Is it better to ice or heat a sore back?

Question

I woke up with a horrible backache (the middle of my back) I can barely do anything. I've tried taking Motrin and heating my back with a heating pad, but I'm still miserable :(

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Answer 1

It would be helpful if I knew what was srong with your back, but the same rules with ice and heat follow througout the body.

If you had an injury where you iced the ankle, the same injury on the back calls for ice.

USUALLY_if it is acute, inflammed, or that painful (espicially with swelling of any kind) you should ice only the first four days, then you can gradually start addind a little heat

Always ice for 20 min.

Good luck

Answer 2

It depends on what exactly the problem is. Ice helps to reduce swelling and inflammation, heat helps to relax tense muscles. If the pain is more of an ache it's probably a muscle issue, if it's a sharp pain you may have a pinched nerve in which case a trip to a good chiropractor may be in order. For muscle issues (I've had more sprains than I can count) Icy Hot helps me, but I've found different versions of Icy Hot work better than others - the balm that comes in a little plastic jar and the stick (it' looks like a stick of deodorant) work a lot better than the creams or gels.  

Answer 3

ice helps with the swelling and heat is for easing the muscles. usually drs will have you rotate the 2 every 20 minutes. i know back pain hurts. try a hot bath or shower if you have the shower head with the massage on it have it hit your back for awhile. i also buy the patches you can put on where the pain is. just dont use a heating pad after you have applied any type of medicine/cream on your back until you have showered well. good luck i hope you feel better

Answer 4

yes,  I look at it from a spiritual approach. Who do you want to get off your back?............You are feeling hurt about something that may be in the past & you don't feel supported. So think of what happened to bring this up. Or if you have carried something (repressed it) for a long time this might be coming up as an opportunity to heal.

Answer 5

I like how motrin works. I cant say anything about the heat or ice packs. DON'T GET ICYHOT!! those things smell good but honestly it doesn't do anything.