Heat or Ice for bulging disc & chronic back pain?

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DailyGroomer
DailyGroomer Posts: 93 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Long story short, I've had chronic back pain for 20 years - I'm only 33 :(. Things have escalated over the years and I ended up with a bulging disc and pinched nerve. To help with the pain, I bought a heating pad and would leave it on all day at work.

I had an epidural steroid injection last Thursday. It helped immensely with the nerve pain, I only have a twinge here and there. My lower back felt pretty good, so I continued working out with my personal trainer. Wednesday it was really cold in our office so I put on the heating pad for warmth. Yesterday my back was a little sore but I attributed to doing lots of core work the night before. So I had my heating pad on ALL day yesterday. I had another training session last night and by the time I got home my back was really sore, so I put the heating pad on ALL evening.

Is it the fact that the epidural shot only worked for a week? Or is it just my muscles from the heating pad? It feels like I kind of induced this pain and brought it on myself with the heating pad. It was fine before I started using it again.

Can anyone help or share their experiences?

Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,639 Member
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    The main difference that you've stated is that you did a lot of core work which isn't a regularity, so I'd attribute it to that.

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  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,073 Member
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    Personally I would speak to your medical team and get their advice on your training and treatment. Either could be aggrevating it, my chiropractor advised me against heat treating my back injury as the muscles around the injury were inflamed and the heat actually made it worse.
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
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    MrsStealthHealth has a similar back problem, which has been going on for years (probably 6 to 8). Eventually she was prescribed epidural steroids - they helped her for about 6 months (on her second now).

    The consultant was very pleased with the 6 months benefit - in his opinion 6 months is great and 3 months typical (although he said that sometimes the cure the problem). He indicated that the 2nd injection was only worth it for MrsStealthHealth because she seemed to respond well to the first injection.

    The next step in her treatment will be to work with pain management specialist - in other words - the the specialist feels that he's done all he is prepared to do and she will have to manage with the condition (although there is some indication that if patients can become practically pain free, from exercise/posture adjustments and painkillers that the resulting relaxation further improves posture and mobility and patients effectively feel "cured").

    For her, heat helps.

    Sorry - I wish I could be more positive.
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
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    The injection's success rate is different for everyone. Some people get one and never need one again and other people, it works for a week. As I said in another thread, mine only lasted 4 weeks and my pain was never gone, just dulled.

    Are you modifying your workouts or are you continuing on with whatever you were doing before your diagnosis? You may feel better, but the issue is still there. You really have to be careful not to make it worse. Unrelated, my menstrual cycle intensifies my pain like crazy. You may want to track how you feel during that time.

    As for heat vs. ice, I've been told to use both/whatever helps, but no more than 20 minutes of exposure.
  • Lizarking
    Lizarking Posts: 507 Member
    edited March 2017
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    I highly recommend Dr. STuart McGill's book "The Back Mechanic." I horked up my back about 6 years ago.

    So far following his advice, most of the pain is gone. No drugs, no injections, no surgery.


    He helps you (roughly) identify the pain causing movements, and gives suggestions on corrections/movements/etc to help avoid aggravating the issue.
  • mgalovic01
    mgalovic01 Posts: 388 Member
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    Ice ice baby
  • DailyGroomer
    DailyGroomer Posts: 93 Member
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    Lizarking wrote: »
    I highly recommend Dr. STuart McGill's book "The Back Mechanic." I horked up my back about 6 years ago.

    So far following his advice, most of the pain is gone. No drugs, no injections, no surgery.


    He helps you (roughly) identify the pain causing movements, and gives suggestions on corrections/movements/etc to help avoid aggravating the issue.

    I will definitely look into it!
  • DailyGroomer
    DailyGroomer Posts: 93 Member
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    _dracarys_ wrote: »
    The injection's success rate is different for everyone. Some people get one and never need one again and other people, it works for a week. As I said in another thread, mine only lasted 4 weeks and my pain was never gone, just dulled.

    Are you modifying your workouts or are you continuing on with whatever you were doing before your diagnosis? You may feel better, but the issue is still there. You really have to be careful not to make it worse. Unrelated, my menstrual cycle intensifies my pain like crazy. You may want to track how you feel during that time.

