Can heat compress be used during the remission period of chronic pain?

Hot compresses can be used during most of the remission period of chronic pain. As long as there are no local skin ulcers, acute redness, inflammation, or underlying diseases such as temperature perception disorders, hot compresses are even highly recommended clinical home care methods, which can effectively reduce the frequency of acute pain attacks. However, there are a few special cases where it is not suitable, so don’t apply it blindly.

I previously met a 32-year-old Internet operator girl who suffered from chronic low back pain caused by lumbar protrusion for nearly three years. In severe cases, she had difficulty even bending down to put on shoes. After entering the remission period, she always felt stiff in her waist, and started to feel sore after sitting for two hours. Later, she listened to my suggestion and used a hot water bottle at about 42 degrees Celsius to apply on her waist for 20 minutes every day when she got home from get off work. She persisted for more than two months. Now she doesn't feel any obvious discomfort even if she sits for four or five hours in a row. She recently signed up for a weekend hiking group. In fact, the principle is not complicated. The warm heat slowly penetrates into the muscles and fascial layers, and the originally tight soft tissues will slowly relax. After the local blood circulation starts, the inflammatory metabolic waste that usually accumulates in the deep parts can be taken away faster, and naturally it is not easy to accumulate and cause pain.

However, don’t think of hot compress as a panacea. I have also met several patients who said that the pain became more obvious after applying it during the remission period. When asked carefully, they basically violated the taboos. An aunt with rheumatoid arthritis felt her joints were stiff during the remission period, so she applied hot towels every day. During that time, the inflammation index quietly increased. She did not go for a follow-up check. The hot compress expanded the local blood vessels, which in turn increased the inflammatory exudation. The joints became swollen within a few days of application. There is also an uncle with diabetic neuropathy, whose temperature perception is much weaker than that of ordinary people. He used a freshly filled hot water bag to apply to his knees, which caused a small blister without even noticing, which eventually led to an infection.

If your usual chronic pain is neck and shoulder strain, lumbar muscle strain caused by sitting for a long time, or a chronic recovery period after a sports injury. The pain is not severe, but the muscles feel tight and sore and stiff at every turn. Then you can apply it without any worries. You don’t need to pursue the feeling of redness on the skin. Apply it warmly and comfortably for ten to twenty minutes at a time. After applying, remember to put on some clothes and don’t blow it on the air conditioner immediately, otherwise it will cause pain if you open your pores and get cold. However, if you have autoimmune joint diseases such as gout, rheumatoid, or ankylosing spondylitis, or if the painful area is slightly swollen when touched during the remission period, and the temperature is higher than other places, it is best to ask your attending doctor to evaluate whether it can be applied. Don't do it yourself and aggravate the problem.

To put it bluntly, hot compress is a very cost-effective and gentle care method. It is only useful if it is chosen in the applicable scenario. There is no need to regard it as a magic formula to treat pain, and there is no need to be afraid to touch it once you hear there are taboos.