Heat or ice for lower back pain that the doctor said was muscle spasms? for Questionland Seattle

Reputation: 276

Heat or ice for lower back pain that the doctor said was muscle spasms?

I have lower back spasms that my doctor prescribed flexior and a pain killer for. I am at home and the drugs are kicking in but should I apply heat or cold to the affected area?

The Doctor asked in Aches, Pains & Illness 9 months ago | Report

Answer this question or share it with a smart friend:

Type your answer here…

Latest Greatest

6 Answers

Reputation: 2421

Follow 5

2 0

lt depends entirely on when the spasms began. For acute injuries, cold ONLY for the first 48 hours. Otherwise, any inflammation you already have will be exacerbated by the heat, and will prolong the healing process. After this time period, alternate heat and cold. lf the injury is chronic, use heat.

Also, if you have the money, consider checking out a massage school and sign up; they are trained in how to deal with muscle spasms in particular, and can help prevent them for returning. The massages are discounted since students have particular stages of their education they're practicing, but they'll address your issue in the process, and this will improve both circulation and healing.

freikja answered in Aches, Pains & Illness 9 months ago | Report

1 comment by freikja…

Share this answer with a friend:

Reputation: 539

Follow 0

1 0

I've had alot of back problems and sprained muscles. I have always been told by various drs to ice 20 min heat 20 min. What they explained is one causes the muscles and blood flow to contract the other to inflame so by switching back and forth you're loosening and tightening the area which causes more blood to be pushed through the area so it helps the healing and your comfort. Do make sure it's not a straight ice pack because you can burn yourself ( especially if the meds make you fall asleep and you go over that 20 min cycle. Not pretty I promise). Another thing you might wanna try is throwing some Epsom salts in a bath and soaking for your heat instead of always using a heating pad

sublevelthree answered in Aches, Pains & Illness 9 months ago | Report

Comment on this answer

Share this answer with a friend:

Reputation: 650

Follow 0

0 0

The rule goes: Ice for swelling, and heat for inflammation. Ice prevents and reduces swelling. Heat draws blood to the area that is injured/inflamed speeding the healing process.

Flexior? Is that maybe Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine)? It does wonders with back sprains, but I gotta tell you, don't do them unless you have to and don't over-medicate with them. It's an awful hangover the next day.

My doctor tells me to get in a comfortable position, take the medication, use heat when necessary, and remain sedentary until the spasms are gone because in the process of trying to overdo and avoiding the pain of your spasms, you may sprain another set of muscles in your back.

Get well soon.

Bauhaus answered in Aches, Pains & Illness 9 months ago | Report

Comment on this answer

Share this answer with a friend:

Reputation: 4209

Follow 5

Russ Campbell, NWEBS

1 1

Time for the third opinion.

You can almost never go wrong with application of cold. Cold provides an immediate numbing of the strong pain signals. Cold also works to improve circulation to the area (just as heat does) because the body will increase blood flow to the area to warm it up. If you have any active real bruising there is more likelihood of increasing the bleeding in the tissue using heat than in using cold.

Ice or cold packs should be separated from the skin by a layer of cloth or thin toweling, you want to cool the area not freeze it. Apply for 20 minutes on and then 30 or more minutes off, repeat. Don't just leave the ice pack on for long periods.

Contrast application can be good too but you should be applying warm and not hot temperatures. Remember the analgesic effect on the skin of cold can fool you into not recognizing how hot something is. Moist heat is best, not a dry heating pad.

But, I would stick with cold for the first 24-48 hours after an injury (in your case, spasm) to ensure that no active tissue bruising is occurring.

Russ Campbell, NWEBS answered in Aches, Pains & Illness 9 months ago | Report

Comment on this answer