Blog Posts - Concierge Pain Relief - Home Physical Therapy - NYC, New York, NY, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx - Best Physical Therapy Near Me

Best Cardio For SI Joint Dysfunction

3/20/2022

What is the "Best Cardio For SI Joint Dysfunction"?

If you have SI Joint Pain or SI Joint Dysfunction...

The best cardio would be gentle, regular-paced walking.

Now, you should keep moving slowly if you have this issue.

Complete bed rest is always a bad idea if you have SI Joint Pain or Back Pain.

So, if you have SI Joint Pain or SI Joint Dysfunction...

Our doctors of physical therapy suggest that you avoid:

- Running,
- Jogging,
- Sprinting,
- Jumping rope,
- Plyometrics (jumping jacks, cutting side to side, etc).

So, if you have SI Joint Pain or SI Joint Dysfunction, we suggest that the gentle walking be on flat surfaces, and not on a hill or incline.

Why?

Because walking up an incline will put more stress and strain on the lower back, pelvis, and the SI Joint.

In addition, you can try to use a stationary bike or recumbent bike for cardio, but if it increases your lower back pain or SI Joint pain, then you should stop.

Also, (with SI Joint Pain) we suggest that you avoid any of the dynamic jumping, running, or sprinting activities...

That is because it could increase the irritation that you are experiencing at the SI Joint.

Typically, it would be best to get your SI Joint Pain or SI Joint Dysfunction looked at by a healthcare professional (Doctor of Physical Therapy),

Rather than pushing through the pain in order to attempt cardio-vascular exercise ("cardio").

Does that make sense?

Are you struggling with SI Joint Pain or SI Joint Dysfunction?

How long have you been dealing with it?

Is it time to get it evaluated and treated by a hands-on Doctor of Physical Therapy?

If so, feel free to call us any time, 24/7, at (646)-781-8884.

SI Joint Success Stories

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Does My Loved One Have a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)? Home Health Caregiver, NYC

3/18/2022

Are you a caregiver taking care of someone who's had a Stroke and has difficulty communicating their pain?

Are you taking care of a loved one with Dementia?

Are you taking care of someone who has a Foley Catheter?

Patients and clients with cognitive impairments (brain/memory changes) and those who have Foley Catheters are at an increased risk of getting a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).

It makes it difficult for caregivers to identify a UTI early before it progresses. And, it can also be very frustrating as the patient cannot fully express nor communicate what their body is going through.

So, here are some tips on what to look for:
1.) Cloudy or dark colored urine,
2.) Urine may even have some blood in it,
3.) Foul smelling odor of the urine,
4.) Frequent urination,
5.) Visible pain/discomfort with urinating (facial expressions),
6.) Unexplained onset of confusion, tiredness/fatigue.

*Also, it is very important for caregivers to properly perform clean practices and hygiene when manually cleaning their patient. The caregiver should always wipe from front to back, and never wipe from back to front. Wiping back to front is a common cause of UTIs, and it is completely avoidable by properly wiping/cleaning from front to back.

Now, are you looking to interview new potential caregivers to assist you or your family with daily or overnight caregiving?

Or, are you looking for a place with professionally vetted and trusted home health care givers in New York City?

Not only do we provide in-home physical therapy and in-home occupational therapy... but we also provide in-home nursing, experienced home health aides, and compassionate care companions.

To learn more and to find out if you and your family are the right fit for us, you can call our 24/7 receptionist any time at (646)-781-8884, or if you can't talk right now, you can fill out the form below.

Learn More About Our Caregivers

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How To Find an In Home Physical Therapist (NYC)

3/14/2022

New Yorkers are busy. If they have an injury or pain... or they have a balance issue or are looking for In-Home Physical Therapy...

Then, typically, they will

1.) Ask their doctor for a recommendation,
2.) Ask a friend or neighbor for a recommendation,
3.) Begin to research Home PTs on Google,

It's always great to get a word of mouth referral.

However, what we have found, is that many New Yorkers will use Google for their search.

They will:
1.) read through the in-home physical therapists Google Reviews,
2.) click around on the professional's website,
3.) read through the website's testimonials and success stories,
4.) and also review diagnoses and conditions that the professional and the practice treats often,
5.) as well as reviewing the types of services and treatment approaches that you (the prospective client) is looking for.

For more information about Concierge Pain Relief - Home Physical Therapy, we have 2 types of clients that we serve:

1.) Busy and working New Yorkers, where time is their biggest asset, who want us to help them find and fix the root-cause of their pain, numbness, or injury. This includes weekend warriors, runners, avid gym-goers, and active adults and their children.

