Can hot compress be used during the remission period of chronic pain? How should women apply it?

The vast majority of women in the remission period of chronic pain can use hot compresses. As long as they avoid taboo situations such as inflammatory activity and skin ulceration, using the right method can help reduce soreness and stiffness and speed up the subsidence of discomfort.

However, there is now a small clinical controversy about this matter, and not everyone thinks it is useful. Some doctors in orthopedics and rehabilitation departments will recommend hot compresses during the remission period for patients with non-inflammatory chronic pain, such as lumbar muscle strain caused by long-term sitting, residual abdominal distension after menstruation, and cold legs caused by cold weather. Hot compresses are equivalent to "loosening soil" for tense soft tissues, expanding local blood vessels to speed up circulation, and metabolizing local "junk" such as lactic acid and pain-causing factors faster. The relaxation after application is real. However, some doctors will remind you that if your chronic pain is related to chronic inflammation, such as the local area is still a little swollen during the remission period, and the skin temperature is higher than other areas, such as synovitis that has not yet been completely stabilized, gout remission period, or post-herpetic neuralgia has just passed the acute stage, blind hot application will cause the blood vessels to expand too much, aggravate the inflammatory exudation, and cause pain that was not originally painful.

I came across two typical examples when I was a volunteer in the rehabilitation department. One was a 26-year-old operating girl who had suffered from lumbar protrusion for three years. As long as the pain was not so acute that she could not walk, she would use a hot water bag wrapped in two layers of cotton towels to compress her waist for 15 minutes before going to bed every day. She persisted for half a year and said that now her waist is no longer as hard as a slate when she wakes up in the morning, and even bending over to put on socks is much smoother. The other was a 32-year-old mother who had chronic pelvic inflammatory disease for just two weeks. I heard from the community aunt that hot compresses can prevent recurrence, so she held a plugged-in sea salt pack and applied it on her lower abdomen for almost an hour every day.

In fact, to put it bluntly, you just need to do a small check for yourself first, so you don’t have to worry about whether it can be applied. First touch the uncomfortable area to see if it is red, swollen, hot to the touch, or has any skin breaks or rashes. If so, don’t use hot compresses yet. See a doctor first to see if there are any mobility issues. Don’t be too greedy about the temperature. Many girls think that applying it until the skin is red and painful is effective. This is a complete misunderstanding. 40-45℃ is just right, which is about the temperature you take a warm bath at. Whether you use a hot water bottle, a warm patch or a sea salt pack, you must put a thin layer of cotton cloth on it. Do not apply it directly to the skin, especially the areas with chronic pain. The sensation itself is slower than other places. You may not be able to react if you are really burned at a low temperature.

Applying it for 15-20 minutes each time is enough. Apply it at most two or three times a day. Don't let go of the hot water bottle if there is anything wrong. Previously, an old lady applied it on her knees all night, and a big blister appeared. It took almost half a month to heal. It was completely unnecessary. If you are applying it on the lower abdomen to relieve gynecological discomfort, don’t choose the Internet-famous warm patches that add unknown Chinese medicine or magnet ingredients. Ordinary warm patches or hot water bottles without any additives are enough. If you feel local itching or stinging after applying the patch, take it off quickly. Don’t hold it on because you feel it is "releasing moisture."

There are also several special groups of people who should pay more attention to it. If a pregnant girl has low back pain during the remission period, don't apply it on the waist and abdomen, just apply it on the shoulders, neck, and calves. The temperature should also be lowered a little, 38-40℃ is enough to avoid irritation to the abdomen. Girls with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy have poor skin sensitivity to temperature. It is best to ask family members to help test the temperature before applying it, so as not to get burned accidentally.

In fact, hot compress is a very daily soothing method. It is the same as soaking your feet in hot water or taking a hot bath when you are tired. You don’t need to think it is too magical or kill it with a stick. Choose the right time and use the right method, and you can actually feel comfortable. If you are really not sure whether you can apply it in your situation, it is better to ask the rehabilitation department or the corresponding specialist than to mess around on your own.