How Hot Compress for Pain is Used

Millions of people worldwide use a hot compress to relieve different kinds of aches and pains. About half of these people have no idea how to use it properly. How long are you supposed to leave a hot compress on? How hot is too hot?

How to prepare a hot compress

• Use a clean and absorbent cloth, such as a fresh towel.
• Soak in warm water (not boiling water!) for a few seconds.
• Squeeze to minimize dripping without totally wringing out all the water.
• Fold to achieve an ideal size based on the affected body part. It should cover enough surface area on the affected part to effectively relieve pain.

Many hot packs are also available in the market. They are easy to use but potentially carry the risk of burns, especially if they are overheated and not tested properly before use.

What happens when a hot compress is too hot

A hot compress should not be too hot that it scalds your skin. It should be comfortably warm, just enough to bring you comfort. If a compress is too hot, it can cause burns or erythema ab igne.

Burns can cause more pain and swelling; a second degree burn can even cause blistering of the skin and potential infection. Erythema ab igne, on the other hand, results in a marbled appearance of the skin due to heat insufficient to cause burns but still enough to cause tissue damage.

Compresses are usually used for 5 to 15 minutes every two hours. Some health practitioners will recommend continuous use of hot compresses as needed, but this can compromise the integrity of the skin.

When to use hot compresses

Hot compresses are effective in alleviating inflammation, especially after the first 24 hours. The warmth helps dilate blood vessels, making nutrient transport more efficient. Toxins are also cleared more effectively because of the increased caliber of the blood vessels.

During the first 24 hours, a cold compress is used. The low temperature constricts blood vessels, decreasing the seepage of inflammatory chemicals and water from vessels into tissues. This helps stop swelling and inflammation. One day after the initial insult, a hot compress is instituted.

Using a cold compress compress can also help relieve pain. Learn more about cold compresses and pain relief.

Hot Compress: Less Inflammation Means Less Pain

A hot compress can help alleviate pain by interfering with pain signals. But it plays another long-term effect that helps guarantee that pain won’t come back.

Using a hot compress provides comfort from pain by interfering with pain stimuli. Aside from blocking pain signals, a hot compress also plays a role in inflammation, further potentiating the natural pain relief it initially provides.

 

Why does inflammation occur?

Inflammation is supposed to be a good thing. The body mounts this reaction after an injury to help the injured tissues heal and recuperate. It helps you fight injury by doing the following:

• Inflammation brings about changes that help expedite tissue repair.
• It alerts a person that a certain body part has been injured and needs attention.

 

How does inflammation cause pain?

Inflammation consists of several changes that may worsen pain:

• When a tissue gets inflamed, fluid seeps out from the blood into the tissues. This phenomenon is called edema (swelling). The extra fluid occupies space and exerts pressure on nerve endings, resulting in pain.
• When a tissue is inflamed, substances such as prostaglandins and bradykinins are also released. Sadly, these substances activate nerve endings and result in pain.
• Because inflammation activates nerves to help remind a person that the injured part requires extra care and attention, pain is almost always a manifestation of inflammation.

 

Is inflammation always a good thing?

Although pain and inflammation play a protective role, they can bring about much discomfort. Pain may become intolerable and, if excessive or inappropriate, may be detrimental to one’s quality of life.

 

How can a hot compress reduce inflammation?

Using a hot compress works best 24 hours after an injury. During the first 24 hours, a cold compress is more appropriate. (Read about how a cold compress relieves pain).

A hot compress reduces inflammation through the following mechanisms:

• A hot compress dilates blood vessels to promote draining of inflammatory products and wastes from the injured tissues. Inflammatory cytokines are transported away from the area more effectively.
• Fluid from the swollen tissues goes back into the blood vessels easily if the blood vessels are dilated. Swelling is reduced, relieving pressure on the nerves.

Although hot compresses are quite useful in reducing pain and inflammation, improper use may lead to burns, compression, and erythema ab igne. Find out more on how to use a hot compress.

Sources:

Klein, Milton J. Superficial Heat and Cold. Jan 2009. [Emedicine].

Lehman JF, De Lateur BJ. Therapeutic heat. In: Therapeutic Heat and Cold. 4^th ed. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1990:417-581.

Fedorczyk J. The role of physical agents in modulating pain. J Hand Ther. Apr-Jun 1997;10(2):110-21.

Lehman JF, De Lateur BJ. Cryotherapy. In: Therapeutic Heat and Cold. 4^th ed. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1990:590-632.

Helfand AE, Bruno J. Therapeutic modalities and procedures. Part I: cold and heat. Clin Podiatry. Aug 1984;1(2):301-13. [Medline].

