Should I apply hot or cold compress for back pain

Although cold compress and hot compress are both methods that can promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis and relieve pain, the principles of cold compress and hot compress are different, because hot compress mainly uses the principle of heat flow, while cold compress mainly uses the principle of ice. Therefore, when the human body experiences different pain conditions, the two methods used are also different. Many people experience back pain, but when you have back pain, should you choose cold compress or hot compress?

Is heat useful for lower back pain?

It's useful, but it depends on the situation.

If the low back pain is caused by acute lumbar sprain or other initial severe pain, infection, inflammation symptoms, and muscle swelling after exercise, you should choose cold compress. The role of cold compress at this time is to paralyze the nerves to achieve analgesic effect and inhibit inflammation. At this time, using hot compress will have the opposite effect, which may aggravate the pain and be detrimental to recovery. Hot compress is very effective for muscle soreness, low back pain that has passed the acute stage, lumbar muscle strain, etc.

The difference between hot and cold compresses for low back pain

When cold compress cools the affected area, it causes local blood vessels to constrict, resulting in poor blood circulation and a reduction in blood flow to the muscle tissue. At this time, the cold compress will produce an anesthesia-like effect and exert an analgesic effect, and dissipate heat between muscle tissues to achieve the effect of inhibiting inflammation.

The effect of hot compress is opposite to that of cold compress. It can dilate blood vessels, accelerate blood circulation, and then soften muscle tissue to achieve a recovery effect.

In acute sprains, cold compress first and then heat compress

When you start to feel severe pain due to a sprained waist, you need to apply cold compresses to relieve the pain. When cold compress cools the affected area, it causes local blood vessels to constrict, resulting in poor blood circulation and a reduction in blood flow to the muscle tissue. At this time, the cold compress will produce an anesthesia-like effect and exert an analgesic effect, and dissipate heat between muscle tissues to achieve the effect of inhibiting inflammation. Therefore, when acute lumbar sprain and other initial severe pain occur, infection, inflammatory symptoms, and muscle swelling after exercise, cold compress is the most effective treatment method.

How long does it take for a cold or hot compress to work?

Although the skin changes temperature in response to external factors in a short period of time, the subfascial tissue takes some time to cool down. Therefore, the cold compress needs to be continued for more than 15 minutes to achieve the best effect. On the contrary, applying cold compress for too long will make the muscles stiff. Generally speaking, 10-20 minutes of cold compress time is most appropriate, so be careful not to use it for too long.

To achieve the best effect, hot compress should be applied for more than 15 minutes.

Low back pain caused by gynecological diseases

For sudden low back pain caused by inflammatory gynecological diseases in women, it is best to apply cold compress first. After the cold compress relieves the inflammation, hot compress can be used to accelerate blood circulation and achieve recovery.

Hot compress method

Hot water bottle method

First check whether the hot water bag is leaking, then fill the bag with hot water (preferably 60℃~70℃) to 2/3 of its capacity, expel the gas, tighten the bag opening, wipe off the water on the outside of the bag, put it in a cloth cover or wrap it in cloth for later use. If there is no hot water bottle, you can also use a thermos (wrapped in a towel) for hot compress, or you can use heated salt or rice in a cloth bag instead.

Moist heat

Compresses can be made of gauze or a towel. First soak the compress in a basin of hot water, take it out and wring it until half dry, use the palm of your wrist to test whether the temperature is appropriate (it must not be hot before applying to the affected area), and then cover the compress with a cotton pad to prevent heat loss.

Cold compress method

Ice pack method

Fill a rubber ice bag with half a bag of crushed ice or cold water, place the bag flat on the table to raise the bag opening, press the bag lightly with your hands to expel the gas inside the bag, then tie the bag opening tightly, wipe off the water on the surface, put on a cloth cover, and place it on the forehead, groin, armpits, etc.

Wet cold compress

Use a basin to hold cold water (ice cubes can be put in winter, and freshly drawn well water is best in summer), soak two small towels or gauze in the basin, take them out, wring them until half dry, and apply to the affected area.