Frequently asked questions

Ice Vs.Heat is a very hotly debated topic, but as far as I can tell the reason why ice feels better for some is the same reason that heat feels better for others. The spinothelamic tract of the spinal cord. Think of it like a highway and there are different lanes in a highway, the lane that sends pain cars to the brain also send pressure and temperature cars to the brain. If you have the highway full of pain cars you are going to hurt more, if you have some temperature cars filling up some space on that pain highway you are going to hurt less. When my patients ask me if they should use heat or ice to help their lower back pain, I ask which one they tried, if heat has felt good keep using it, if cold has worked use that. And if you are adventurous then maybe try the hot fudge sundae technique use ice and heat at the same time, a hot cloth with an icecube in it for example. Whatever most effectively fills up that pain highway in your spinal cord and makes you feel better, do that! So ice or heat? Use ice if it works to decrease the pain, or use heat if that works better, or do both at the same time!