I took it for more than ten years. It's a general relaxant for the musculoskeletal system. There are other muscle relaxants, some can work on specific kinds of tissue, like say veins, or heart muscle. I've been to about 30 doctors over the years for back pain. Feel free to pm me if you have other questions.
Now, about soma. It is generally not recommended to be used for periods longer than something like three or four weeks, because many people develop a tolerance to it quickly, and apparently a lot of people like to abuse it. I, on the other hand, after taking it for more than 10 years, never really developed a tolerance to it.
Everyone reacts to medication differently, but I have found that it is excellent to treat acute muscle strain, in conjunction with anti-inflammatories, heat and/or cold packs - whatever relieves the pain at the time, 10 minutes per hour, and gentle flexion of the joints to maintain mobility and facilitate circulation. Bath salts with magnesium chloride and lithium chloride (like brand name Batherapy) can work amazingly well. Heck, even table salt, or epson salts are helpful, in a warm bath, to relieve pain.
I have also an apprenticeship in herbal medicine, and have also used the herb valerian root, as a muscle relaxant, sedative, and sleep aid. Frankly, the valerian root put me down for the count. I also have a few other herbal tricks, but I won't elaborate unless asked.
No, it's not medical mj.
My advice, pay close attention to how it affects your motor skills. I took it at night, and when I first started taking it, it definitely affected my motor skills all the the next day.
SOMA alone is not enough to break the cycle of inflammation and muscle spasm. I like to get ultra-sound for a new and acute injury, plus I up my intake of Vit A, C, E high quality protein, like red meat and anti-oxidants after a soft tissue injury. And don't forget to drink enough water! Bodily systems simply do not function efficiently without enough water.
When the initial swelling from capillary bleeding stops, moist heat is excellent, because it reduces pain, increases circulation to assist the healing process and get of tissue damaging histamines, and it also increases the level of oxygen in the blood, which tissues need for the rebuilding process.
P.S. massage can be good, too, once the swelling has stopped - if you like it. Me - I really dig being rolfed - it hurts so good! LOL Just got to be careful that whatever tissue is damaged is not damaged further.
HTH
I took it for back muscle issues and it worked pretty well.. (Almost always made me sleepy however)
