Oh, my achin' back. Heating pad or icepack?

[trof]

Let me tell you, kids.
Getting old ain't for sissies.

Had to change a tire Monday.
I used to do that without even thinking about it.
Pulled a muscle in lower right back, just above the hip.

They say when you work a muscle you haven't worked in a while, the 3rd day is the worst for pain.
When you're in your late 60s, the 4th day is the worst.
I hope.

I've used a heating pad for the last 3 days.
Now I'm trying an icepack.
Damn.
:-(

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. Got drugs?

I find that painkillers - opiates, actually - do the best job of killing pain.

But, doesn't the heating pad feel better than an icepack?

I hope you feel better soon, from one geezer to another ......................

[trof]

4. Miz t. has some naproxin.

But it says "Do not use with alcohol".
Screw that.
Scotch is the main thing that helps.
;-)

Taking an occasional ibuprofen.
The heating pad does feel better.
:-)

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. Watch the ibuprofen -

it's just as hard on the liver as Naproxyn, and, with liquor, could be really dangerous.

Be careful. Sometimes it just takes one dose to mess up that great big organ. I learned this second-hand watching a friend almost die from drinking bourbon while taking Tylenol. Same with NSAIDs.

Good luck ...........................

[pengillian101]

17. Exactly!

Watch the ibuprofen -

it's just as hard on the liver as Naproxyn, and, with liquor, could be really dangerous.

Be careful. Sometimes it just takes one dose to mess up that great big organ. I learned this second-hand watching a friend almost die from drinking bourbon while taking Tylenol. Same with NSAIDs.

Good luck ...........................

[Tangerine LaBamba]

19. Didn't I just write that?

Your style is amazingly similar to mine.

Nice work.

;)

[pengillian101]

25. I think we are similar.

Your style is amazingly similar to mine.

Nice work.

;)

I hear you and raise you one.


Here's a funny!


Uffda Minnesoda!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncpDFvjdIy0

[Tangerine LaBamba]

27. Any place that can produce

Bob Dylan will always have a special place in my heart.

That video was great! And loons at the end, no less.

Good one, kid, and, in the spirit of good things, here's one with my favorites - border collies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw

[pengillian101]

30. Wow - that was truly amazing!

Thanks for posting the video. It's really fantastic :-)

[SeattleGirl]

2. When my back gets really bad, I often alternate heat and cold.

My doc suggested that --- 20 minutes heat, 20 minutes ice, then back to heat, and back to ice.

I find it works more often than not.

[VenusRising]

3. When my husband pulled a muscle in his back they said no heat.

It makes blood rush to the damaged muscle and causes swelling and more pain.

I really hope you feel better. :hi:

[trof]

6. A former nurse friend said that too.

The ice seems to be working.
I can stand up without screaming now.
;-)

[VenusRising]

10. That's great.

That means so much when you've been in pain for days.

My husband couldn't even sit comfortably. He finally said, "Just stand on it!!" When I did, something popped in his back and he immediately started doing push ups. We were both aghast at how quickly he was fixed. We spent a lot of money to find out what was wrong, and apparently something was out of place. He hasn't had any problem with it since. It was very lucky.

[elleng]

5. muscle relaxer,

early and often

[WorseBeforeBetter]

7. Anti-inflammatories, alternate heat/ice and gentle stretching (when ready)...

has worked for me. Not to mention a yummy injection of Toradol... I LUV that stuff.

[siligut]

9. Arnica gel works wonders on new muscle aches.

I agree with Tangerine LaBamba, don't mix anti-inflamatories with alcohol. Usually they say cold first then heat, but heat has always worked better for me.

[Zavulon]

11. Alternate.

I use bags of frozen peas when it's time for cold.

[hippywife]

16. That's what I was going to suggest.

20 minutes of one and then 20 minutes of the other. :hi:

[Zavulon]

18. That's how I go, 15-20 minutes.

It varies person to person, but no matter who you are, once you pass a half hour you're better off switching. :hi:

[Mike 03]

12. For an acute injury, Ice.

And I agree with those advising you to take NSAIDs.

Elevate your legs.

[mainegreen]

13. Icepack. *always* icepack.

hope you feel better!

[RagAss]

14. ICE !!!!

[XemaSab]

15. Opiates

:P

[Tangerine LaBamba]

21. Vicodin, oxycodone -

God's way of telling you not to suffer.

Sometimes I just love God ..................

[CaliforniaPeggy]

20. Whatever you do, my dear trof...

Feel better!

:hug:

[Kali]

22. ...

[Dappleganger]

23. Heat feels good initially...

it's ok w/in the first 24 hours, but afterwards use ice packs to help with swelling. Naproxen is also a good idea.

Right now I'm trying to recover from a day at a theme park yesterday and am using tramadol along with heat and ice, alternatively.

[Dappleganger]

24. Heat feels good initially...

it's ok w/in the first 24 hours, but afterwards use ice packs to help with swelling. Naproxen is also a good idea.

Right now I'm trying to recover from a day at a theme park yesterday and am using tramadol along with heat and ice, alternatively.

[justabob]

26. both + epsom salt

My chiropractor told me to rotate ice and heat, and if one worked better to use that. I found ice works better for me. I also recommend a nice soak in a tub with epsom salt, that will help too. Another thing is Biofreeze.... like icyhot or bengay, but works MUCH better. Back pain is no fun at all, I hope you feel better!

[trof]

28. Update, in case you're interested.

A lot better today.
Thursday was worst.
I did put some ice on it last night and it kind of numbed it up.
Today I've been drug-free, at least as far as ibuprofen is concerned.
If you count Scotch...since about 15 minutes ago, not so much.
:-)

[swishyfeet]

29. Good to hear

Don't short yourself on the ibuprofen though... I've not taken LESS than 800mg's of it every single day for the past 10 years.

...and I just got back from the liquor store. :)

[petronius]

31. My wife's physician recently told her (for a muscle spasm) to alternate cold and hot,

but he was more fixated on the cold.

In muscle-pain-situations, I've always thought the main dilemma was scotch or bourbon, but then I never went to medical school...

Hope it feels better soon!

[rainbow4321]

32. Just don't do heating pad AND any of those "hot" creams for muscle pain

Using both at the same time can cause burn marks. Of course, now I can't think of the any of cream NAMEs since I decided to write this, but it's the stuff that make the muscle area get warm when you rub the cream on the site.