2.) Retired or semi-retired New Yorkers who want us to help them remain mobile, confident, and independent so that they are not a burden on their children. So, these individuals may have issues with their balance or their walking, and may also have a painful area, achy joints, tight muscles, or a rounded posture.

Do either of these sound like you?

If so, feel free to reach out and contact us by calling our 24/7 receptionist any time at: (646)-781-8884

Learn More About Home Physical Therapy

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How Can I Fix My Posture? (Home Physical Therapy)

3/13/2022

"How To Fix My Posture... While Standing..."
"How To Fix My Posture... While Sitting..."
"Can I Fix My Posture... While Sleeping..."

These are common questions we get asked weekly by our busy clients and weekend warriors.

Here are:

9 Posture Correction and Improvement Tips:

1) Avoid Slouching: We know this is obvious. Slouching increases the strain on your spine, specifically your vertebrae, discs (disks), spinal ligaments, and spinal muscles. This puts stress on the spinal bones, muscles, and joints that keep your backbone in place. These structures also protect your spinal cord. A constant slump compresses your internal organs, making it difficult for your lungs and intestines to function. Over time, this will make it difficult to digest food and breathe properly.

2) Strive For "Upright" (Sit Up Straight): Work toward standing more often with your shoulders back, your shoulder blades pulled back (or intermittently pinched together), your knees straight, and your stomach slightly clenched while standing and walking.

3) Lumbar (Lower Back) Support At Your Desk or Work Table: Sit as far back as you can in your chair. To protect your spine's natural curve, place a rolled-up towel or lumbar cushion (such as a McKenzie Lumbar Roll) at your lower back. Bend your knees at a 90 degree angle and keep them at the same or slightly higher level as your hips. Put your feet flat on the ground or on an elevated surface to establish the 90 degree right angle of your knees.

4) Avoid "Text Neck" (Tech Neck): Hold your phone or smartphone higher up in the air closer to your head level to avoid looking down. When you lower your head to go on your phone, you put a lot of strain on your spine and neck (cervical spine). Unfortunately, this can add up over the course of a day – or a year.

5) Avoid a Low-Rider Position in a Car: Reclining during a long drive may be relaxing or even comfortable. However, it is not good for your spine or your posture habits. Instead, move your seat closer to the steering wheel. Make an effort not to lock your legs. Adjust your seat angle to a more upright angle. Slightly bend your knees. They should be at or slightly above hip level. You can also use a towel roll or McKenzie Lumbar Roll to place along your lower back (lumbar spine) to support your posture while driving.

6) Save Heels for a Special Night Out: For women, it's easier said than done, but chronic walking in high heels puts a lot of abnormal stress on your feet and your lower back. Pumps and stilettos push the base of your spine forward, causing your back to arch. This can cause your backbone to shift and put pressure on nerves, resulting in back pain. High-heeled shoes also put more strain on your knees. For everyday shoe wear, its best to select a lower, chunkier heel... or even low-heeled shoes or cushioned sneakers when possible.

7) Check Your Mattress: If you have a saggy, soft mattress... it may be time to purchase a new one. Choose one that is firm and helps to maintain the natural shape of your entire spine from neck to lower back. Sleeping on your side? Don't hug your knees all the way into your stomach, but it is okay to bend your knees slightly. Place a pillow under your head so that it is parallel to your spine (this helps with proper spinal alignment that facilitates optimal rest, recovery, and daily posture). Back sleepers should avoid using a thick pillow in favor of a small one under the neck.

8) Exercise, Move, and Strengthen Your Core: Daily walking, standing, changing positions while working on a computer, and weekly exercising are the best possible things we can do to strive for and optimize our posture. Not engaging in these vital aspects to health can result in weight gain and a weaker core... which puts additional strain on your lower back. This makes it more difficult for your postural muscles to be trained, activated, and utilized on a daily basis. Strong muscles are required to support your spine. A well-planned workout routine will keep your body, spine, and posture in top condition.

9) Sit Up Straight: You probably know whether or not you slouch. If you're not sure, here's a quick way to find out. Place your back of the head against a wall. Step 6 inches away from the baseboard. Your tush should be in contact with the wall. It should be about 2 inches away from your lower back and neck. If not, consult your Doctor of Physical Therapy about how to improve your posture.

If you think you need to fix your posture, or want help with correcting your posture and spinal alignment, then you need to see a Doctor of Physical Therapy. So, get in contact with us...

You can call our 24/7 receptionist any time at:
(646)-781-8884.

