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[jlo]

I know that people on here will be able to advise me in relation to this. I always get very confused as to the best thing to do.

 

As FB people may know, I have put my back out. I think that it was too much bending over when I was making up a set of Ikea drawers - compunded by falling onto my tail bone on Sunday morning!

 

Yesterday I picked up some of those heat pads from the chemist and they really do seem to make my back feel a bit better. However, the usual advice from my chiropractor is to put ice packs on.

 

Is there a general rule of thumb for when hot or cold is best on an injury?

[Egluntyne]

When I did my back in, I used ice, on the advice of a forumite (see below). It helped enormously. Both the ice and the advice.

 

I hope you can sort it out. Having a bad back is such a misery.

 

Just a word of advice, dont use heat on it, heat increases the inflammation and, whilst it feels comfortable and easing, will usually make it feel worse 2 hrs later!! Stick a cold pack on it, make sure it is wrapped up in a tea-towel to stop ice burns, and put over affected area of back for 5 mins every hour for a couple of days, then 5 - 10 mins 2 to 3 times a day. Ice helps to reduce swelling and aids healing (draws blood to the area).

 

Keep gently moving, but if you have to sit, do so for no longer than 20 mins, after which you should get up and have a shuffle about for 5 mins or so. Absolutely no high heels!! Ideally, if you are so wracked with pain, you should either be lying down or standing, sitting creates the highest pressure loading on the discs of the spine, thus will probably be painful.

 

Going to the loo... try bringing your knees up, or leaning frwards slightly... there will be a comfortable position. (Just a serious note here to everyone, if you find you are incontinent after getting an onset of back pain, you should go to the dr's as a matter of emergency)

 

And yes, echo the comments about seeing an osteopath. I would just like to point out that osteopathy is NOT all about manipulation, and in some circumstances, manipulation is contra-indicated.

[Seagazer]

My osteo always advises ice, hope your back improves soon.

[jlo]

Thanks The frozen peas have made an appearance! I am going to see my chiropractor this morning. I honestly don't know how people cope with chronic back pain. Three days of this and I am the grumpiest mare around!!

[Chickendoodle]

Might be worth getting a proper ice pack from the chiropractor - it will save you throwing away loads of bags of peas!

 

I keep mine in the freezer all the time. It is just a thin plastic covered bag (about the size of frozen peas but flat) but when it freezes it is still flexible so you can wrap it around the affected area (in a tea towel). It think it only cost a few pounds. Very useful for burns too

[WitchHazel]

If it's muscle pain, then the muscle needs cooling and so ice better.

 

The flat gel ice packs, which your chiro/osteopath can supply, are great. They are thin enough to live in the freezer without getting in the way.

 

Normal thing is to put it on for several minutes, then take it off for a few minutes, then put it on, take it off.

 

You can also buy some freezing gel made with Ilex (holly, I presume). I got this from my chiropracter.

[bluekarin]

from what I have been reading about a condition my ED has and using heat and ice is ........ heat rapidly reduces inflammation by pumping fresh blood into an area, then cold dispensate it. So you are literally opening and closing blood vessels and 'squeezing' the inflammation away. Apply heat pack for 5 mins then cold immediately after and repeat as often as you can. Start with 4 times to begin with, just in case). I usually prefer heat for a bad back as it feels nice Hope something helps you soon. My back is mostly fine, but boy do I know it when it goes.