Chapman BL, Liebert RB, Lininger MR, et al. An introduction to physical therapy modalities. Adolesc Med State Art Rev. May 2007;18(1):11-23, vii-viii. [Medline].

Heat therapy: Dos and Don’ts

Heat therapy is a popular method of natural pain relief all over the world. Time and time again, it has proven its usefulness as a means to provide pain relief without subjecting the body to harmful side effects of drugs and surgery.

However, heat therapy also comes with its own risks. Although useful in many situations, not all conditions will benefit from heat. In fact, there are conditions that will worsen after heat is applied.

When is heat therapy indicated?

Heat therapy has existed more thousands of years, helping relieve different body aches and problems. Here are just a few examples of conditions that can benefit from heat therapy:

• Muscle spasms that cause pain or discomfort
• Abdominal cramps
• Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea)
• Superficial blood vessel clotting (thrombophlebitis)

When should heat therapy NOT be used?

Although heat therapy is generally safe, there are a few conditions that may worsen after certain types of heat application. A few of these conditions are listed below:

• Hot compresses that use wet towels are not allowed for use in surgical wounds. It is important for surgical wounds and incisions to remain dry at all times to prevent infection.
• Hydrotherapy using warm should be used with caution in patients with ostomies. An ostomy is a surgically produced opening on the body, such as a tracheostomy and a colostomy.
• Patients with sensory problems should use heat packs and other forms of heat therapy carefully. If you are applying heat therapy on a numb area, test the temperature at regular intervals. When you apply heat therapy on an area of the body that has sensory deficits, you cannot tell if a hot pack is too hot or if your skin is starting to burn.
• Right after an injury, heat therapy is not the desired physical modality. Heat may further increase swelling during the first twenty-four hours; cold therapy is better for such injuries.

What harmful effects should you watch out for when using heat therapy?

Heat therapy, when prepared and administered correctly for pain relief, usually poses no problems. However, improper use of heat therapy may lead to the following adverse effects:

• Burns
• Erythema ab igne
• Blisters
• Increased swelling
• Unwarranted masking of pain. If you are experiencing pain because of a serious condition, using heat therapy may delay diagnosis and treatment. If you feel that your pain is caused by a serious underlying condition, consult your doctor.

Did you know that heat therapy helps decrease certain types of inflammation? Read more on hot compresses and inflammation!

Has heat therapy helped you overcome pain? Share your experience and help uplift someone else’s suffering; tell your story through the comment form below!

Heat therapy: Benefits Other Than Pain Relief

More and more people are resorting to heat therapy for pain relief. Heat therapy carries many benefits and has minimal side effects, making it safe for you and your family.

Although pain relief by itself is enough reason for you to use heat therapy, there are many other advantages that you can get from it. Unfortunately, very few people know how heat can help promote health.

What are the benefits of heat therapy?

Heat therapy is a potent physical remedy. It acts to relieve pain and promote health by exerting the following effects:

• Heat therapy improves circulation in the involved area. Blood vessels dilate when subjected to heat, in turn promoting blood flow.
• It promotes your capacity to get rid of toxins the natural way. Because blood flow is increased, toxins are pulled out of injured tissues more effectively.
• Heat increases oxygen delivery to tissues. When you apply a hot compress on a swollen part of your body, you are helping increase the oxygen supply to that area. Increase in oxygen means better tissue repair. This also gets rid of carbon dioxide, lowering the acid level in tissues.
• A hot pack helps promote the natural healing process of your body. Better healing means less toxins that may cause pain and swelling.

How does heat therapy help decrease pain?

There are many ways that heat therapy can help you if you need considerable pain relief. A few of these mechanisms are listed below:

• Heat therapy helps increase the caliber of blood vessels in your muscles. This greatly increases tissue ventilation, lowering lactic acid and other substances that can cause muscle aches.
• The hot temperature stimulates the same nerve endings that pain stimuli also stimulate. If you use heat therapy on a painful area, the pain signals are muted to help transmit the temperature signals to your brain.
• Heat relieves stiff joints by increasing lubrication. The synovial fluid in your joints, which acts as a lubricant, is partly dependent on the amount of blood that reaches your joints. When you use heat therapy on a stiff joint, blood flow is increased, promoting synovial fluid production.

How is heat transmitted to affected areas of the body?

Heat is produced and transmitted to the body through different mechanisms. Most heat therapy modalities transfer heat to painful areas of your body via the following means:

• Conduction (transfer of heat from a solid medium to your body)
• Radiation (heat produced from a distant source)
• Convection (heat transfer from liquid)
• A combination of the above

In what conditions is heat therapy contraindicated? Find out by reading heat therapy dos and don’ts.

Do you disagree with the above information? Let your voice be heard; share your comments below!