

thanks everybody

I've been using ice and keeping up with the ibuprofen. It doesn't seem to be doing anything but I guess I just have to be patient

If it feels the same in the morning as it does tonight I may go ahead and call my doctor anyway. I can't believe that I did this to BOTH legs. If it was just one then I could limp around but with both of them hurting this bad I'm just out of luck

**Cataholic** · 07-10-2008, 09:44 PM

I can assure you, as sure as I lay here on my couch, still overweight and out of shape from Jonah nearly four years ago, it is muscle strain, and it will go away on its own, without medical intervention.

If you have a stationary bike, ride it for ten minutes- no matter how much it burns. If you can stomach it, go for a really light jog. You just need to loosen up the tightened muscles a little bit.

Next time, try not to get the last year's exercise all done in one day.

**RICHARD** · 07-10-2008, 10:43 PM

You may not be able to do this....

Cold water. I'd turn the hose on and run the water over my legs.

Then I'd give myself a 'massage' - take you hands and push the muscles towards your knees. From your hips down and your ankles up.

Don't try to keep up with the instructor until you have a few weeks of spinning in. You just did too much too soon.

**Medusa** · 07-11-2008, 07:33 AM

When I used to teach exercise and aerobics classes, I always told my students that they would probably not feel much the first day. It's the second and third days that they'd want to stick pins in a Mary doll. Any time you work a muscle group that hasn't been exerted to such an extent, this will happen. The absolute best thing you can do to ease the pain and soreness is to take a hot bath w/Epsom salts. It helps to rid your body of built up lactic acid, which is the cause of your soreness. Good luck and good for you for taking a spinning class, girl!

**smokey the elder** · 07-11-2008, 08:29 AM

Icy Hot or Bengay or some other topical might provide some relief and help you sleep. At work I have to walk up this steep hill, and it was really beating up my ankles until I got used to it, and Icy Hot worked really well. (End of commercial.

) I hope you feel better.

**lizbud** · 07-11-2008, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by Cataholic

I can assure you, as sure as I lay here on my couch, still overweight and out of shape from Jonah nearly four years ago, it is muscle strain, and it will go away on its own, without medical intervention.

If you have a stationary bike, ride it for ten minutes- no matter how much it burns. If you can stomach it, go for a really light jog. You just need to loosen up the tightened muscles a little bit.

Next time, try not to get the last year's exercise all done in one day.

I agree with the "keep moving" idea, It might sound like torture, but it
really helps in the long run. Sore muscles can get tight without some
after workout.

**Sirrahsim** · 07-11-2008, 09:02 PM

They still hurt terribly tonight

I have been keeping my normal activities as much as possible but with Ginger unable to go for our evening walks/jogs because of her spay, I haven't been going either. I put a heating pad on my legs while I was watching a movie tonight and that was bliss for a while until I went to stand up and toppled right over.
Thanks for all of the advice. I am trying everything that you guys suggest and will pick up some Epsom salts tomorrow if I'm not any better

It may sound crazy, but I can't wait until I am healthy again and can go to a Beginners spin class

**Medusa** · 07-11-2008, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by Sirrahsim

They still hurt terribly tonight

I have been keeping my normal activities as much as possible but with Ginger unable to go for our evening walks/jogs because of her spay, I haven't been going either. I put a heating pad on my legs while I was watching a movie tonight and that was bliss for a while until I went to stand up and toppled right over.
Thanks for all of the advice. I am trying everything that you guys suggest and will pick up some Epsom salts tomorrow if I'm not any better

It may sound crazy, but I can't wait until I am healthy again and can go to a Beginners spin class

As each day passes, your soreness will become less and less. If you should get sore again for whatever reason, use the Epsom salts right away. Removing the lactic acid from your muscles is important. And it doesn't sound crazy to want to go back to spin class. When I first started kickboxing, I was so sore that I wouldn't even talk, no kidding. And I went back for more.