Hi all,
I am just curious about how people find using cold/ice for reflief? I personally find myself so ADVERSE to the idea of ice, it actually is not something I would or could ever bring myself to do it. Even the air conditioner kills me. I wonder why this is?
On the other hand, I will take heat every day of the week -- hot bath, heating pads, ambient heat temps in my bedroom, any kind of heat is sounds great to me. I've even been looking to relocate to a warmer region.
Am I just weird or are others similar? For those who do use ice/cold, do you do it willingly or just force yourself?
Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts....

Hi

I ice swollen joints willingly. I couldn't stand to put heat on an inflammed joint. Now if your talking about winter vs summer, I am better in the summer usually. I find I am wearing my running shoes instead of winter boots, and that works better for my feet.


Janet

i've heard people fall into either camp.

some are like you and love the heat.

others are like me and find the ice to work best. i can tell the level of my pain, inflammation, and muscle spasm. because when ice sounds good, especially on a cold wintery day, i know my body is a hurtin'.

but when the heating pad in the recliner sounds better, i know things are just kinda achy, but not really so bad.

BUT THAT IS JUST ME!
not an indicator that if others prefer heat, their pain is in anyway less than mine.

if things are inflamed, heat usually makes things more inflamed for me. the heat may help the muscle spasms, may help the constricted tissues to be less constricted, but makes my inflammation worse.

so for me, kinda depends. when things are real bad, ice actually sounds soothing. when things are less bad, heat sounds better. i kinda let my body be the guide. though i think for me ice is probably always better. just can't bring myself to use it so readily when things aren't so bad.

When knee or elbow, or elbow is swollen, red hot and painful, then cold. When feet are red hot stinging pain from the erythromelalgia, alternate hot/cold dunking, then wrapping in iced towels. Physio after shoulder surgery, ice packs.

Otherwise, gotta be hot. For SI pain, warm hotties. For gut probs, hotties. For hands, hotties.

So, a mixture. Depends on 'what' type and where the problem. But on the whole, like you, prefer some warmth - thanks <VBG> (And I 'hate' air conditioning!)

Just heat for me: hot showers, heat pads, and warm weather all make me feel better.

both for me it depends where Im sore. If its my neck/shoulder then its an ice pack heat does nothing but if its my middle lower back then heat. We are all different if the ways we find relief I guess its just trial and error. what works for me might not work for others.

I love my hot showers, I have to take one the minute I get out of bed so I can move.

The only time I use ice is when I'm pretty desperate and want a numb feeling in the swollen joint. I have used ice on my wrist, knee and lower back. It seemed to help because it constricts and numbs the area a little. I do think it works, but I don't really like it all that much.

I agree, a warmer ,dry, mediterrain type climate is supposed to be the best for arthritics. I read that from Dr. John Mansfield in "Arthritis,The Allergy Connection". I hope I got the title right its been a year since I read that book.

I can't stand the thought of ice in the winter or if the weather is cold, and I do feel I chill off a bit too quickly if I use ice when I was already borderline cold. It did take a bit of mental shift to try ice the first time, but I have found it great for things like elbows, knees, feet and shoulder. Also feels wonderful (in summer) on SI area.

Mostly though, and always in winter, I use heat for my SI, upper back and neck.

I was told that it can be dangerous to use ice on your neck area, as this can chill you off too much and cause problems with blood supply to the brain potentially making you lose consciousness. I guess this would be because the main arteries that supply the brain are fairly close to the surface there.

I'd say to give it a go on one of the peripheral areas that causes you problems (but not if you are feeling cold already). You might be pleasantly surprised.

Yes - That is very true cemc. Cold on neck is definitely out. Constricting blood to the brain will also constrict blood to the retinal nerve, and, that can lead to eye problems! Heat on the neck. (Was bliss recently when I got a horrible torticollis for a whole week. Lived with a hottie on my neck. Did the job).

As for the peripheral areas, do not use ice on them if cold already.

Good to have pointed that up cemc.

I use both.. Ice if ive "over worked" and am feeling overly stiff.. But the hot-tub does wonders as well..