Cold and heat therapies are two popular ways to treat back pain.
Which one should you use? When is the best time for each treatment?
This blog post will explore when to use cold and heat therapies for back pain, what each treatment does, and how long they take.
What is cold therapy?
Cold therapy is when you use ice or cold packs. It reduces pain, swelling, and muscle spasms.
Ice should not be placed directly on the skin without a towel in-between because it may burn your skin.
Cold therapy can relieve back pain by numbing the nerve endings in the muscles that are inflamed or in spasm.
Cold therapy is generally used for the first 48-72 hours after an acute injury.
What is heat therapy?
Heat therapy helps decrease muscle stiffness and spasms. It increases blood flow to the area which helps reduce pain, inflammation, and muscle tightness.
Heat can be applied by including hot packs in the treatment regimen, a hot bath or shower, heated whirlpool jets in a pool, heating pad on a low setting.
Heat therapy can be used after acute back pain to help muscles relax and increase blood flow to the area.
See How Do I Know If My Back Pain Is Serious?
When should you use cold and heat therapies?
Cold Therapy:
Use ice for acute back pain during the first 48-72 hours after the pain starts.
You can use ice for chronic back pain if it is associated with sciatica or a herniated disc.
If you have long-standing back pain, you should only use cold therapy as needed because it could worsen your condition by narrowing the blood vessels and increased the risk of damage to tissues.
Heat Therapy:
Use heat for chronic back pain. It will help relax your muscles, increase blood flow to the area, and decrease your perception of pain.
How long should you use cold or heat therapies?
You may use ice or cold packs for 15-20 minutes at a time for acute back pain every 2 hours.
For chronic back pain use cold packs for 15-20 minutes at a time, 4-6 times per day. Do not apply heat immediately after an ice treatment. Wait 20 minutes before applying heat.
You may use heating pads or hot water bottles for 15-20 minutes every 2 hours for acute pain related to sciatica or herniated discs. You can use heat every 2-3 hours if your chronic back pain is associated with sciatica or a herniated disc.
Apply heat for 30 minutes to achieve optimal results before starting an exercise routine, working on strengthening and stretching exercises, or performing any activities that you feel may cause more pain.
Do not apply heat if your skin is red, irritated, or has open wounds.
Remember, if you have a history of back pain or feel that it may be affecting your daily activities or sleep, contact your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
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