Let's talk a little about Heat Therapy today and HOW it benefits lower back pain. Heat therapy does more than relieve that deep set ache - probably the 2 reasons it helps me in my shoulder & lower back pain is the increase in flexibility & release of stiffness & tension.
As I continue to fight fibromyalgia on a daily basis that has turned into YEARS I have found things that help me. One of the things I use every day, no matter if it's Winter or Summer, are my hot/cold therapy packs. Personally I feel better with HEAT and cold tends to lock me up tight. For me I find that Heat makes my nerves relax and calm down where medication won't even touch them. Often times I can put a hot pack on myself and fall asleep and wake in the morning with very little pain or discomfort. There are some other things I also do and I'll touch on those later but for now that is the main thing that has helped me.
Heat:
1) Dilates the blood vessels of the muscles around the lumbar spine increasing the flow of oxygen and allowing nutrients to the muscles.
2) Stimulates Sensory receptors in the skin which decreases pain signals to the brain & partially helps release the tension in your muscles.
3) Decreases stiffness & increases flexibility by encouraging stretching of the soft tissues around the spine including your muscles & connective tissues. This is very important!
(This info is found HERE)
2) Stimulates Sensory receptors in the skin which decreases pain signals to the brain & partially helps release the tension in your muscles.
3) Decreases stiffness & increases flexibility by encouraging stretching of the soft tissues around the spine including your muscles & connective tissues. This is very important!
(This info is found HERE)
As I continue to fight fibromyalgia on a daily basis that has turned into YEARS I have found things that help me. One of the things I use every day, no matter if it's Winter or Summer, are my hot/cold therapy packs. Personally I feel better with HEAT and cold tends to lock me up tight. For me I find that Heat makes my nerves relax and calm down where medication won't even touch them. Often times I can put a hot pack on myself and fall asleep and wake in the morning with very little pain or discomfort. There are some other things I also do and I'll touch on those later but for now that is the main thing that has helped me.
Ask around though and you will find other people with Fibromyalgia struggle with heat and their muscles relax and their nerves calm down with Cold Therapy. <Brrr>
Have you found HEAT or COLD to be beneficial to your needs?
Have you found HEAT or COLD to be beneficial to your needs?
