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

Hot compresses can be used during the remission period of most chronic pain, but only a few people with special primary diseases or sensory dysfunction need to be cautious or even avoid it.

I have worked as a rehabilitation coach at a community rehabilitation center for four years. The most common patients I encountered were elderly patients with chronic myofasciitis, lumbar muscle strain, and cervical spondylosis. Many people regard hot compresses as "daily maintenance tips" during the remission period. Last week, an aunt who has been an accountant for 30 years came for a follow-up consultation and said that she now has less pain in her shoulders and neck, but she gets stiff after sitting for a long time. She wraps herself in a hot towel for 15 minutes after dinner every day. The stiffness dissipates very quickly, and she also feels much more comfortable when sleeping at night.

Of course, not everyone is suitable for this operation. Our station encountered a small pitfall last month: there was an elder brother with a 6-year history of gout. The chronic swelling and pain in his big toe had just subsided for a week. He was originally here for rehabilitation. Our nurse did not ask about the medical history clearly and used an infrared lamp on him for 10 minutes. He was in so much pain that night that he couldn't get out of bed, and his uric acid level soared to 720 μmol/L during a re-examination. Later, the specialist said that he was in the remission period of gout when his uric acid was not yet controlled and stable. Local warming would accelerate blood circulation, but could easily cause the deposited urate crystals to fall off, triggering an acute attack.

In addition, if your chronic pain is caused by tuberculosis or malignant tumors, you must not apply heat casually. The increase in temperature will accelerate local circulation and may cause the disease to spread.； There are also patients with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy whose skin is particularly slow to perceive temperature. Even if it is a 40-degree warm towel, they may be burned by low temperature if they are applied for a long time. If you want to apply it, it is best to ask your family to help test the temperature, and do not exceed 10 minutes at a time.

For ordinary chronic strain, non-acute joint pain, and chronic pelvic pain that is common in many women, the benefits of hot compress during the remission period are actually very high. The temperature should be controlled at 40-45 degrees. Do not directly attach the hot water bottle or baby warmer to the skin. A layer of cotton towel is the safest. Applying for 15-20 minutes each time is enough. Applying for too long may aggravate local edema and make it uncomfortable.

If you are not sure whether your condition can be treated, first go to your attending doctor and ask if there are any contraindications for your primary disease. Don’t try blindly on your own. After all, comfort is secondary and safety is the first priority.