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Woman using ice pack on her wrist

When To Chill & When To Grill

Both heat and ice are generally nice options both for convenience sake and cost containment sake. Knowing when to seek one over the other is usually the question.

 

Ice is the treatment of choice after an injury for a minimum of 72 hours but may be best for up to 6 weeks after a trauma. After the acute stage of injury has passed heat may be a consideration. It is best not to place ice, or frozen peas, or whatever cold option you are applying, directly to the skin.

Cold therapy or cryotherapy constricts blood vessels, thereby reducing inflammation, and minimizing pain.

Not surprisingly, heat has the opposite effect of cold. Heat can dilate blood vessels, thereby stimulating inflammation.

Heat is generally reserved for muscle pain and more chronic conditions and not for acute conditions. Heat can stimulate blood blow to an area, helping relax sore muscles, and even treat arthritis. It should be avoided, however, in the acute phase of an injury, as this will worsen swelling and possibly delay healing.

Both ice and heat should be used in moderation. As a rule, you should use either ice or heat for 15-20 minutes on, and 15-20 minutes off. If you suffer from neuropathy or Raynaud’s syndrome or other conditions that diminish sensitivity, use extreme caution with ice and heat to avoid injury.

If either heat therapy or ice therapy is aggravating your symptoms, please stop immediately and fire up your speed dial and call Advanced Spine and Pain and let us help you chill ASAP.

 


 

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Advanced Spine and Pain is a leading pain management group based in Phoenix, AZ, and quickly expanding throughout the state. Offering minimally-invasive pain care services, the ASAP group consists of Arizona's top pain management specialists, including Drs. Abram Burgher, Todd Turley, and Jarrett Leathem.

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