Is Ice Good For Nerve Pain

Is Ice Good For Nerve Pain

Is Ice Good For Nerve Pain

Precautions Using A Heat Application

Sciatica – Does Applying ICE Help Relieve The Pain?

You should ensure the following precautions when using heat therapy:

• Dont exceed 20 minutes when using the heat application.
• Ensure to set a warm temperature with each type of heat therapy application to avoid skin burns.
• Avoid using heat therapy when there is inflammation of the lower back or pelvic regions.
• Engage insulation between the skin and the heat source to prevent skin burns.
• You should verify the best heat type before going into the therapys elaborate application.

What Is The Best Home Remedy For Nerve Pain

There are a number of home remedies to help reduce symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

Exercise Exercising regularly can help reduce neuropathy pain, improve muscle strength and help control your blood sugar levels.

Avoid smoking Smoking can affect circulation and increase the risk of foot problems. Smoking can also cause other neuropathy complications. Abstaining from smoking can help prevent neuropathy and also reduce neuropathic pain.

Good feet hygiene Taking care of your feet is important, especially if you have diabetes. Always ensure that your feet are clean. Check your feet daily for blisters, cuts or calluses. Wear comfortable, soft, loose cotton socks and padded shoes.

Avoid excessive intake of alcohol Excessive intake of alcohol can worsen peripheral neuropathy. Avoid or reduce your intake of alcohol.

Eat healthy meals Essential vitamins and minerals are important for the prevention of neuropathy. Eating nutritious foods that contains essential vitamins and minerals such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein can help reduce nerve pain.

Monitor your blood sugar levels Monitoring your blood sugar levels, especially if you have diabetes can help improve your neuropathy.

Hot Vs Cold For Pain: Whats The Difference

While both temperatures can soothe pain, they do so in different ways. Heat increases blood flow, nutrients, and oxygen to the affected area and, therefore, works to relax tight muscles. Cold lessens pain by reducing inflammation, muscle spasms, and circulation. While reducing circulation sounds bad, its actually a good thing because less circulation means your blood vessels shrink, which then lessens swelling and bleeding.

Lets explore the different kinds of pain and how each respond when heat or cold is introduced:;;

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If You Answered With Pain In The Back

You might want to try alternating between heat and ice on the lower back if your main sciatica symptom is back pain.

If you applied ice alone to your lower back, you might get some effective pain relief, but I found that my clients complained of worsening stiffness when they treat their back with just ice. For this reason, I would suggest you try for the best of both worlds and get the pain relieving effects of ice AND the mobility improvements that heat bring.

The other advantage of trying both is that you will get the chance to feel which one works best for YOU. As everyone is different, its important to take note of how you feel after each treatment.

To use this method:

• Take a bag of frozen peas from the freezer
• Wrap a thin towel around them
• Dampen the towel slightly, then apply to the painful area for 15 minutes
• Remove the peas/towel
• Take a hot water bottle
• Apply it immediately to your lower back, where the ice was earlier
• Keep it there for 15 minutes, then remove
• Go back to the peas/ice and repeat the process as many times as you need
• Always look out for any signs of ice or heat burn on your skin and remove immediately if you see or feel anything.

When Is The Best Time To Apply Ice

In the case of Plantar Fasciitis, it is recommended that you ice twice a day. However, it is not recommended that you apply ice first thing in the morning. One of the hallmark symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis is morning heel pain pain that occurs when you first get out of bed in the morning. Your feet need a chance to warm up upon arising, so its generally best to apply ice later in the day.

Good times might include your lunch break and another session in the evening. While morning heel pain typically resolves after youve had a chance to walk around a bit, the pain frequently returns as the day progresses and the plantar fascia ligament bears the weight of your activity. You may experience a great deal of discomfort by days end, and this is a great time to utilize ice for its anti-inflammatory and numbing effects.

