Injured Abdominal Muscle Recommendations?

[*LOACH*]

Hi,

I have had a look on some volleyball forums for some information but cant find anything so wondering if anyone here has any recommendations.

About a month ago I was practicing a change in technique involving swinging my arms back and then forwards when attacking in volleyball. I think I somehow managed to injure my left abdominal muscle and it got worse with every practice session. It also felt swollen. So I went and saw a GP and then an Orthopedic specialist and had a CT scan done which showed that the left abdominal was about twice the size of the right and the tone was different too. The Orthopedic specialist said it was probably blood in the muscle and that I needed to take 2 weeks off. I am in Japan and my Japanese is pretty average so communication isn't ideal. After the 2 weeks the swelling and pain subsided. Now I have gone back to playing volleyball the pain has returned and so has the swelling. I really like playing volleyball as I am surprisingly not too horrible at it. It also gives me a chance to practice Japanese and socialise (which is fairly important to my mental health as all my family and most of my friends are in Australia. Spending time with work colleagues is out the question as they work 14+ hour days 6/7 days a week). Therefore I would really appreciate any recommendations on:

1) how to heal the injured abdmonimal muscle.

2) any other sports anyone can recommend that I can do which wont affect that muscle (especially as I have 4 weeks of holidays left and am sick of looking a computer screen already).

Anyway thanks in advance for any suggestions anyone may have.

[The Bogan]

2 weeks of rest, if you've torn it, 3 months if its a hernia.

There is some good yoga for your abdo you can still do but avoid stretching to far or putting to much strain on it, also local massage can help.

[*LOACH*]

2 weeks of rest, if you've torn it, 3 months if its a hernia.

There is some good yoga for your abdo you can still do but avoid stretching to far or putting to much strain on it, also local massage can help.

Thanks for the reply.

What sort of massage? (please say "happy ending" massage - joke). Something I do myself or go to a practioner?

Yoga is really popular here but I didnt think of it - thanks.

Sorry I wasn't really clear. I have done the 2 weeks rest and by the end of it it felt fine but now that I have returned to playing its hurting and swelling again. If it was a hernia wouldn't the CT scan have picked it up?

[The Bogan]

It's up to the quak reading the scan, I went front one saying there may be a small one on the left, then after a month and with a new scan and doc I was booked into hospital for a bilingual hernia operation.

Happy endings are for the win, BUT, all I meant was doing it yourself, the massage that is not the happy ending.

[GTR-N1]

I can only suggest 2 things which are totally unrelated.

Beyond mlr's suggestion of yoga...

1) acupuncture via a sports acupuncturist and

2) taking "Willow Bark" herb

Willow Bark does 2 things...

I) as nature's aspirin it helps to keep the blood thin and reduce clots and/or

ii) act as an anti-inflammatory

[*LOACH*]

I can only suggest 2 things which are totally unrelated.

Beyond mlr's suggestion of yoga...

1) acupuncture via a sports acupuncturist and

2) taking "Willow Bark" herb

Willow Bark does 2 things...

I) as nature's aspirin it helps to keep the blood thin and reduce clots and/or

ii) act as an anti-inflammatory

Thanks guys, most appreciated. Is Willow bark a product name or do I just find the nearest Willow tree and start gnawing at the trunk? Doesn't sound particularly delicious but I am willing to give it a go if it has a chance of helping.

One of the people I practice volleyball with said it is possible to purchase a supporter which you wear around your mid section when doing sports with this injury. They said it is like a corset (which I imagine would do wonders for manboobs?!). Considering the success I have had with ankle and wrist supporters in the past I am definitely keen on this. Has anyone heard of them? Good idea or not?

Thanks again.

[GTR-N1]

I was wondering if a torso brace was available. A physiotherapist or maybe a chemist that stocks prosthetics would know. At least you could probably still play.

Willow bark is available from naturopaths in liquid or tablets (made by Mediherb).

[Melly]

You can get them, I have one for a lower back injury. You need to be really carful. Did they say if it is the left side of transverse abdominus or if it is internal or external obliques?? Depending which muscle it is also depends on what you can do.

[*LOACH*]

You can get them, I have one for a lower back injury. You need to be really carful. Did they say if it is the left side of transverse abdominus or if it is internal or external obliques?? Depending which muscle it is also depends on what you can do.

They didn't say or if they did I didn't understand the Japanese. On the CT it looked like it was the front of the stomach area (ie not far away from belly button on the left). Sorry I really don't know much about this stuff.

I bought a couple of elastic supporters, that are attached by Velcro strips. One of them looks of decent quality but is small and I think designed for back support (contoured so that it is wider at the back). The other one looks just like a bit of elastic with Velcro strips on it. I will give them a go on the weekend as I have a tournament on.

I am looking into where I can buy Willowbark too.

Have been trying massaging a bit as well.

Seems to be a lot better the last couple of days - not much swelling/pain - I just hope it stays that way after playing.

[Melly]

Hmmm almost sounds like the edge ot the rectus abdominus (abs) take it easy at the tournament!! Careful with yoga too, without knowing exactly what you did and which muscles its hard to say what movements it affects being the core muscles you really need to look after them as they hold everything in place and are your main stabilisers. Another idea is Google to work out where it was

[*LOACH*]

Thanks for the reply Melly, I took it easy and there was a bit of pain but I think it is slowly getting better (hopefully!!) The elastic supports seem to work well too.

Terry,

I also got some Willow Bark - imported from the USA as capsules. I have a few questions about its use though;

It says to use it twice a day with meals but is that continuosly for a certain amount of time or only when I feel pain/swelling? If it is for a certain amount of time how long?

Side effects?

I am on some long term antibacterial medicine and some Chinese medicine (some kind of powder which could be made from rats genetalia for all I know Are there any medication conflicts I need to be aware of?

If you arent comfortable giving that sort of specific information it is ok I can ask my doctor, using Japlish, hand gestures and a lot of frustration

Either way thanks heaps for your help with it.

Edited August 14, 2011 by *LOACH*

[GTR-N1]

Willow bark is just to be used whilst there's inflammation or pain > and then cease. It's safe for long term usage though.

Prescribed antibacterials by Dr can be followed up by a probiotic such as Inner Health Plus, or better still, Polybac 8 or Microdophilus. If they're long term, the chemist might have some probiotic that you take whilst still on the antibiotic. The probiotic replenishes the good friendly bacteria and prevent Candida fungal infections eg tinea etc

Chinese Medicines I wouldn't know about as they're prescribed and dispensed by a TCM practitioner. They stink - lol

[elrodeo666]

Loach whatever you do under no circumstances never ever, I repeat never ever have any surgery in Japan.

Doctors are knife happy and will cut you first chance they get.

I can tell you horror stories of botched operation after operation.

Mate just rest up hit a decent acupuncturist and maybe a bit of light work in the pool. Try get some Arnica, rub it in an wrap glad wrap around the injury before going to bed..Sounds crazy but helps speed up the recovery.

Your abs are used for core bracing and too easy to stress out an injury.

Rest and get back into training slowly..if it hurts then stop.

If it keeps hurting look at grabbing a cheap Jetstar ticket home for a quick holiday and visit to the quack.

[*LOACH*]

Thanks enormously to all of you, will do as much of the recommendations as possible and see what happens in the next few weeks.

Thanks again, I really appreciate the help especially considering the language barrier.