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

Migraine Causes and Triggers

Causes of Migraine Causes are multifactoral with various genetic and environmental factors playing important roles. The patient may have a history of migraine in the family. Mutations of the gene in chromosome 1 and 19 are responsible for positive family history. Disturbances in the release of certain brain chemicals called serotonin and dopamine may also cause migraine. Migraine has two parts: 1) the aura and 2) the headache. (Symptoms of aura are mentioned below.) Cerebral blood vessels…
Migraine Treatment

Treatment Options for Migraine Acute medicines: taken at the time of an attack Analgesics like paracetamol for pain Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen Anti-emetics to prevent nausea and vomiting Triptans to treat an acute attack Ditans like lasmiditan Dihydroergotamine like prochlorperazine Gepants – Ubrogepant, Atogepant and Rimegepant, these don’t cause rebound or medication overuse headache like some other drugs. Combination of these acute medicines for…
Management of Migraine

How to effectively manage migraine Patient education and trigger avoidance: The patient needs to understand the nature of the headache and what triggers it. The triggers need to be avoided. To help, the patient can keep a pain diary to record the features, duration and intensity of pain, along with trigger factors and associated symptoms. The treatment options are listed here Know your support team: Who can help General practitioners Neurologists Internal medicine specialists Specialists in…
20 tips on managing Arthritis - an E-book

Did you know that even 30-40 year olds are getting diagnosed with Arthritis and that women are 2-3 times more prone to Rheumatoid Arthritis. So we have compiled all that you need to know about arthritis in a single e-book What is arthritis? Types of arthritis How to avoid arthritis? How to manage arthritis To download the book, click here: https://www.patientsengage.com/resources/ebooks-list Join our community on arthritis: https://www.patientsengage.com/communities/muscle-…
Management of Arthritis

How to manage arthritis You may be prescribed the following medications depending on the cause of the arthritis: http://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/arthritis/treatments Rest and exercise People with arthritis should exercise. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there is strong evidence indicating that both endurance and resistance types of exercise provide considerable disease-specific benefits for people with osteoarthritis and rheumatic conditions (www.…
How to Prevent Arthritis

Can it be prevented Maintain your ideal weight: Increased weight on the load-bearing joints, like knees, ankles and hips, makes you highly susceptible to osteoarthritis. Losing weight cuts the risk of arthritis. Exercise regularly: Try to exercise at least 20 minutes for three days a week if exercise is vigorous, or 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. Practice yoga or simple stretching. These exercises strengthen the muscles around joints. Quit smoking, as it weakens bone health…
Arthritis

What is it The word “arthritis” means joint inflammation, and it's used to describe different diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissues that surround joints, and other connective tissue. Arthritis is often seen as a disease that affects the elderly but it can affect people of all ages. According to the Arthritis Foundation, two-thirds of people with arthritis are under the age of 65. And more people in their late 30s and 40s are now being diagnosed with the condition. As…
Causes of Arthritis and Risk factors

What causes arthritis Although the exact causes are unknown, it is believed to include the following: Genetics Injury Infection Lifestyle related factors, primarily, smoking, diet, use of oral contraceptives and excessive coffee intake Obesity Environmental factors, like stress Autoimmune conditions (your body's own immune system attacking the joints, causing inflammation - warmth, swelling, tenderness - within the joints) Are you at risk Are you: 65 or above in age: The risk of…
Arthritis Treatment

Medications: You may be prescribed the following medications depending on the cause of the arthritis: Topical pain-relieving creams, rubs, and sprays. These medications are applied directly to the skin over the joints to relieve pain. Pain killers (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen) Medications that suppress the immune system such as prednisone (steroids).Biologics are lately being used to treat Rheumatoid arthritis that is not responding enough to traditional medication. These are…
Arthritis Symptoms and Signs

Some signs and symptoms of arthritis require urgent medical care. If you have any of the following, you should seek medical care as soon as possible: One or more swollen joints Fever Weight loss Inability to function due to joint pain or swelling Overall sense of feeling ill, accompanied by fever, joint swelling and joint pain Sudden weakness of specific muscle groups Burning pain, numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation around joints. Symptoms depend on the type of arthritis you have:…