Torticollis?? PUT WARM OR COLD??!
Question:
Torticollis?? PUT WARM OR COLD??
Hi
I got a really painful Torticollis since yesterday. The pain is less then yesterday. Because I take a warm shower.
What should I do?
Put a ice pack?
or
Put something warm where it hurt??
thx!
Answers:
Use heat to induce relaxation of the muscle and increase circulation in the area. An increased circulation will help wash away the lactic acid that accumulated during your abnormal position when your were asleep. Plus, heat is soothing that can cause muscle relaxation.
Although ice pack is also recommended primarily to numben the affected area, the body's initial reaction to cold is increased spasm. Cold can be helpful if you can tolerate it to more than 15 minutes of application. First you would feel burning sensation within 5-7 minutes, then aching sensation within 10 minutes followed by numbness. The utmost effect of icing is after you removed it, it is expected to cause a surge of blood flow to the area causing "washing away" of the lactic acid as I have described with the heat application. I just hope you don't have a condition (Raynaud's disease) that makes you hypersensitive to cold.
Hope this makes you an informed consumer.
Good luck!