Role of Heat and Electrical Stimulation in Georgetown Back Pain Treatment
What seems more comforting – hot or cold? Bet you said ‘hot’! Dr. Butwell understands. Heat is comfortable and comforting to many Georgetown back pain sufferers. Cold is great therapy and suggested in early treatment phases, but heat has a part in healing. When paired - heat with electrical stimulation - pain can’t refuse. Heat and electrical stimulation calm and alleviate pain. Dr. Butwell advises that Georgetown back pain and neck pain patients use heat, ice and electrical stimulation as proper for pain relief.
BENEFIT OF HEAT FOR PAIN RELIEF
Heat decreases the perception of pain for many. Heat and cold top the listing of things that low back pain patients believe reduced their pain most followed by medication, rest, exercise, speaking with a health professional, stretching, not doing irritating activities, and psychological changes. (1) Doctors seek ways to produce “offset analgesia,” a overly large decrease in pain due to a small reduction in stimulation intensity. Heat is one familiar and documented way to do this. Electrical stimulation is another. Perceived or real, the pain reduction is positive for a back pain sufferer. (2) If something decreases pain for a Georgetown back pain patient, Dr. Butwell will consider its use.
BENEFIT OF HEAT AND ELECTRICAL STIMULATION FOR BACK PAIN RELIEF
Heat feels good. Electrical stimulation feels good. Back pain and neck pain patients seek feeling “good” when they don’t. For nonspecific low back pain sufferers, it is a significant cause of disability, larger than any other health condition around the world. Doctors and researchers are always on the lookout for a way to better control it. One group of researchers hypothesized that electrical muscle stimulation and heat would provide better pain relief and enhance patients’ subjective view of pain. And their experimental trial proved them right! They discovered a statistically significant reduction in pain after 18 treatments. The relief was even noted at 3 months’ follow up. Patients’ mood as well as muscle strength and endurance also improved. (3) Dr. Butwell directs Georgetown back pain and neck pain sufferers to pain relief with all types of modalities. Whatever it takes! The heat and stimulation combination enhance each other’s benefit.
CONTACT Dr. Butwell
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. David Homer on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson. For some conditions like spasmodic torticollis, heat can be especially comforting and pain relieving. The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management incorporates heat, too, in in-office chiropractic care and at- home care.
Schedule your Georgetown chiropractic appointment today! Dr. Butwell offers nonsurgical and nonpharmacological Georgetown pain relief. If heat is soothing and relieving to a Georgetown back pain sufferer, Dr. Butwell is prepared to use it!
