Ice or Heat After and Injury

In my Arlington Heights Chiropractic office this question comes up every day. A patient will limp into my office with a low back pain or neck pain, barely able to move. First question I ask? Did you use Ice or heat? DON'T use heat on a new injury. It makes it worse. In a nut shell heat brings blood to the area. If the area is injured it will have swelling. What is swelling? Blood. What does heat do? Brings more blood. That means it brings more SWELLING. When the area swells more, it hurts more, becomes less mobile, makeing things worse. This all increases the ouch factor.  So if you would like all of the nuts and bolts to the inflammation process drop me a line and I will send you some reading material. If you just want a quick answer, ICE new injuries. ICE, ICE, ICE.

See you in the Office,

Dr. Kevin

Arlington Heights Chiropractor