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Debate About Ice Heat & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you have this condition then you already know the mainwarning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. These are pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in your hand or fingers. However, your little finger is fine.;

Another main feature;about carpal tunnel syndrome;is in the beginning, symptoms come and go. But as it progresses, they will persist throughout most of the day or night.;

To get relief, youve probably heard a lot about home remedies like ice or heat. Maybe you tried one. Actually, most people have triedboth– by alternating between hot and cold water .

I think half of patients tell me they like heat, while the other half say they like cold.

In reality, neither are actual treatments. Ice just temporarily relieves pain, like a numbing agent. Medicines such as Advil and Tylenol do the same thing. However, none of these get rid of the actual source of the problem.

Alternatively, heat is well-known to attack the actual cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. That cause istendon inflammationdeep inside your wrist joint. It produces fluid buildup which in turn exerts pressure on the median nerve. This is when themost common carpal tunnel symptomsbegin to show up.;

Therefore, using heat will not temporarily relieve pain like ice does. However, heat will helphealthe inflamed tissues with prolonged application.;

How Icing Injuries Works

When an injury occurs, the blood and fluids rush to the injury site. This is an important part of the healing process, but it can be accompanied by significant pain. With moderate use of ice, blood vessels can be temporarily constricted to slow down the flow and prevent the leakage of blood.

At the same time, the cold has a numbing effect on the tissues, reducing nerve sensations of pain. Be careful not to;over-ice an injury this can lead to tissue damage but appropriate use can minimize discomfort on a temporary basis.

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Causes Of Pinched Nerves

A pinched nerve typically happens when a nerve is damaged and cannot send regular signals to the brain, which may cause feelings of numbness and tingling.

A pinched nerve can happen for a range of reasons. A herniated disc or bone spurs that are compressing the nerve may cause it. It may also be caused by arthritis in the area.

Also, certain activities and habits can cause a pinched nerve. Sitting, standing, or walking with poor posture may contribute to a pinched nerve.

Injuries from sports or repetitive actions may compress a nerve. Extra pressure and weight caused by obesity may also lead to pinched nerves.

Types Of Pain: Nociceptive Vs Neuropathic

What’s Better For Pain? Heat or Ice? – Dr Mandell

• Nociceptive ;pain;comes from damaged tissues outside the nervous system, such as muscles and joints. People say the pain feels aching and throbbing.
• Neuropathic ;pain;comes from the nerves that transmit pain signals from the body to the brain. People describe the pain as burning, stinging, or shooting. It may radiate from one area of the body to another. It may be accompanied by numbness and tingling.

Image: Thinkstock

Doctors usually try one type or the other , although they can be combined. They are taken daily in addition to conventional pain relievers.

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Ice Your Back Immediately After Exercise To Reduce Muscle Soreness

Muscle soreness and back pain can occur from extensive workouts, trying a new type of work out, or even from excessive walking. Soreness from these activities may start on the first day but typically continues to peak until the third day.4 This phenomenon is called delayed onset muscle soreness and can cause significant inflammation and pain in your back.

When you have back pain from exercise or exertion, use cold therapy immediately after the activity to reduce tissue damage, inflammation, and pain. After a 24-hour period, use heat therapy to encourage tissue healing.4

Types Of Warm Packs Or Pads

Warm towel

• Dampen a towel with warm water.

• Put on the affected area to ease muscle spasm.

• Heating pad

  Be sure to protect any type of heating pad device from coming in directcontact with the skin. Precautions should be taken to avoid burns,especially if you have nerve damage, such as from diabetes or other healthproblems.

  When muscles work, chemical byproducts are made that need to be eliminated.When exercise is very intense, there may not be enough blood flow toeliminate all the chemicals. It is the buildup of chemicals that cause muscle ache. Because the blood supply helpseliminate these chemicals, use heat to help sore muscles after exercise.

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  When To See A Doctor

  A pinched nerve is sending warning signs to the brain, so it is important that people listen to them. Anyone feeling pain from a pinched nerve that continues after regular treatments or lasts for more than a few days should report it to a doctor.

