Is bloodletting useful for lumbar muscle strain?

Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
Updated on September 12, 2024
00:00
00:00

Bloodletting therapy for lumbar muscle strain has no scientific basis, and improper operations can easily cause infections. Therefore, this method is not recommended. Lumbar muscle strain is primarily caused by poor posture and chronic strain, leading to symptoms such as back pain and limited mobility. The main treatment for lumbar muscle strain involves rest and developing correct habits for using the back. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relief medications can be used in combination to alleviate pain. Other treatment methods such as heat application, physical therapy, massage, or trigger point injections can also be adopted. Generally, these methods can effectively relieve symptoms. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 6sec home-news-image

Symptoms of lumbar muscle strain and fasciitis

First, it is a type of chronic pain without obvious causes, mainly characterized by soreness and swelling. The pain usually alleviates after rest but reappears if staying in one position for too long. Therefore, patients with myofascial inflammation caused by lumbar strain often feel restless. Second, there is usually a trigger point, typically located near or within a muscle, or at the junction between muscle and nerve. Pressing on the trigger point often results in radiating pain around it. Furthermore, the pain usually does not worsen but instead lessens over time, which is a key characteristic of myofascial inflammation. Third, the sacrospinalis muscle may become hardened or even spasm on one or both sides. Fourth, there is compensatory abnormal curvature of the spine, mainly presenting as protrusion or lateral curvature of the spine. Thus, the symptoms of myofascial inflammation from lumbar muscle strain usually include pain, specific pain points, surrounding muscle hardening, spasm, and compensatory spinal deformity.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
37sec home-news-image

Symptoms of lumbar muscle strain

Lumbar muscle strain refers to the condition where the muscles in the lower back are damaged due to chronic labor or sports activities, leading to excessive contraction of muscle fibers. This results in localized pain and limited mobility. The main symptoms include feeling soreness and pain during flexion and extension of the waist, and even feelings of weakness. The affected individual may not be able to carry heavy loads for long periods and, in severe cases, may not be able to stand upright and may require bed rest, accompanied by spasms in the lower back.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
49sec home-news-image

Lumbar muscle strain is which part?

Lumbar muscle strain, as the name suggests, refers to a group of symptoms of muscle pain in the lumbar region caused by strain. Typically, it occurs in the waist area, around where we usually wear a belt. Generally, the pain is located about 10 to 20 centimeters above the belt area and about 10 centimeters below it. The pain on either side of the lumbar spine in this area is called lumbar muscle strain, which is usually caused by strain in the muscles of the lumbar spine. If the pain is in the central part of the lumbar spine, this type of pain is generally due to inflammation of the supraspinous ligament or tendonitis. Sometimes, it is caused by a herniated lumbar disc, which may not be closely related to lumbar muscle strain. Therefore, we say that pain in the muscles on either side of the waist is called lumbar muscle strain.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 19sec home-news-image

How to assist in the examination of lumbar muscle strain?

How should lumbar muscle strain be assessed through auxiliary examinations? What auxiliary examinations are needed for lumbar muscle strain? Clinically, lumbar muscle strain is quite common; out of every ten people, at least two or three have it. The characteristic of these patients is that their symptoms are severe but their physical signs are mild. Therefore, when encountering such patients, a screening process is generally required, which involves a method of exclusion. After examination, an X-ray is usually taken first to check for obvious lumbar spondylolisthesis, the severity of bone hyperplasia, and any traumas, whether fresh or old, that might have caused vertebral fractures. Then, some people might need a CT scan, which aims to exclude lumbar disc herniation. Many patients do not have herniated discs, or only have slight bulging, but their symptoms are severe, making them restless. Generally, there is no need for an MRI, but some patients strongly request an MRI examination. After the MRI, sometimes high-density shadows can be seen in the muscles of the lower back, which might be caused by injuries within these muscles. Therefore, the auxiliary examinations for lumbar muscle strain are usually negative, with few positive findings, which is a characteristic of this condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
1min 36sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of lumbar muscle strain?

Lumbar muscle strain, also known as functional back pain, chronic lumbar injury, and lumbar-gluteal fasciitis, etc., is actually chronic inflammation of the lumbar muscles and their attachment points, such as the fascia or periosteum. It is one of the most common causes of back pain. The main symptoms include swelling and soreness in the lumbar and sacral regions, recurring pain, which is often related to the weather, such as feeling cold. Factors such as daytime fatigue can aggravate it, rest can alleviate it, and the intensity of pain can vary. Sometimes, it is severe and other times it is mild. For instance, some people feel stiff as a board in the morning upon waking up and are afraid to move; this is a typical manifestation. Physical examination can confirm the condition, and some diagnostic tests like lumbar disc CT or MRI can help differentiate if there is any lumbar disc herniation. Additionally, it is also important to distinguish from conditions like piriformis syndrome, which generally involves sciatica, and symptoms like numbness and pain in the lower limbs. Once diagnosed, the first step is strict bed rest, and appropriate blood-activating and pain-relieving medication can be administered. Local heat application, massage, and electrotherapy are some of the physical treatments available. It is advisable to avoid lifting or moving heavy objects routinely, as these activities can impose significant strain on the back and are not conducive to the recovery from back ailments.