Can hot compresses be used during the remission period of chronic pain? Why shouldn’t water be used?

Most chronic pain relief periods can be treated with hot compresses. The so-called "cannot touch water" is a misunderstanding with applicable prerequisites, and does not need to be observed in all situations.

Last week I just picked up a girl who has been suffering from cervical spondylosis for three years. I heard from the elderly at home that when she was in pain, touching water would cause "moisture" to enter, and hot compresses would aggravate edema. She didn't even dare to use hot water on her neck when taking a bath. When she was very stiff, she only dared to put a warm patch on her neck. Instead, she developed contact dermatitis twice. After an evaluation was conducted on her and there was no sign of skin damage or neuropathic pain, she was asked to wash her neck and shoulders with hot water of about 40 degrees for 5 minutes every day when taking a bath. After a week of follow-up consultation, she said that most of the tightness had disappeared and she could turn her head much more easily.

In fact, what the older generation says about "don't touch water" is mostly based on the accumulated experience in two special situations. One is chronic pain accompanied by skin damage, such as post-herpetic neuralgia where the scab has not fallen off, or local skin ulceration after the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Touching unclean water can easily cause infection, and touching cold water can also stimulate local vasoconstriction and aggravate discomfort.； The other type is that in the 2-3 days just after the acute phase, the local inflammation has not been completely metabolized. Touching cold water or soaking in water for a long time may indeed aggravate the discomfort. These experiences have been passed down for a long time, and they have gradually been mistaken as taboos in the remission period of all chronic pain.

For the vast majority of chronic musculoskeletal pain, such as lumbar muscle strain and degenerative knee arthritis, hot compresses are a safe way to relax. Whether it is a hot water bag with dry hot compress or a warm towel with moist hot compress, it can help relax tense muscles, speed up local circulation and take away accumulated lactic acid and inflammatory factors. It is like applying a layer of lubricant to a twisted bearing, making the movement much smoother.

Of course, not all situations are suitable for hot compresses. Many clinical colleagues will also remind you to avoid special situations. For example, hot compresses are not recommended during the remission period of gouty arthritis. High temperature may cause uric acid to be more easily deposited in soft tissues due to dilation of blood vessels, which can easily induce acute attacks. At this time, try to use water at room temperature. Don't be greedy for heat or freeze.； There are also neuropathic pains such as trigeminal neuralgia, which are particularly sensitive to temperature stimulation even in the remission period. Not to mention hot compresses, hot water, and cold wind may trigger pain. This is a situation that needs special avoidance.

Many people say that water hurts after applying a hot compress. In fact, most of the discomfort is caused by the pores opening up after applying the hot compress and immediately touching ice water or blowing cold wind, causing the blood vessels to shrink suddenly.