Healthy Hints – Heat… and the Magic Sock!

Heat and the magic sock!
A new injury can benefit from the use of ice to help reduce initial inflammation that causes pressure (pain). However, most chronic pain issues should never have ice put on them and here is why: cold causes muscles to constrict (tighten) which will only add to pain once the numbing moment passes.
What we want to do is relax the muscle on a long term injury by using only heat. Try hot showers, hot baths, a warm compress, warming oils or the magic sock.
What is the magic sock? Well, you take a large white cotton sock and fill it with uncooked white rice, tie it off and place it in the microwave for 1 minute. Now you have a very flexible and easily transportable heating ‘pad’ that will hold warmth for a pretty good amount of time with the added benefit of adjustable pressure. Give it try and let me know how it helps.