Learn What Posture Correction Looks Like

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Do I Need Back Surgery? (Spine Surgery)

3/6/2022

"How Do I Know If I Need Back Surgery? Lumbar Spine Surgery? Neck Surgery? Cervical Spine Surgery?..."

Most people reading this will not experience the following warning signs. However, if you are currently experiencing these signs and symptoms, then you should seek immediate medical attention (as you may require surgery).

Go and seek medical attention at the hospital if you currently have this or notice this is going on with you...

1.) Incontinence (leaking urine) or trouble urinating,
2.) Incontinence of stool/changes in passing a bowel movement.
3.) Significant paresthesias (numbness and loss of sensation) in your "saddle region" - which is the groin area that would make contact with a horse saddle when one rides a horse.

If you are experiencing one or more of these situations, then you may require spine surgery. The reason why is because these major signs and symptoms mean that there is moderate to significant spinal cord compression or impingement.

Reminder; herniated discs or bulging discs are very common, normal, and can be completely fixed and resolved by physical therapy. This is very different from spinal cord compression that affects someone's bowel or bladder.

Now, the good news...

If you are currently dealing with Lower Back Pain or Neck Pain or any kind of Spine Pain... and you do NOT have any changes with your bowel or bladder, and you do NOT have a loss of sensation in your saddle region... then you do NOT need to get Back Surgery or Spine Surgery!

The majority of Lower Back Pain, Spine Pain, Neck Pain will get better and respond positively to non-invasive, conservative care.

Therefore, if this sounds like you, then you have an 80-91% chance of getting back to your normal self with our customized, natural healing approach to treating Back Pain and Spine Injuries.

Next, feel free to call our 24/7 receptionist at (646)-781-8884. They will ask you a few questions about your situation and your insurance information. Then, you will get a call from a Specialist (licensed doctor of physical therapy).

Learn What Successful Treatment Looks Like

Check My Insurance

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How To Stop Daily Knee Pain (Home Physical Therapy, NYC)

3/2/2022

How To Stop Chronic, Daily Annoying Knee Pain WITHOUT Injections, WITHOUT Taking Painkillers and WITHOUT Having To Wear a Support or Brace...

If you’re living with bad knees, they’re painful or they ache - it’s very easy to think that it’s “just something that comes with age”, it’s a bit of “wear and tear”, or that it’s nothing and it’ll go away on its own.

You can’t quite point your finger on why you are feeling pain in your knees - but it doesn’t seem to be getting any better!

If that’s happening to you, please know that you are not alone - we hear this type of thing all the time. In fact, Knee Pain is one of the most common problems that we see in our on-demand home physical therapy practice.

Plus, there's several reasons why busy New Yorkers struggle with Knee Pain. The root-cause of your issue could be:
- Muscle Issues of the Knee (tightness and tension in the muscles surrounding your Knee Joint)
- Knee Nerve Pain (one or more leg nerves in or near your knee joint)
- Knee Ligament Issue (laxity of one or more of your knee ligaments that provide your knee joint with stability)
- Knee Cap Issue (aka the Patella, which includes knee cap clicking)
- Knee Weakness (usually described as knee buckling or "my knee is giving way")
- Stiff Knee Joint (reported as a loss of range of motion, possibly with Arthritis or Osteoarthritis)
- Water On The Knee (swelling in or around your knee joint from a fall, tramua, or for no reason)
- Sports Injury to Knee (usually described as "I felt a pop in my knee", and then it's usually a Ligament injury or Tendon injury

And, when it comes to living with Knee Pain, everybody we see wants to know the answers to these questions:

“Why is This Happening to Me?”... or, “Why am I still suffering with Knee pain that keeps getting worse after putting up with it for 6 months - sometimes more?”...

Most people think that when they get Knee Pain, they often believe that it will eventually “ease off” and go away on its own.

And, they hope to wake up one morning and like “magic”, Knee Pain will be a thing of the past... But then 6 months later you’re still living with the discomfort of knee pain - often even worse than it was when it came on.

Does That Sound Like You?

If "Yes"... then feel free to call our 24/7 receptionist at (646)-781-8884. They will ask you a few questions about your situation and your insurance information. Then, you will get a call from a Knee Specialist (licensed doctor of physical therapy).

5 Tips to Avoid Back Surgery, Naturally

2/27/2022

"What Can I Do To Avoid Back Surgery?..."

"Is It Possible To Put Off or Prevent Back Back Surgery?..."

If you have back pain and if you met with a spine surgeon (who mentioned that you may need back surgery), you may have asked yourself one or more of these questions.

