What low back pain sufferers in North Phoenix should and shouldn’t do until they can be seen at Chiropractic Rehab and Neurology

Low back pain can occur when we least expect it. Working in the garden, playing sports or lifting something heavy can often result in a minor but painful injury to your low back. You need immediate relief, and Chiropractic Rehab and Neurology has these tips for what you should and shouldn’t do until you can be seen at our North Phoenix chiropractic office.

Cold Therapy. In the first 24 to 72 hours, apply an ice pack to the lower back to minimize swelling and inflammation. The ice pack will help reduce damage to tissues, and relieve pain by numbing the sore area. An “ice pack” can be a package of frozen vegetables, a gel ice pack or a frozen towel. Be sure to:

• Place a cloth between your cold pack of choice and your skin to prevent ice burn.

• Leave ice pack on for no more than 20 minutes, then off for 20 minutes, 8 to 10 times in a 24 hour period.

Heat Therapy. After the swelling has gone down, heat can be applied to encourage healing in your low back. Heat stimulates the blood flow and draws oxygen and nutrients to the injured area. Heat can decrease your stiffness and lessen the sensation of pain.

• Dry heat, such as a heating pad, can draw moisture from the body and leave the skin feeling dehydrated.

• Moist heat, like a hot bath or steam towel, may penetrate deeper into the muscles to relieve pain, and is better for people with dry skin.

If your low back pain is a chronic condition, you may want to experiment with heat and cold therapy to determine which works best for you. If you exercise, you may want to use both: heat to warm the muscles before activity, and cold to reduce inflammation afterwards.

If you’re experiencing low back pain or you’ve sustained a back injury, try the cold and heat therapies for immediate relief. Then call to make an appointment with the professionals at Chiropractic Rehab and Neurology, your chiropractic team in Tramonto, at 623-587-0277. Learn more about the services we offer at http://www.chirorehabcenter.com.

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