Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
When you have an injury, I know you are only supposed to use heat for about 20 minutes at a time.
When you are trying to releave chronic pain, is it bad to use heat longer? A heating pad at work really reduces my pain and tightness in my back. But I find it helps to use it for longer periods.
Is that bad, or just not as beneficial?
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I try not to use any type of electrical warming blanket or pad.
I still have an old water bottle. It is kind of a pain to fill it up over and over,
However, I really like it.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
Hi Aniek
I was told by my PT that it's 20 minuets of heat ...wait an hour than re-apply.
It's hard to do. When my back pain is killing me, I like to lay on a moist heating pad because it brings me the most releif.
For my neck I heat up the clay pack in the micro & wear it on my neck...it feels so good I hate to break off at 20 minutes.
Last night I was on my moist heat on my back for 2 hours. Gotta say it felt good. And I woke up this morning feeling better.
So I personally feel everyone's so different & you have to listen to what your body's saying. If after too long a time it aggravates my back or neck, I just do it a little less.
So for me sometimes I just need more time on my moist heat. I think lyme is a totally different animal than some regular injury's
hope this helps Dana
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Thanks. I use it mostly at work and have at least a shirt, and often a sweater, on. I know that some of the worries are direct contact with the skin causing burning, or falling asleep causing burning.
Dana - it makes sense that we would need more heat. I just had a massage yesterday, and my masseuse has never worked on somebody with as many knots as me. He said he likes it, I'm a challenge.
Funny though. A few minutes ago I smelled burning and began freaking out it was my heating pad. Then I realized it smelled like burnt butter. Somebody over-nuked their popcorn.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
aniek, i was also told for DIABETICS; control should be on MEDIUM heat; NEVER HIGH HEAT since we have neuropathy and can't feel things.
NEVER TO LAY ON HEATING PAD.
also drink LOTS OF WATER AFTER MASSAGE; 1 bottle immediately!
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JimBoB
Unregistered
posted
I used heat for years as it SEEMED to make me feel better, especially along with a vibrator.
However, this last bout with my back and sciatica was horrendous. After several weeks I finally went to a Chiropractor.
She said the worse thing we could do is put heat on our back as that inflames the muscles and causes a bigger problem So I took her advice and starting using an ice pack for twenty minutes about three times a day. It took me awhile to get used to the COLD instead of the heat, but it worked.
My back is so much better now. Recently I again injured my back by laying on the ground, under an old car and put up a driveshaft and wrenched on it to tighten the bolts. Well, I wrenched out my back between the shoulder blades on that one.
Again, my chiropractor told me to use the ice pack. I told her it was harder to LAY on the pack in this area of my back. She said if necessary, put a pillow under my neck and lower back to make it work better. In a couple of days, my back is much better agian. AND I keep working on those cars.
Sitting too long at the computer here is probably the worst thing on my back. Like right now. Got to get away.
posted
I used a heating pad on my back all winter. I literally would wake up with my back drenched in sweat - my shirt sticking to my back.
I would rather use a hot water bottle though instead.
First, the radiation coming from a heating pad up against your skin like that is intense, and some researchers say these frequencies cause bacteria and toxins to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Second, I actually burned my back and grew grey-green mold on my back over time. My body was not replacing the skin cells fast enough to keep up with the length of time I was using it.
The rash didn't go away either until I stopped sleeping on a sweaty piece of plastic. I was desperate though at the time.
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
My understanding is you should never fall asleep on a heating pad. I was talking about using a heating pad while awake.
You also should never use it without the protectice fabric covering on it. The plastic gets too hot, it needs the fabrict between the pad and your skin.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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