So, if you are dealing with annoying, nagging, chronic Back Pain, you may be willing to do just about anything to find comfort... or to get your pain under control. And, that means that you probably just want to be able to return to your normal way of life, and possibly even if it means agreeing to undergo risky back surgery.

As you know, back pain is no joke, but neither is back surgery.

We all know that back pain is very frustrating and uncomfortable to live with. And, that's because it can get in the way of your sleep, work, daily activities, and simply living your life. However, that does not mean that you should quickly agree to a major spine surgery such as spinal fusion (screws, plates, and big hardware that locks up your spine) or discectomy surgery (removing some or all of your flexible and soft cushion-like spine discs)!

These invasive back surgeries may or may not relieve your pain. In fact, a bad back surgery or "failed" back surgery can leave you in even more pain symptoms and agony than before the procedure.

Therefore, it makes the most logical sense to start with and try less invasive treatments and non-surgical options first.

Below, are 5 effective tips to you can try to address your back pain naturally, safely, and non-surgically... in order to start finding and feeling the relief that you have been searching for - once and for all.

1.) Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or TENS, is a state-of-the-art method for easing back pain. Sticky electrodes attached to the back and spine area send out electrical signals that stimulate the nerves. The impulses affect neural “pain gates” and/or trigger the production of endorphins.

2.) Myofascial Release and Soft Tissue Work: These hands-on soft tissue techniques and treatment options can benefit your back in several ways. A skilled healthcare provider, such as a doctor of physical therapy performs manipulation of soft tissue (muscles and tendons) near the skin surface will help improve blood flow circulation in exhausted muscles, sore muscles, or in tight muscles and tendons.

The doctor of PT may use a combination of their hands directly and/or a comfortable hand-held tool to help ease, relax, and lengthen these muscles. This increased blood flow and fluid drainage will clear out and quickly reduce inflammation, and help heal and recover damaged tissues. At the same time, this hands-on treatment technique decreases painful muscle spasms in the muscles.

A firmer or stronger treatment is named deep tissue massage and goes even further. Manipulation of deeper muscle groups can break up adhesions, masses of scar tissue that sometimes form over an injury site. Once the muscles have been freed from the scar tissue, they can function without pain and stiffness.

Now, unfortunately, most traditional massage therapists nearby are not trained in healing back injuries, nor helping folks prevent back surgery. Which is why a licensed doctor of PT uses these specific techniques that target and break up the adhesions. In turn, this will loosen and unbind your muscles. Myofascial release and soft tissue work is a very important part of your physical therapy program because being adhesion-free is important for relieving pain and restoring a proper range of motion.

3.) Targeted Stretches and Assisted Stretch: Tight, rigid muscles can directly cause back pain or make existing back pain feel even worse. Stretching muscles will cause them to limber up, alleviate your pain and improve your movement. Loose muscles in the back are less likely to get new injuries as well. Typical physical therapy exercises for the back could include knee-to-chest stretches, kneeling lunges, back flexion stretches, stretching your piriformis muscle, prone press ups, and back bends.

4.) Strength-Building Exercises and Stability Drills: Back pain may be caused by structural changes such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis. The stronger you can make your back muscles, the more effectively those muscles can compensate for these changes. With a stronger back, you can maintain a straighter posture with less pain. Common exercises to strengthen the back include bridges, lying lateral leg raises, and partial curls.

5.) Heat and Cold Therapy: Heat and cold have their own distinct healing and pain-relieving properties. Our doctor of physical therapy may administer either technique or both techniques together (in sessions of 15 to 20 minutes each). Heat boosts the circulation, helping inflammatory substances to exit the tissues and relaxing painful muscles. Cold therapy can prove especially useful as an immediate treatment for acute back injuries or when dealing with severe muscle strain. The cold reduces inflammation and swelling while also numbing the nerves. There is a full blog post on Heat vs Ice/Cold Therapy, if you click right here.

What Successful Treatment Looks LIke

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Sciatica: How Long Does It Take To Go Away?

2/25/2022

"How Long Does It Take For My Sciatica To Go Away?..."

It depends... it depends on YOU.

In general, it may take about 4 to 8 weeks to go through the first 2 phases of healing (no pain, all movement and range of motion and strength back to normal levels).

It may take another 1 to 4 months to get back to all activities of daily living that you want to be able to do... depending on how active you were before your Sciatica. This is the third phase of healing.

Here are 10 areas of your life that may determine how fast you can heal your Sciatica:

1.) Overall health. Healthy people heal faster. Younger people heal faster.

