Types of heat & how each helps pain differently
Living with chronic pain can feel like an endless battle, but sometimes, the simplest solutions can offer the most profound relief. Heat therapy may be a time-honored tradition in pain management, but your options have evolved far beyond the humble hot water bottle. Let’s look at each type of heat and how it might or might not help your pain condition.
The steamy secret of wet heat
The moisture in “wet” heat, which comes from microwavable grain or clay heat packs or baths, allows heat to penetrate deeper into your tissues, potentially offering more effective relief. It’s particularly soothing for stiff joints and tight muscles, and you can DIY one in about five minutes. Many of them can also be thrown in the freezer when you need an ice pack, which can be really useful.
However, you can’t drag a bath around with you (I WISH) and that heat pack has to be reheated every half an hour or so. There’s a higher risk of burns if you’re not careful with the temperature, you’ll have to replace it every so often, and your house will smell like rice.
Electric Dreams: Modern Dry Heat Solutions
Dry heat comes from options like plug-in electric blankets and heating pads. They’re easy, convenient, and don’t necessarily look like medical equipment. Dry heat is far easier to use for large areas, is a stable temperature, and usually comes with some sort of auto-off feature when it’s been running too long. They come in every shape, size, color and pattern you may dream of.
But there are downsides. Dry heat doesn’t penetrate as deeply as wet heat, helping your joints and inflammation less. They require being plugged in (or at least, with charged batteries) so your mobility is limited. You can’t throw an electric blanket in the freezer quite like you can a grain heat pack, either. And the older your dry heat item gets, the more on your guard you have to be against burns and fires.
But there are even MORE types of heat to help your pain! Things like:
Heat wraps with chemical heating elements:
These are disposable wraps that generate heat through chemical reactions– Thermacare has been the gold standard for years, but there are a million different options online. They are portable and convenient, can provide steady heat for several hours. They’re also good for targeted applications: they come in many different shapes and sizes in order to best fit your neck, lower back, or hands. But like all single-use products, the cost (and environmental impact!) can build up over time. Furthermore, these don’t reach the temperatures you can get with other kinds of heat that helps pain. But especially in wintertime, these can be a lifesaver for tight joints and muscles. (And on the flip side, when you need cold not heat, check out these Biofreeze patches!)
Ultrasound heat therapy
Ultrasound heat therapy, often simply called therapeutic ultrasound, is a treatment method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce heat deep within body tissues.
In ultrasound, a machine generates sound waves, which are applied to the skin using a transducer head with a special gel. As the waves penetrate the tissues, they cause microscopic vibrations in the cells. These vibrations create heat through friction, warming the deep tissues.
Ultrasound has been used to treat pain conditions for years. It can help with muscle spasms, joint stiffness, and tendon injuries and may promote healing in some soft tissue injuries. It works because it penetrates deeper than many external heat sources and can be precisely targeted to specific areas. This kind of heat may help by speeding up the healing process, improving blood flow and tissue elasticity.
However, this type of heat has some limitations on treating your pain. Treatment requires an office visit by a trained professional (usually a physical therapist). This kind of heat is not suitable for all conditions or body areas, and effects may be short-lived. Ultrasound therapy is not a cure. But when my muscles were clenched so tight I couldn’t turn my head sideways, it was the only thing that helped.
It’s important to note that while many patients and practitioners report benefits from ultrasound therapy, scientific evidence for its effectiveness is mixed.
The intensity of infrared
Moving into more high-tech territory, we find infrared heat therapy. The promise of infrared is heat that can reach deep into your body without burning your skin. It’s like having a targeted, invisible heating pad that can penetrate further than traditional methods. Some people swear by infrared saunas or lamps for pain relief. The catch? The equipment (or sessions) can be pricey and because it requires more careful application to avoid overheating, you need someone trained to make this treatment happen.
Paraffin wax treatments
If you’re dealing with arthritic hands or feet, you might find relief in paraffin wax treatments. Dipping your aching joints into warm, liquid wax might sound strange, but many find it incredibly soothing. The wax provides both heat and a gentle compression as it solidifies. It can even improve skin texture as a bonus. The downside? Like much of these options, it requires special equipment, and I won’t lie, you’re apt to make a mess. And if you have a cut or irritated skin, don’t use it until you heal.
Cutting-edge kinds of heat to treat your pain
Seeking newer, high-tech heat solutions to help your pain? Far infrared therapy and diathermy might be worth checking out. Far infrared is like infrared’s more penetrating cousin, potentially offering even deeper tissue relief. Diathermy, which uses electromagnetic currents to generate heat within the body, can reach deep tissues effectively. Both require specialized equipment and professional oversight, putting them out of reach for casual home use. (I have no experience with either of them, but I am hella intrigued!)
Hope the heat helps!
Remember that what works best can vary greatly from person to person. Give your doctor a heads up before you try any new treatment– they may have a suggestion for which type of heat will help your specific pain. Your pain management clinic or physical therapy office may offer some of these options.
In the end, finding the right heat therapy is a matter of trial and error, like many complementary therapies. It might take some experimentation to find what’s “just right” for you. But with such a wide array of options available, chances are good that you’ll find a kind of heat therapy to help melt away some pain.
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