Ice Pack or Heat: What Should I Use?

Submitted by PatientsEngage on 6 September 2017

Are you confused as to when to use Ice Pack and when to use Heat to deal with pain, injury and inflammation? This infographic below sums it up quite simply.

According to Dr. Bhuvaneswari, a quick guideline to follow is: 

Ice pack is preferred if it is a recent and acute pain episode especially injury which may be a blood clot, muscle tear or tendon tear.  For instance most sport and exercse injuries. 

Heat or warmth for Chronic pain with stiffness, especially joint related pain as in Arthritis.

And watch out for Paraffin wax treatments. They can cause burns as well.
 

 

For the options of heat and ice packs and other tips, refer to the full article at https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/08/should-you-use-ice-or-heat-for-pain-infographic/amp/

 

 

Changed
02/Nov/2017
Community
Neurological Conditions
Muscle, Bone and Joint (earlier named Arthritis)
Condition
Arthritis
Migraine

Stories

  • My Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Started at 18
    Vonita Singh, who conducts therapeutic dance classes Movement Mantra in Dubai, is herself a patient of Rheumatoid Arthritis from a very early age. She shares how she fought to overcome the physical challenges Tell us a little about when RA started? What were the symptoms? It all started with the big toe of my right foot - I was all of 18 years old! Subtle pain and tenderness were the main symptoms initially, but that did not create enough anxiety for me to talk about it with anyone, including…
  • Why Does My Shoulder Hurt?
    Dr Kalpana Kamdar, a physiotherapist from Ahmedabad, warns that slumping and slouching for long hours while sitting can result in severe shoulder dysfunction, unbearable pain, inflammation and restriction of movement in the neck, shoulders and upper back.  Case Study A 65-year-old male patient, retired from a clerical job, came with diffused pain in and around the left shoulder joint and loss of movement due to pain and weakness but no stiffness in the shoulder. He had first been treated…
  • Arthritis Friendly Kitchen E-Book
    Do you or a family member like to cook in the kitchen but struggle with the aches and pains due to Arthritis and other bone and joint conditions? Do you know that with some modifications and some simple tips, your kitchen can be made Elder Friendly or Arthritis Friendly? Here are some tips consolidated into the Arthritis Friendly Kitchen E-Book that you can download. And if you like the ebook, please share this page with your friends and family - so they can benefit from this as well.  And…
  • a man holding his head due to throbbing migraine headache
    Can Washing Hair Cause Migraines? Can Children Get Migraines?
    And other such questions on Migraine addressed by Dr Amit Haldar, Head of Neurology at Medica Superspeciality Hospital, Kolkata. He also tells us about the role of triggers and the best way of avoiding migraines. Is migraine the same thing as a common headache? If not, how does it differ? Migraine is an episodic hemicranial (one-sided) throbbing headache. It has got definite diagnostic criteria that include intolerance to light and sound. There may be associated issues like nausea and vomitting…
  • 10 Diet Tips to Prevent Gout Attack
    A simple change in the type of foods consumed can reduce the frequency and severity of gout. Nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju recommends a gout-friendly diet that that will help you avoid pain, swelling and tenderness in the joints and keep major flare ups in control. Gout is a type of arthritis, typically caused by a build-up of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid normally dissolves in the blood and gets excreted by the kidneys. When the body makes extra uric acid and the kidneys cannot excrete…
  • Image: E-Book cover of Arthritis Management Tips in Hindi
    20 Tips Arthritis ki dekh bhal ke liye - Hindi
    Kya aap jaante hain ki 30-40 varsh ke logon ko arthritis (gathiya) ka dard hone laga hai. Iss liye humne 20 Tips to Manage Arthritis ka hindi anuvaad kiya hai.  Arthritis ki poori jaankari iss ebook mein hai Arthritis kya hota hai Arthritis ke prakaar Arthritis se bachne ke upaaye Arthritis ko niyantrit rakhne ke tarike Hamari 20 Tips to Manage Arthritis E-book ab Hindi mein. Register/Login karein aur phir yahan se download karein:  20 Sujhav Arthritis (gathiya) ki Dekh…
  • Image: A man looking at his foot which has gout symptoms
    Frequently Asked Questions on Gout
    Most of us are familiar with the term Gout without being aware of its full implications. This FAQ briefs us about all that we need to know about the condition and how we can tackle it, should we be affected. 1.  What is Gout? Gout is a kind of arthritis where uric acid gets deposited in the joints and soft tissues. This, in turn, causes inflammation with redness, swelling, heat, pain and stiffness in the affected joint. Since the foot has numerous joints, the big toe is primarily affected…
  • Starting a Family With Rheumatoid Arthritis
    When I was first diagnosed with RA, I remember reading an article that said “sometimes having arthritis means sitting on the sidelines while others dance at a wedding.” I was only 25 and, at the time, unmarried. I remember angrily thinking: but what if it’s my wedding? I have often been frustrated by the lack of good advice, resources, stories, and support for people diagnosed with RA at a young age. Though I am now happily married (and danced at my own wedding!) one…
  • Stock pic of a woman at her work desk holding her neck in pain
    Why Do I Wake Up With a Stiff Neck?
    Kalpana Kamdar, a Physiotherapist from Ahmedabad, points out the hazards of a bad sitting and sleeping posture that can dangerously overwork or overload the muscles causing severe pain and stiffness in the head, neck, shoulders and back. Here she recommends ways to correct the body alignment and get a perfect posture. Video of webinar recording below. DON’T LET BAD POSTURE BECOME A HABIT….!!! Case Study A 23-year-old law student came to me with severe pain on the left side of his neck. He…
  • Are You Addressing the Root Cause of your Pain?
    We bring you a series of articles on good posture and good health by Kalpana Kamdar, a Physiotherapist from Ahmedabad. In the first article Physiotherapist Kamdar stresses the importance of a well aligned and balanced posture to protect the bones, muscles and the supporting structures from progressive deformity and injury. Video of webinar recording below. Seldom is the location of pain, the cause of the pain Case Study A 65 year old retired male, physically active at home. Chief complaint of…