    As for heat vs. ice, I've been told to use both/whatever helps, but no more than 20 minutes of exposure.

    I did modify them when the nerve pain was the worst. We would focus on upper body and isometric core. The last 3 training sessions we incorporated more legs and combined moves but no jumping (jumping planks, jump squats, etc), everything I do is done in a way to protect my back. Slow, smooth movements and not a lot of twisting. I had already cleared it with my pain management doctor and he said to be mindful that if something hurts while doing it, discontinue. I haven't really felt pain DURING an exercise other than the burning from fatiguing the muscle and never in my back. We did do some core the other day and I told her I felt it in my back so we changed the exercise

    TOM is in 5 days.. I do have increased back pain then.
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
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    DailyGroomer wrote: »
    _dracarys_ wrote: »
    The injection's success rate is different for everyone. Some people get one and never need one again and other people, it works for a week. As I said in another thread, mine only lasted 4 weeks and my pain was never gone, just dulled.

    Are you modifying your workouts or are you continuing on with whatever you were doing before your diagnosis? You may feel better, but the issue is still there. You really have to be careful not to make it worse. Unrelated, my menstrual cycle intensifies my pain like crazy. You may want to track how you feel during that time.

    As for heat vs. ice, I've been told to use both/whatever helps, but no more than 20 minutes of exposure.

    I did modify them when the nerve pain was the worst. We would focus on upper body and isometric core. The last 3 training sessions we incorporated more legs and combined moves but no jumping (jumping planks, jump squats, etc), everything I do is done in a way to protect my back. Slow, smooth movements and not a lot of twisting. I had already cleared it with my pain management doctor and he said to be mindful that if something hurts while doing it, discontinue. I haven't really felt pain DURING an exercise other than the burning from fatiguing the muscle and never in my back. We did do some core the other day and I told her I felt it in my back so we changed the exercise

    TOM is in 5 days.. I do have increased back pain then.

    Good deal.

    I'm kind of in the same place; trying to figure out what I can do that doesn't hurt. So far, everything hurts lol. As for TOM, it took me a few months to realize that it was way worse during that time, so I'm a little more gentle with exercise then. The whole issue sucks; I sympathize!
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,464 Member
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    If the heating pad seems to aggravate it, don't use it. Heat increases blood flow & helps reduce tightness. Cold reduces blood flow & helps reduce inflammation. Alternating heat/cold can help with spasms. Do what seems to help at the time. Doctors are just guessing when it comes to treating most chronic pain. One doctor/PT used a lot of heat aND the next one said never use heat, use only cold.
    Injections have different levels of effectiveness for different amounts of time for each person.
    It's all a cr4p shoot and I've been told as much, but not that bluntly!
    Hope you feel better soon!
  • DailyGroomer
    DailyGroomer Posts: 93 Member
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    lorrpb wrote: »
    If the heating pad seems to aggravate it, don't use it. Heat increases blood flow & helps reduce tightness. Cold reduces blood flow & helps reduce inflammation. Alternating heat/cold can help with spasms. Do what seems to help at the time. Doctors are just guessing when it comes to treating most chronic pain. One doctor/PT used a lot of heat aND the next one said never use heat, use only cold.
    Injections have different levels of effectiveness for different amounts of time for each person.
    It's all a cr4p shoot and I've been told as much, but not that bluntly!
    Hope you feel better soon!

    Thank.. They charged my insurance 4k!! 1998 per shot (they did L3 & L4)
  • simonebuckley81
    simonebuckley81 Posts: 4 Member
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    Ive got a bulging disc in c5/c6 with neck and shoulder pain im currently on nupentin plus other painkillers but I also use deepheat night and icegel and sometimes the ice or heat usually after working out i use the Icegel and or ice it brings down inflammation and is soothing you could try alternating the heat and ice in 10 minute intervals 10 mins heat 10 mins ice whatever makes you feel comfortable
  • simonebuckley81
    simonebuckley81 Posts: 4 Member
    edited April 2017
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    You might like to read this http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/sciatica-first-aid

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