My neck and shoulders are in knots from sleeping on them funny. WIll putting a heating pad on them help or hurt?
2006-12-26 04:24:09 · 10 answers · asked by Betrdz 6 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
You should alternate between heat and cold. Start with a cold pack to reduce inflammation and then switch to heat to relax the muscles. That's what the physical therapist did to me. Remember to only keep the cold pack and heat pad on the area for 30 mins or less to prevent damaging nerves or burning your skin.
2006-12-26 04:27:17 · answer #1 · answered by Sissy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pain is caused by inflamation. Think of your muscles as being red hot from this inflamation. To get rid of the heat, you need to use ice... not more heat. More heat upon the initial onset of the pain will only make it worse in the long run.
Use ice for the first couple of days. Do not keep it on for longer than 15 minutes or again, you could injure the tissue. Use the ice 3-4 times a day.
Once a few days has passed, you can use the heat. Alternate heat and ice.
I know you want to put the heat on it because it is comforting, but you are not doing your muscles any favors by doing it. Remember they are hot from inflamation. Remove the heat and inflamation, you remove the pain.
You also might want to take some sort of pain reliever - personally, I use aleve as it contains anti-inflammatory agents. But you can use whatever you like!
**** luck!
2006-12-26 04:41:10 · answer #2 · answered by DaBoomvang 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
10 minutes ice, 10 minutes heat. Every hour or so. The ice will dull the pain and the heat will soothe the muscle. This is what I did for my son when he had a neck ache a couple weeks back, after some stupid kid decided to twist his head when it was already bothering him. The next day he felt almost 100% better. Also take Advil, it's an anti-inflammatory.
2006-12-26 04:39:14 · answer #3 · answered by FaerieWhings 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When it comes to muscle spasm and increased muscle tone, a heating pad or moist heat is indicated. If you sprain a joint or have an injury which becomes inflammed, then use ice (the first two weeks). You can also try some topical rubs for your muscles, such as biofreeze, icy hot, ben gay, etc. One final note, try bugging someone for a massage if you can! :)
2006-12-26 04:28:31 · answer #4 · answered by cps 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hot shower real hot make you turn red hot long shower then cold shower all in one repeat this over and over and the muscle will tighten and relax and often this is enough to cure the condition.
naturally if your a person who is at risk of heart failure don't do this instead just heat pad with shirt on then still top on and ice .
shower is the best .
2006-12-26 04:28:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A heating pad will warm the muscles allowing freedom of movement.Also use a pain killer.
2006-12-26 06:57:30 · answer #6 · answered by spoutz1955 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I find heat to work best in these situations. Cold may make them tense up more.
You want to avoid heat (use cold instead) if there is swelling or inflammation. This doesn't sound like the case for you.
2006-12-26 04:32:42 · answer #7 · answered by True Dat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, it will help, if you have something like Bengay, you could use some, after using the heating pad
2006-12-26 04:27:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heat will help, and a good massage will help more.
Good luck!
2006-12-26 05:51:54 · answer #9 · answered by Tigger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
help them. also massage the areas that r bothering you.
2006-12-26 04:25:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