"It's only a strain." If you have ever suffered from a strained muscle and heard those words, they've probably made you cringe. Sure, you may not be dealing with a fractured bone or a torn tendon, but a muscle strain is still painful and it will still take a week or more to heal. Here are some ways to ease the pain and encourage healing so you can get back to your normal routine sooner.

1. Ice the area.

Icing the sore area helps alleviate inflammation, which in turn helps ease pain and encourage healing. Try holding an ice pack against the strained muscle for about 20 minutes at a time, three or four times per day. It's best to do this after you are active, not before, since you do not want to use the muscle when it is cold from being iced. Make sure you put a thin towel between the ice and your body so you do not damage the skin.

2. Rub CBD cream on it.

After you ice the sore area, rub some CBD cream on it. You can use either a lotion or oil that has been infused with CBD. There are even muscle pain formulas create specifically for this purpose. The CBD infused muscle relief cream can help ease inflammation, keep the muscle relaxed, and ease the pain signals the muscle is sending to your brain. CBD will not get you high and is legal to use as long as it is derived from a hemp plant.

3. Rest.

You don't have to sit in bed and do nothing for a week, but you should go easy on the strained area. Back off from any activities that require the use of the strained muscle. Don't go to the gym, play sports, or do anything else strenuous. Not only could this slow down healing, but it could also cause you to injure other areas as you compensate for the sore muscle.

4. Self-massage the area.

If you can reach the strained muscle, practice a little self-massage. This will help get the blood flowing to the area to speed up healing. Don't press hard. Use light, circular strokes, and gradually build up to medium pressure. You can even use a little CBD oil to help your hands slide more easily over the muscles, and to ease inflammation at the same time.

With the tips above, you will have an easier time recovering from a muscle strain.