Should You Use Ice or Heat for Pain?

When you’re dealing with pain and trying to work past it, you’ll have some helpful remedies at your disposal. The question becomes whether it’s better to use ice or heat for pain relief and to recover from injuries more quickly. And the answer to that question? It largely depends on the circumstances.

Is It Better to Use Ice or Heat for Pain Relief?

If you’re not sure whether you should use ice or heat for pain relief, it comes down to the kind of pain you’re experiencing and for how long. Say you were working out at the gym and suffered a minor injury. Within the first few days, you’ll notice swelling and inflammation. That’s why using ice is better in the first 72 hours or so. The cold will help keep swelling and inflammation low, offering natural pain relief and lowering the chances of making the injury worse.

You can also use heat to recover from injuries, but it’s best that you wait for pain that’s more than a few days old. Once the swelling and inflammation have decreased, heat provides a soothing feeling for your muscles that helps keep pain at bay. It also helps increase blood flow, which can help you recover from injuries faster and decrease healing time. Because of this, heat is best for muscle pain and stiffness.

Use Ice and Heat Together to Recover from Injuries

As you can see, there’s a complementary relationship between these two methods of pain relief. So, the question is less one of whether you should use ice or heat for pain and to recover from injuries than it’s a question of when it’s best to use one over the other.

As a general rule, use an ice pack or cold compress for the first three days, then transition to a heating pad or warm pack for the remainder. If you suffer from a chronic condition like arthritis, you can use ice for joint inflammation and acute pain and heat for soreness and stiffness.

Get Pain Relief with Williamsburg Chiropractic

Whether you’re dealing with a sports injury or the lingering effects of an auto accident, Williamsburg Chiropractic is your destination for pain relief in Brooklyn, NY. Schedule an appointment with us today and we’ll help you recover from injuries faster so you can get back into the gym this spring.