Heat for Injuries By increasing the temperature and improving circulation, heat can relax injured muscles, heal damaged tissues and improve flexibility. Not only can heat calm pain flare-ups, but it is an excellent way to soothe muscle tension, stiffness and even chronic back pain.
If you have back pain from muscle soreness or a strain, cold therapy can help during the first 2 days. But cold can slow down recovery over the long term. Switch to heat after the first couple of days of back pain. Gentle heat can help with pain and movement.
A pulled muscle should first be treated using the R.I.C.E. method. During the first 72 hours, heat should be avoided to prevent increased swelling and inflammation. After about 72 hours, heat can be incorporated into treatment to increase blood flow and aid the overall healing process.
If you have pulled a muscle or strained a muscle in your lower back, heat is not recommended. Heating the already inflamed tissue could cause tissue damage and may make the pain worse. In cases like these, ice is a better option for relieving back pain.
Arthritis. A study shows that nearly 5% older people with osteoarthritis reported hot weather influences their joint pain. People with inflammatory arthritis experience pain when the temperature changes and humidity increases because it affects the way joint tissue expands and contracts, therefore triggering pain.
Signs of pulled back muscle are that the pain is usually dull and aching. You'll find it feels like it is in the back and often gets work if you don't rest that area. With a slipped disc, the pain is much sharper. It can even feel like it's radiating through the back, into the shoulders or surrounding areas.
Do not do activities that involve heavy lifting or twisting of your back for the first 6 weeks after the pain begins. Do not exercise in the days right after the pain begins. After 2 to 3 weeks, slowly begin to exercise again. A physical therapist can teach you which exercises are right for you.
"Not surprisingly, the pressure is lowest when you're lying down." But there is more pressure on the discs when you're sitting than when you're standing. "In fact, if I come into the exam room and a patient is standing, rather than sitting, my suspicion that the person has a disc herniation goes up a lot," he says.
Check if it's a slipped disc
lower back pain. numbness or tingling in your shoulders, back, arms, hands, legs or feet. neck pain. problems bending or straightening your back.
It's important to note that you should never massage a strained muscle that hasn't been given 72 hours to rest. Massaging a freshly-strained muscle can actually increase inflammation and even cause further injury, so be sure to wait at least three days before attempting any massage therapy.
In general, heat therapy can be applied for 15-20 minutes at a time. It is essential to allow the skin to cool down between heat therapy sessions. You can repeat heat therapy several times a day, with breaks of at least one hour in between applications.
“Heat actually has the opposite effect of ice,” Dr. Behr says. “It causes small blood vessels to open which can stimulate inflammation rather than relieve it.” Heat treatments should be used for chronic conditions to help relax and loosen tissues and stimulate blood flow to the area.
It's important to avoid applying heat to acute injuries with symptoms of inflammation. The reason for this is that heat raises your skin temperature and increases your circulation. You can safely use a heat pack on your skin for approximately 15 minutes.
Do wait three days to a week after the injury, depending on severity and symptoms, to begin stretching. Using pain as a guide; if you feel sharp pain in the injured area, it means it is too early to start stretching. Do wait until the inflammation mostly goes away before the first stretch.
Lower back pain when standing or walking may be due to muscle fatigue or injury. It may also be due to conditions such as spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, hyperlordosis, and sciatica. Lower back pain is common and may occur due to many factors.
Sleeping on Your Back
By lying flat on your back, the spine is naturally aligned, reducing stress on the back muscles and discs. This neutral position helps distribute body weight evenly and maintain proper alignment of the spine, preventing any specific area from bearing excessive pressure.
A thrown out back is a common occurrence that requires avoiding walking as much as possible and resting as the best way to manage pain and prevent further injury for at least a couple of days or until the symptoms improve.
What can I use Icy Hot Patches for? Icy Hot Patches relieve pain from arthritis, backaches, muscle strains, sprains, bruises, and sore muscles and joints. Icy Hot Patches can be used on arms, legs, neck, and back for upper and lower back pain relief.
The lower back is most commonly affected by herniated discs. Some common symptoms of a herniated or slipped disc include: Pain that occurs on one side of the body. Sharp pain in one part of the leg, hip, or buttocks and numbness in other parts.
While lower back pain just above the buttocks can be a hassle to deal with, something as simple as a muscle strain or common conditions like sciatica or muscle spasms can cause it. Less vigorous activity and basic home care can reduce the pain from these conditions.
Organ-related back pain also tends to be achy and generalized, while muscular pain is typically sharp and more specific.