  There are a few symptoms that require medical attention as soon as possible, including:

  • a pinched nerve affecting the bladder
  • an inability to grip objects or a tendency to drop things
  • nerve damage that causes a limb or area of the body to give out or collapse

  Doctors may request imaging tests, such as a magnetic resonance imaging or a computerized axial tomography scan, to get a better picture of the nerves and how they are affected. This will help narrow down treatment options, which include painkillers or corticosteroids, physical therapy, or, in severe cases, surgery.

  Surgical treatment comes with its risks and complications, so anyone considering surgery should work directly with their doctor to find a treatment plan that is right for their personal needs.

  It Comes Down To Increasing Red Blood Cells

  

  The reason its important to understand what Neuropathy is boils down to knowing how to properly treat the condition. As mentioned earlier, many of the symptoms you are feeling are from dead nerve endings or dying nerves. With nerve endings that are dying, but for the most part still alive, you can revive them.

  This is why heat is especially important. When you apply heat to an area on your body, you are opening up blood vessels so they become wider. With a wider diameter blood vessel, the blood cells can run through them more freely, bringing increased blood to the affected area.

  Once the blood arrives at these dying nerve endings, a sudden gush of extra oxygen and nutrients arrive. As we all know, we need oxygen to survive. So bringing a reinforcement of oxygen and the bodies natural healing nutrients, you are able to stimulate life in the dying nerve endings.

  So the nerve endings can begin to regrow and bring back feeling to that localized area of the body. Of course this is not a instant miracle cure. It takes time to heal these nerve endings. Which is why its a good option for you to apply heat treatment from home as a added boost in oxygen and nutrients for these poor little nerve endings. Practice heat treatment on your hands or feet on a daily basis. After a few days or a week, you may start to notice results. Generally, you should limit the amount of time you apply heat treatment to 20 minutes per session.

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  When Your Sciatica Warrants A Visit To Your Doctor

  Its important to recognize when at-home therapies arent easing your sciatica. If these treatments dont help you, it may be time to see your personal doctor or spine specialist.

  People avoid the doctor for a variety of reasons. Maybe youre unsure about how to use your health insurance or you dont have any. Or perhaps you simply dont like visiting the doctor and prefer an ignorance-is-bliss approach.

  Whatever the reason, some sciatica symptoms truly warrant medical attention. In rare cases, delaying medical care could lead to or cause permanent nerve damage.

  If you experience any of the following, please see your doctor as soon as possible:

  • You have severe pain in your low back and legs
  • You experience nerve-related symptoms, such as weakness, numbness, tingling, or electric shock-like pain
  • Your pain doesnt improve after 2 weeks
  • Your pain gets worse, even when using at-home therapies
  • You have loss of bowel and/or bladder control

  Easing the extreme pain of sciatica doesnt always require an extreme treatment approach. Relieving sciatic nerve pain at home with gentle exercise, ice and heat therapy, proper posture, and medication may go along way to speed your recovery. But the most important thing you can do for your low back and leg pain is to take it seriouslyalways call your doctor if you arent experiencing relief.

  Know When To Use Heat Or Ice For Your Pain

  Injuries typically call for temperature therapy in their treatment regimens, but whether to use heat or ice is often a confusing question. Temperature therapy is low cost, simple, comforting, and essentially can be performed anywhere, making it an excellent complementary treatment to other medicines or alternative therapies. So, how does one make the determination as to use heat treatment versus cold treatment? In general, cold therapy should be used for acute injuries that result in swelling and inflammation.

  When to Use Cold Therapy

  Cold therapy is the simplest and most common treatment option, which can often be performed with items already in your freezer. Treatments include ice packs , frozen gel packs, ice baths, or commercially available coolant sprays. More intense and less common cold therapy options include whole-body cold therapy chambers, cryostretching, and cryokinetics. All of the aforementioned treatments work via a reduction of blood flow to the region being iced, or treated. This can aid in significantly reducing the swelling and inflammation that can contribute to pain, specifically around regions with tendons and joints. In addition, cold therapy can also reduce nerve activity for the short term which also aids in pain reduction. Cold therapy should not be used on stiff joints and muscles or if you have poor circulation.

