Muscle injuries occur when we overuse or strain our bodies. Anyone who had experienced muscle problems will tell you that they are extremely painful and can be disruptive to everything you do. There are numerous types of muscle injuries since our bodies are mostly composed of hundreds of them. Usually, athletes are the most prone to muscle injuries because of their rigid training, heavy work outs and other activities that needs maximum physical strength. Muscle injuries must be looked up to immediately so as not to re-injure the area of the severed muscle over and over. The more you use the injured muscles, the more that you will harm yourself and it will prolong the healing time and ultimately you risk permanent damage.The most difficult part of dealing with muscle injuries is to assess the severity of the injury. And with such circumstances, physicians may prescribed muscle relaxants.
Muscle relaxants are drugs to relieve the discomfort of muscle injury or involuntary muscle contractions. They reduce stiffness and help relieve pain and soreness associated with strains, sprains or other types of muscle injury. These drugs do not act directly on the muscles, but they act centrally in the brain and are more of a total body relaxant.
Muscle relaxants are not really a class of drugs, but rather a group of different drugs that each has an overall sedative effect on the body. They come in tablet form and it needs prescription from the doctor.
The most common muscle relaxers currently available in the market are Carisoprodol (Soma), Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), and Metaxalone (Skelaxin),
Soma is a muscle relaxant used to relieve the pain and stiffness of muscle spasms and discomfort due to strain. Carisoprodol works by blocking pain sensations that are sent to the brain.
Flexeril is another muscle relaxer used to treat muscle spasms and musculoskelatal pain. Cyclobenzaprine is also a drug treatment option for fibromyalgia symptoms.
Another popular muscle relaxant is Skelaxin (metaxalone) but it should be combined with rest, physical therapy, and other measures for the relief of discomforts associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions.
These muscle relaxants that were mentioned above are effective in relieving pain but just like any other drugs, side effects might also occur. Some muscle relaxants might cause dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, constipation or blurred vision. Medical experts advised that it should not be taken by patients with urinary retention or glaucoma. It is also important to avoid alcohol when taking these drugs. As it may also cause blurred vision, patients that are under these medications are refrain from driving a vehicle or from operating a machine. More precautions are needed if you are pregnant or breast feeding, your baby might experience drowsiness and upset stomach. If you feel that you are having reactions with these medications, it is always imperative to see your physician.
Almost all of us use muscles in our everyday existence, but let us not overdo things that will cause us pain or injury. If you are into a health program, ask the experts what is right for you. If you are an athlete or go to the gym regularly. it is necessary to do warms ups or stretching first before flexing those muscles. Muscle relaxants might be an easy access if you suffer from a muscle injury, but too much dependency on these pain relievers can be addictive. You might want to go back to your active self once you have taken these kinds of pain relievers, but try to stop, relax a bit as you might severe the injury and you might not able to flex those muscles again.
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