Hot/Cold Therapy

A migraine is an intense headache that can cause throbbing, or a pulsing sensation, in an area of you head…it basically feels like your heartbeat has migrated upwards to your head.  It’s not comfortable at all.  Unfortunately too, migraines are usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to both light and sound.  Therefore, if you’re in a room that is bright and loud, your migraine will seem to be that much worse.  The pain that migraines cause can last for hours to days, and it can even hurt so much that all you can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to rest until the pain subsides.

Summer time is here to stay with record breaking temperatures and what better way to cool off than jumping in a pool. Being in the water has more benefits than just cooling down and having fun. People from all around the world use water as a form of exercise and therapy. People with muscle and joint pain often find exercising unpleasant and turn to water therapy as a relief. The largest benefit of doing water therapy and exercises is that when you’re submerged in deep water, you unload 90% of your body weight through water buoyancy¹. By decreasing the amount of joint stress it is easier and less painful to perform exercises. People with a weight problem often find working out in water pleasant as the water environment soothes and supports their muscles and joints while staying cool.

People with medical heat intolerance conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) can feel their symptoms become worse when their body temperature increases. Many people can feel much worse by just a half degree difference in temperature! MS research has proven that heat and humidity often aggravate common MS symptoms ¹. This is where body cooling systems give relief to people experiencing MS symptoms. Now there is no reason to be stuck inside on a warm summer afternoon as these cooling systems gives freedom back to those who enjoy the outdoors.

You suffer from osteoarthritis and your knee pain is unbearable. After years of limited mobility and the inability to maintain an active lifestyle, you agree to have an orthopedic surgeon examine your knee. The surgeon determines you are a good candidate for a Total Knee Replacement (TKR). Most patients undergoing TKR are 50 to 80 years of age. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons a reduction of knee pain is experienced by more than 90% of TKR patients. Additionally, basic activities of daily living significantly improved.¹ Preparation for your joint replacement will help ease the stress of major surgery. AllegroMedical.com provides 3 Tips to help you prepare for your Total Knee Replacement Surgery.

Almost everyone experiences back pain at some time in their lives.  For me, and I suspect for most, back pain is surprisingly debilitating and ridiculously persistent.  The good news is there are products to help manage back pain or even eliminate it all together.  

The type of arthritis pain you are experiencing, or the timing of the pain, determines whether to use heat therapy or cold therapy. You may have to try several things to see what works.  Are you having acute pain or is it more of a lingering ache?  Is the pain in your hand, or deep in your hip? Here are some quick guidelines to help you decide when to use heat and when to use cold when treating arthritis pain.