Are you dealing with regular back pain every day? Did you recently get into a car accident or slip and fall? No matter what causes your back pain, you want to find ways to help soothe your aching muscles and treat your pain at home or between appointments with your doctor. When it comes to dealing with chronic back pain, you likely want to try all the home remedies possible before resorting to a more serious intervention like surgery. Talk to your doctor about all your treatment options for back pain and what things you can do from home to help reduce your pain and discomfort. Back pain can wreak havoc on your life and keep you from participating in activities you used to enjoy. One of the most common tricks in the book is to manage your back pain with ice or heat. But how do you know which one is best? Here’s everything you need to know about the effectiveness of ice and heat for back pain relief.
What Back Problems Can Lead to Chronic Back Pain?
When it comes to treating back pain, it is important to know what is causing your pain so you can treat it at the source. Here are examples of back problems that can lead to sudden or chronic back pain.
Car Accident Injuries
Millions of car accidents happen each year, and many people end up with back and neck pain afterward. Back pain after a car accident can occur because of how much pressure the force of impact can put on your body. Whether you were in a minor fender-bender or serious accident, a car wreck can cause your body to jostle and jolt around. When this happens, your back muscles may stretch and strain out of their typical range of movement, and your spine may absorb a lot of shock. This can lead to muscle strains and spinal injuries like whiplash or a herniated disc.
Sports Injuries
Contact sports like football, hockey, and basketball are particularly known for injuries that can lead to back pain. You could also suffer a sports injury while using improper form or technique and end up damaging your back. You don’t have to be a professional athlete to suffer a back injury while playing a sport. In fact, playing in a recreational league or in the backyard for fun can still cause you to tweak your back and leave you in pain for days afterward.
Back Sprain
A back sprain refers to when ligaments that support your spine and back become overstretched or torn. This can occur from overuse or after a sudden injury to the back. These tough ligaments help hold bones together, so if they become damaged, you might notice increased pain when moving certain ways. A back sprain can also lead to decreased function like difficulty walking, bending sideways, or standing straight without pain.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc refers to a spinal injury that impacts a spinal disc. Spinal discs separate vertebrae in the spine and have a tough outer shell that encases a soft, gel-like center. A sudden blow to the spine or misalignment of vertebrae in the spine can cause the tough outer shell of a spinal disc to tear and the inside to seep out, known as a herniated disc. A herniated disc can aggravate nearby nerves and cause back pain and other symptoms like tingling, numbness, and weakness that extend into other parts of the body.
When Ice Can Help with Back Pain
Applying an ice pack or cold compress to your back can help with back pain. You can get ice packs designed specifically for back pain that come in different shapes and sizes that you can put in your freezer to get cold. You can also put ice in a plastic bag and wrap it in a towel or other type of protective barrier before applying it to your skin. When you apply something cold to a painful area, it can provide you with a temporary numbing effect that will help with the pain. For maximum results, it is best to apply ice for back pain in the first 24 to 72 hours when the pain starts. An ice pack or cold compress can also help reduce any inflammation and swelling in the area because the cold temperature restricts blood vessels and reduces blood flow to the area. Swelling and inflammation typically occur right after a sudden injury or develop because of repetitive movements or overuse. The combination of pain relief and minimizing swelling and inflammation makes applying ice a great option for back pain relief.
When Heat Can Help with Back Pain
Applying heat to your back can be effective for back pain relief caused by soreness and stiffness in your muscles and other soft tissues. In fact, many people experience back pain because of aggravated or damaged muscles and other tissues that support the back and spine. You could develop back pain from straining your muscles while carrying something too heavy or after a strenuous workout that puts too much pressure on your back. When you use heat for back pain, it helps promote healthy blood circulation to the area, which brings oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area. A heating pad or warm compress can help soothe stiff, aching muscles. You can also take a hot shower or soak in a warm bath to help relax your muscles and ease your pain and discomfort. When it comes to using heat for back pain, you should only use it when any swelling or inflammation has subsided. Typically, you should use ice in the first few days after an injury or sudden back pain before alternating with heat.
Ice & Heat Therapy at Home vs. the Doctor’s Office
You can use ice and heat therapy at home to help with back pain relief. Many drugstores offer options for ice packs, including reusable ones with gel-like centers that stay flexible or ones that become stiff and firm like ice. Drugstores also carry different options for applying heat, including disposable, reusable, and even plug-in heating pad options. You may want to try different kinds before you find out what works best for you. If you are recovering from a sudden injury, then homemade ice packs and disposable heating pads may work best for you. But if you are dealing with chronic back pain, you may want to invest in reusable or longer-lasting options. Your doctor may also recommend certain types of heating pads and ice packs to address your specific type of back pain. When you visit the physical therapist or chiropractor, they may also incorporate ice and heat therapy into your treatment plan.
Other Treatment Options for Back Pain Relief
Along with applying ice and heat to your back from home, you can also check out these other treatment options for long-lasting back pain relief.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors specialize in injuries and conditions that impact your spine and can help address all kinds of back pain. Visit your Tucker chiropractor for a non-invasive and drug-free approach to managing your back pain. Chiropractors use hands-on techniques like chiropractic adjustments to resolve misalignments in your spine that may contribute to your pain and discomfort. They also treat musculoskeletal injuries and issues that can leave you with back pain. A chiropractor can work with you to improve your posture and promote healthy functioning in your spine that provides a positive impact on the rest of your body.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy offers you the opportunity to take an active role in your pain relief and recovery. Physical therapists create personalized treatment plans that include stretches, exercises, and other techniques to improve your strength and mobility. Physical therapists also use soft tissue mobilization and therapeutic massage to address stiff, sore muscles. Learn how to strengthen the muscles that support your spine to help support healthy posture or improve your technique and form for sports and activities you regularly enjoy. Physical therapy can also help you improve your balance, flexibility, and coordination.
Surgical Intervention
In some cases, your back pain may not respond to non-invasive treatment options and may require surgical intervention. An orthopedic surgeon can talk to you about your options for surgery and how that could help relieve your chronic back pain. Back surgery can require significant recovery, including occupational and physical therapy to help you rehabilitate.
Visit AICA Orthopedics in Tucker to learn more about effective treatment options for back pain relief. Our team of doctors includes chiropractors, physical therapists, neurologists, and orthopedic surgeons, who all work together to provide you with comprehensive treatment and care. At AICA Orthopedics, our Tucker office has in-house diagnostic imaging tools like X-rays and CT scans so you can get the tests you need and meet with your doctors all in one convenient location. From your initial evaluation through recovery and rehabilitation, our Tucker doctors will be with you every step of the way to ensure you experience lasting relief from back pain.