Ice Pack or Heat Pack?

Question

What's the difference in using an Ice Pack or Heat Pack?

When is it more efficient to use one of them?

I have lower back pain, so which one to use?

Answer 1

Ice pack are usually best to keep swelling down, reduce inflammation, helps w/itching and bruising.

Heat packs good to soothe aching, sore, tight areas. My dad has lower back problems, and heat packs work best for him.

I'd try them both to see what works best for you, but I'm guessing that heat will loosen up the tension in your back best.

Answer 2

Heat makes the blood vessels dilate (enlarge) so more blood is engorged to the area, If you apply heat to a sore muscle, especially if it is in shoulder or upper leg, it may cause it to throb more painfully because of this extra blood flow. Ice, on the other hand, constricts blood vessels; initial reason pain is alleviated is because less blood is flowing through sore area. Secondly, if left on long enough, ice will deaden the pain receptors that are telling your brain you hurt. If there is swelling, ice is definitely the treatment of choice for the above reasons. By alternating the two treatments for 10-15 minutes each, you can trick your brain into thinking all is well. Ibuprofen should also help with pain as it actually reduces inflammation. As with any pain, if it lasts and you don't know what it is from, please consult your doctor. Good luck and God bless

Answer 3

Hi! :)

When there is inflammation or obvious swelling, it would be necessary to use an ice or cold pack to apply to the affected area. This would bring down the swelling by contracting your blood vessels.

A heat pack is used to encourage better blood circulation or to take away immediate pain, for example, in a menstrual cramp. This is because the brain registers heat before pain.

Is your lower back pain due to a strain? If it is, I would advice a cold pack. If it is due to aching muscles, you might want to use a heat pack. What happens when you use a cold pack is this: your blood vessel contract and when you remove the pack, they expand rapidly due to the sudden increase in temperature. So the blood will rush to the affected area, bringing healing agents that would speed up recovery.

Good luck and take care! :)

Answer 4

You need to know first if the pain is comming from swelling or a missalingment in the vertibra,if swelling is present use Ice if that is not helping 20 min. of alternating ice then followed by heat. If swelling is present then you do NOT want to add to it with the heat.You may need strengthing exersises also. I am a very good source,going through the same,just having x rays and seeing the degenrating condition causing the discs to almost be flattened which causes the pain so I am also doing the strengthing exersises

Answer 5

Ice pack to dull the pain, heat pack to make it go away.

Answer 6

The rule is ice for the first 24 hours then heat the second. Ice helps to relieve swelling...heat should ease pain...

Answer 7

the differance betwen ice and heat the ice numbs the painn and brings the swelling down never put heat on your lower back if you have pain an spamsem. it will not do it any good my self.

Answer 8

I'm a nurse. it really depends on which one you feel comfortable using. Like I use heat because I don't like being cold. And Others use cold because it has a numbing effect. Either will work but try each and see which one makes your back feel the best. Take care and all the best.

Answer 9

use a heat pack for tired and sore muscles, and use a cold pack for sprained or torn or damaged and inflamed injuries to bring down the swelling.

Answer 10

heat my husband has a very bad back he has l4 and l5 herniated disc he uses the heat he gets in tanning bed when it really acts up and it helps alot the tanning bed is a great thing for bad backs my hubbie couldent stand up strait but got in tanning bed before he went to bed that evening and got up the next morning and could stand strait up he says heat