When you pull a lower-back muscle, they need special care to heal. Without understanding the body's recovery process, many people innocently cause themselves more low-back pain. And they slow their own healing.
This one practice seems harmless, and it offers temporary relief from pain and soreness. So, how could it be causing long-term damage?
This one common self-care practice is Heat application.
Typical scenario:
It's the first heavy snowfall of the winter season, and your lower back muscles were not ready to shovel the entire driveway and front walkway. The next day, your whole lumbar area is extremely sore. So, you settle into the couch in the evening, with a heat pad on your lower back.
Heat is like a new trend in self-medication. We have heated car seats, and even our couches have cushions that heat up. We keep heat packs at the office, too. Heat offers a quick fix, but it may aggravate the condition.
Why is heat application so bad for relieving aches and pains?
Pain and soreness might be your back's way of screaming out for assist. They are frequently a sign of inflammation, and overactivity.
When we apply heat, our mind blocks out pain signals temporarily. But if the pain is due to inflammation, the pain would return when the heat is removed. And it could return with a vengeance.
Is your weary body calling out for more heat?
Instead, apply Ice. Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation are the four basic steps of first aid. (Notice: heat is not included).
If you consider that your lower back muscles need to rest and cool down, then try the greater relief and healing of ice.
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