  When to Use Heat Therapy

  As always, talk to your doctor or pain specialist to determine what treatment regimen is best for you.

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  When To Not Use Heat Or Cold For Your Lower Back

  There are some conditions and situations that should not be treated with heat or cold therapy. For example:

  • These therapies must not be used on open wounds, bleeds, or when there is any fluid oozing out of the painful region.
  • If you have certain chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, poor circulation, spinal cord injuries, diabetes mellitus, and/or rheumatoid arthritis, it is advised to avoid heat therapy. Heat in these conditions may cause excessive burns, skin ulceration, and/or increased inflammation.1

  It is also advisable to avoid laying directly on the heat source due to the risk of burns, skin damage, or permanent changes in skin color. A protective barrier such as a cloth or towel may be used between your skin and the source of heat.

  In general, many people feel heat therapy works better to relieve their lower back pain compared to cold. Also, taking oral pain-relieving drugs while using these therapies may have an added effect on the overall pain relief.2

  When Not To Use Ice

  Should I use Ice, Heat or Both for Sciatica Pain? | Hot vs Cold Therapy for Sciatica Pain

  Ice is generally a bad choice for stiffness and old muscle aches because it has the opposite effect of heatit can make muscles tense up.

  People with certain chronic conditions should be cautious about using ice. These include:

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Myofascial pain syndrome

  Ice increases pain for some people with these conditions.

  Additionally, fibromyalgia can include problems with body-temperature regulation, which can make it difficult to warm up after being exposed to cold. Ice may also be too intense for the sensitized nervous system.

  In the end, though, use what works for you.

  • Chronic pain

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  Heat Is Best But Carpal Tunnel Treatment Needs More

  The debate over a heating pad or ice bath for carpal tunnel will undoubtedly go on. Ice feels good and relieves pain temporarily while heat doesn’t always provide immediate relief.But only heat can fix the bigger problem.;

  If you have carpal tunnel syndrome you needstrong therapyto attack the problem at the root. That’s especially important if you have severe symptoms.;

  The underlying is problemtendon inflammation. Surgery can be one answer to reduce that inflammation. But surgery is only a temporary fix that normallylasts 1-3 years.;After that, symptoms return in about 50% of patients.

  A better answer ismyofascial release massageon the wrist area. It reduces inflammation because it breaks up the adhesions on the tendons which cause irritation. Also, massage drains excess fluid to relieve pressure on the median nerve.;

  There are amazing benefits ofmassage for carpal tunnel. But you need it expertly performed by a therapist or by a partner who’s willing tolearn the technique. In addition, you need it every day for at least 4 weeks for maximum benefit.

  What Is Heat Therapy

  The best way to remember what heat therapy does is to recognize its purpose is to soothe the pain in a particular area or region of the body. Heat therapy works by increasing the temperature around an area of your body that is hurting such as a muscle. When your bodys temperature rises, it improves blood flow and circulation, so when you increase the temperature in a specific area of the body, its going to increase the circulation in that particular area. When you have pain coming from one specific muscle or set of muscles increasing circulation helps to relax the muscle, ultimately easing pain and discomfort. Since it improves blood flow and circulation, it can be an effective way to heal damaged tissues, as well.

  At this point, its important to mention one major thing: when we say heat therapy, were not talking about putting anything really hot against your skin. Were talking a steady, warm heat. Anything that is going to burn you or cause even greater pain or discomfort is just too hot and should never be used for heat therapy.

  Heat therapy can either be administered through dry heat or moist heat, but;one isnt necessarily better than the other. It comes down to your preference try both to see which one brings you the most relief. Dry heat is the kind of heat youll get from heating pads, hot water bottles, heat patches and wraps;or saunas. On the other hand, moist heat is the kind of heat youd obtain through a hot bath or a steam towel.

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