LymeNet Flash: Is Icing an area of the body that hurts bad?

This is topic Is Icing an area of the body that hurts bad? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/65085

Posted by creativeguy (Member # 15046) on :

I've heard long ago that lyme likes to live in areas of the body that are cold. If you have an area that hurts (probably from lyme), is it a bad idea to ice it? Any advice on this would be helpful.

Thanks,
Rob

Posted by minoucat (Member # 5175) on :

IM(nonmedical)O--I can't see that this would be a problem. Ice interrupts the inflammatory cycle (for a while, anyway), and that is usually a Good Thing.

I find it difficult to imagine that the limited amount of time you would ice an area would be of any significance at all for this very slow-reproducing bacterium.

On the other hand, steam saunas have helped me very much. The heat improves circulation and the delivery of antibiotic substances, potentiates some antibiotics, and aids the body in detoxing. Given the failure of heat-treatment for syphilis, and my own experiences with saunas, I personally don't think the heat plays a significant in killing the bacteria.

In the case of syphilis the protocol was to raise the body temperature to 107 degrees F for an hour -- had to be very closely supervised by the docs so as not to kill the patient, and wasn't successful in doing anything but marginally slowing the disease. Or so said my late GP, who used to run one of these wards in the 1930s and who was in charge of some of the early penicillin trials.

OK, that's way more than you asked. Good luck.

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

rob, i'm a firm believe in frozen ice packs for my body hurting the worst:

my left thigh area, lower back/butt; behind the neck area, and right shoulder blade. i use these all day long getting replacement cold ones.

when i got to my recliner couch, i use moistened heating pad on the WORST AREA, and ice on the rest. been doing this for DECADES!!

coolness numbs the areas many times; just don't let it FREEZE YOU OUT!! move to other areas or OFF.

rob, they are my LIFESAVERS!! ask my hubby; they have a prominent place in my freezer. [lol]

editing: adding the 1.800.998.3383
or FAX 1.888.329.2771
from Advanced rehab systems, inc. in Ill. [Smile]

[ 05. April 2008, 06:33 PM: Message edited by: bettyg ]

Posted by IMHisda (Member # 6998) on :

I don't think I'd respond favorably to the ice since I have a cold sensitivity and I too have been told warmth/heat puts spirochete in a dormant phase.

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

i just added the 1-800 and fax no. of advanced rehab systems where i buy my large frozen PT ice packs...