Ice or heat? While some say ice is better for your pain, others claim that heat will do the trick. But, how can you tell which is more appropriate for the type of injury you’ve sustained or pain you are feeling?
Natural pain relief is best.When applied correctly, ice and heat offer you natural and effective pain relief. The other benefit is, when you apply an ice or heat pack to an area, you are placing it precisely on the affected area. Pain medication, on the other hand, has to be swallowed, digested and assimilated, affecting your entire body. Therefore, medication can leave a trail of potential side-effects. Remember, it is always better to act as Mother Nature intended.
With an acute or new injury, ice is very effective for relieving pain and reducing inflammation. Ice is also best when a nerve is involved (such as a “pinched” nerve or sciatica). If you want to numb pain fast and most effectively, invest in a gel pack and have it frozen and ready inside your freezer.
Heat is best used for stiffness of joints, to relieve muscle spasm and for chronic pain, such as chronic neck or back pain. It helps increase blood flow during the repair stage of an injury. Greater blood flow means more oxygen and nutrients to your cells along with the removal of waste materials. Remember to always use a barrier between the heat and your skin, such as a cloth or towel to prevent burns.
There also exist certain conditions where alternating heat and ice is best. This type of therapy is best discussed with a health care professional, such as a chiropractor.
A quick caution note: If heat is inappropriately utilized during the inflammatory phase of healing, an increase in blood flow to the already swollen, injured area often results in an increase of pain. As long as pain is present, ice is usually safer and more effective.
Our expert team has been providing our community amazing healthcare for years, and we look forward to helping you and your family become the healthiest they can be for years to come.
If you have any questions, call or come in to see us! McCormick Chiropractic has locations at 83 West Main Street, Elverson (610-286-7000) and 92 Kemp Road, Pottstown (610-705-0201).
