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Lumbar sprain: cold or heat?

Hot or cold lumbar sprain

A lumbar sprain is a very common injury. It can be very painful and take weeks or even months to heal. 

In this article, we will discuss the best ways to treat a lumbar sprain. We hope this information will help you get back to your daily life as quickly as possible!

 

How do you know if you have a lumbar sprain?

A lumbar sprain is an injury to the lower back. Particularly associated in colloquial parlance with a "turn of the kidney", "lumbago" or "crossed back", lumbar sprains involve damage to one or more ligaments located in the lower back. 

Sometimes these pains radiate up to the buttock or thigh, which can be particularly uncomfortable.

It can be caused by a fall, trauma, poor posture, lifting a heavy object or twisting.

Symptoms of a lumbar sprain include pain in the lower back, tenderness when touching the affected area, muscle spasms and difficulty moving the legs or spine. 

If you have difficulty moving your back, this is another sign that it could be the result of a lumbar sprain.

It's best to consult a professional as soon as possible so that he or she can diagnose and treat your injury correctly.

With proper treatment, most people recover from a lumbar sprain within a few weeks.

 

Symptoms associated with lumbar sprains

 

Here is a summary of the main symptoms associated with lumbar sprains:

 

Pain : The most common symptom of this type of injury is undoubtedly pain. It often appears insidiously and can be very sharp. 

People suffering from low back pain feel their backs "lock up" and may remain in the same position for a long time.

 

Stiffness : Back flexion is the most difficult movement to perform after a lumbar strain or ligament tear. 

The ligament, having had some of its fibers ruptured, is particularly fragile when re-tensioned. Movements that require the back to be forward will therefore be difficult to perform.

 

Inflammation : Slight swelling and warmth may also be present, due to the inflammatory nature of the condition.

 

What to do when faced with lower back pain?

There are a number of actions to prioritize in order to act quickly when faced with low back pain. Here are a few tips.

 

Avoid painful movements

The first thing to avoid is any position or movement that increases your pain. Most of the time, movements that require the back to bend forward are painful in the case of a lumbar sprain. 

If you have to bend over, remember to bend your knees and keep your back straight to avoid further injury. 

It's not advisable to strain or lift when you have a lumbar sprain. Since your ligaments are already injured, this could lead to a more serious injury, such as a herniated disc.

 

Vary your positions

Staying in the same position for too long could result in more stiffness. It is therefore advisable to change your position every 30 to 45 minutes during the day. 

You can vary from sitting to lying on one side, lying on the other side, standing up for a few moments, and so on. 

If you lie on your side, it's a good idea to put a pillow between your legs to prevent your lumbar region from twisting too much. If you sleep on your back, place a folded towel on your lower back to support your lumbar spine. Finally, it's not advisable to sleep on your stomach.

 

Exercising at home

When it comes to back pain, rest alone is not the solution. Prolonged bed rest can lead to loss of muscle strength and increased stiffness. 

The most important thing is to get moving. Activity and stretching (without heavy lifting, of course) will help relieve the pain.

The following exercises are simple and can be performed at home. If you are currently suffering from a lumbar sprain, don't hesitate to try these exercises. exercises

 

  • The cat pose
  • The child's posture
  • Pelvic tilt
  • knees to chest

 

Hot or cold lumbar sprain

 

 

See a chiropractor

Unfortunately, lumbar sprains are all too common. By getting it treated quickly, you reduce your chances of recurrence. 

A chiropractor is a health-care professional who knows how to properly manage your lumbar sprain. Among other things, he'll help restore mobility to your lumbar spine and shorten your recovery time.

You can make an appointment with us if you suffer from lower back pain.

 

Can lumbar sprains be treated with hot and cold?

The application of hot or cold is a question that often comes up when talking about lumbar sprains. To answer this question, it's possible to reduce the intensity of low-back pain with cold, but also with heat.

Fear not, you can never go wrong applying cold to a wound. You can't make it worse. Not so with heat. So, when in doubt, it's best to go cold first.

 

Why apply cold?

When you're injured, there's always inflammation. This is completely normal and necessary for healing. 

However, it's the over-inflammation that creates the pain. Cold then takes on the role of anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling. Cold is usually used within the first 3 days following an injury.

Cold must be applied quickly to the wound to create vasoconstriction, which causes a decrease in blood flow. This helps reduce swelling and promotes faster wound healing.

You can use a bag of ice, a bag of frozen peas or a specially designed bag of gel. The cold source should be wrapped in a thin, damp cloth to prevent frostbite. 

Apply for about 15 minutes, but never longer than that, as you'll create the opposite effect to the one you're looking for. Wait about 45 minutes, then repeat until the swelling has gone down.

The effects of applying cold to a wound:

 

  • Vasoconstrictor effects
  • Locally reduces blood circulation
  • Reduces the risk of internal bleeding
  • Limits inflammation and swelling
  • Reduces pain
  • Reduces muscle spasms
  • Induces temporary stiffness

 

Why apply heat?

Once symptoms are under control, heat is used to promote healing and reduce pain, muscle tension and stiffness. Heat acts as a muscle relaxant.

Heat has a completely opposite effect on blood flow. It creates vasodilation, resulting in increased blood circulation.

This phenomenon helps eliminate toxins in the muscles. It is therefore effective in relieving muscle stiffness.

You can use a magic bag, a gel bag or a hot-water bottle. As with the cold, your spring should be wrapped in a damp cloth. 

Apply it to the targeted area for around 30 minutes, then remove it for another 30 minutes. The operation can be repeated until the stiffness has completely disappeared. There are also moist heating pads that can be plugged in to generate high-performance moist heat and penetrate deep into the muscles.

During the healing process, cold can be applied again if inflammatory symptoms and pain worsen.

 

The effects of heat application:

 

  • Vasodilator effects
  • Locally increases blood circulation
  • Increases cellular metabolism
  • Reduces pain and stiffness
  • Relaxes muscles
  • Promotes tissue elasticity

 

 

Hot or cold lumbar sprain

 

Precautions to be taken before applying heat or cold

Cold or heat treatment is contraindicated in certain cases:

 

  • Traffic problems at application site 
  • Sensitivity problem at application site
  • Cognitive or communication disorders
  • Deep vein thrombosis/thrombus/embolism
  • Tuberculosis 
  • Skin disease at application site
  • Tumor or cancer at application site

 

Use caution when applying heat if you are pregnant.

In conclusion, the most important thing is to use a modality that relieves your symptoms and brings you well-being. 

Applying ice or heat should not increase your symptoms. 

If, after a few days, your injury doesn't seem to be improving, if it's limiting or you see that it's taking a long time to heal, it's suggested that you consult a health professional to promote optimal healing.

Heat promotes effective muscle stretching, while ice reduces post-exercise pain. Consult a professional to better adapt the therapy to the evolution of your condition.

 

Make an appointment and take advantage of our first free consultation!

Not only will we treat your pain, we'll help you prevent recurrences.

 

We look forward to meeting you!

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