Care Advice
Sore Muscle Pain Treatment
What You Should Know About Mild Chest Pain:
- Chest pains in children lasting for a few minutes are usually harmless. The pain can be caused by muscle cramps. They need no treatment.
- Chest pains that last longer can be from hard work or sports. The shoulders are usually involved. Sore muscles can start soon after the event.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Pain Medicine:
- To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
- Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
- Use as needed.
- Continue this until 24 hours have passed without pain.
Cold Pack for Pain:
- For the first 2 days, use a cold pack to help with the pain.
- You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
- Put it on the sore muscles for 20 minutes, then as needed.
- Caution: avoid frostbite.
Use Heat After 48 Hours:
- If pain lasts over 2 days, put heat on the sore muscle.
- Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
- Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed.
- Reason: increase blood flow and improve healing.
- Caution: avoid burns.
- A hot shower may also help.
Stretching the Muscles:
- Gentle stretching of the shoulders and chest wall may help.
- Do sets of 10 twice daily.
- This may prevent muscle cramps from coming back.
- Stretching can be continued even during the chest pain. Do not do any exercises that increase the pain.
What to Expect:
- For sore muscles, the pain most often peaks on day 2.
- It can last up to 6 or 7 days.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Pain lasts over 7 days on treatment
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Heartburn (Reflux) Pain Treatment
What You Should Know About Heartburn:
- Heartburn is common.
- It's due to stomach acid going up into the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube from the mouth to the stomach.
- Heartburn causes a burning pain behind the lower part of the breastbone. It also causes a sour (acid) taste in the mouth and belching.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Antacids:
- Heartburn is usually easily treated. Give a liquid antacid by mouth (such as Mylanta or the store brand). No prescription is needed.
- Dose: give 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 - 30 mL).
- If you don't have an antacid, use 2 to 3 ounces (60 - 90 mL) of milk.
- For heartburn that keeps coming back, give an antacid 1 hour before meals. Also, give a dose at bedtime. Do this for a few days.
Heartburn Prevention:
- Do not eat too much at meals. This overfills the stomach.
- Do not eat foods that make heartburn worse. Examples are chocolate, fatty foods, spicy foods, carbonated soda, and caffeine.
- Do not bend over during the 3 hours after meals.
- Do not wear tight clothing or belts around the waist.
What to Expect:
- Most often, heartburn goes away with treatment.
- But, heartburn also tends to come back. So, preventive measures are important.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Heartburn doesn't go away after 2 days of treatment
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.