2.) Other health issues such as Diabetes (especially Type II Diabetes), hypertension and high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic alcohol use or abuse, cigarette smoking or tobacco use, and an elevated body weight or elevated body mass index (BMI) all contribute to healing rates... and can extend the amount of time for your Sciatica to heal.

3.) Diet and nutrition. People who eat more nutrients and more natural ingredients can heal much faster than other people who consume a lot of processed foods or sugary foods including high fructose corn syrup.

4.) Good sleep and rest levels. Our bodies require approximately 7-8 hours of sleep per night in order to rest and recover our muscular system and nervous system. A lack of sleep can certainly slow the healing time of your Sciatica. And, if you have Lower Back Pain or Sciatica at night while trying to fall asleep or while trying to stay asleep, this can directly impact your ability to heal, rest, and rebuild.

5.) Sedentary lifestyle (a lot of daily sitting). People who sit all or most of the day for their work occupation can expect a longer healing time when dealing with Sciatica. Also, the same goes for sitting and watching TV (or streaming your favorite content) for several hours per day. Motion is lotion, and in order to speed up the healing of your Sciatica, you need to be able to stand up, walk around, and change positions. Around 30, 40, 50 years ago, doctors used to prescribe "bedrest" for Lower Back Pain and Sciatica. But, now we all know that bedrest makes back pain and sciatica worse because you tighten up, get stiffer, and get weaker if you stay in bed or if you stay on the couch. The best possible way to start reversing your Sciatica is being able to walk around and change positions, so keep moving!

6.) People who follow professional advice and instruction from board certified specialists and top level healthcare professionals heal more quickly than those who do not follow-through with formal care. If you are dealing with a lot of pain, it is not time to ask your personal trainer or ask YouTube what you should do to reverse your Sciatica.

7.) People who are aware of their day to day postures, positions, and habits will heal more quickly, because they realize that their daily postures and habits can slow down or speed up the healing and recovery of their Sciatica. They are able to adapt and immediately respond to their condition, and are able to adjust their normal behaviors (such as walking more) in order to find movements, activities, or habits that can "take the edge off" (decrease) their Sciatica symptoms like pain, numbness, tingling, burning, throbbing.

8.) Stress and tension levels. Those who live with or experience higher levels of stress or frequent tension may heal slower. If someone is really stressed, their nervous system does not get a chance to "turn off" or relax. So, if their nervous system is always "on" and in a "fight or flight" mode, then there won't be much opportunity for their bodies to rest or recovery. This means that their nerves (extensions of their nervous system) may be over-stimulated and remain "on" and activated even when the person is trying to relax or sleep. So, since Sciatica is a condition involving your Sciatic Nerve with nerve pain or nerve symptoms, you can see how stress could delay the healing and recovery.

9.) Readers heal faster, and so do those who can focus. People with longer attention spans are typically self-educated, self-motivated, and self-directed... therefore, those who are self-educated on a topic like Sciatica are more likely to follow-through with successful treatment.

10.) Persistent. People who think or believe there's hope tend to be more serious, optimistic, and persistent in finding the right Sciatica Treatment for them. And, they are the type of people who won't let anything stop them or stand in their way. (For example, we recently had a man with Sciatica fly from Seattle to New York City to be successfully treated for Sciatica.)

If you have any additional questions about your pain, injury, or your condition, you can call us any time, and our 24/7 receptionist will answer your call, collect some information, and you will get a call back from one of our specialists. If you are not yet ready to speak and prefer to learn more, click here to check out dozens and dozens of our success stories and testimonials from other New Yorkers, just like you.

Call 24/7: (646)-781-8884

How Can I Relieve Neck Pain in the Morning? (Home Physical Therapy)

2/24/2022

"How Can I Relieve Neck Pain in the Morning?..."

We get this question a lot from our clients who receive home physical therapy in Manhattan, Brooklyn, inside and outside of NYC.

Here's some simple, proven, and effective tips to ease Neck Pain first thing in the morning...

Step 1: Check Your Mattress - How old is your mattress?  A proper mattress should be firm and not too soft. A firm mattress is helpful in supporting your entire spine (from your neck all the way down to your lower back).

Step 2: Check Your Pillow - How old is your pillow? A proper pillow should be able to keep the curvature of your neck... in other words, it should "fill in" and support the curve of your neck, regardless if you are sleeping on your left side, sleeping on your right side, or if you are sleeping flat on your back. Your pillow should not be so soft that it flattens out overnight while you are trying to sleep.

Step 3: Try a Warm or Hot Shower - A warm or hot shower will loosen up a stiff neck and ease neck pain. The warmth is soothing which can relax tight or tense neck muscles. Also, a warm shower can increase blood flow circulation to your neck area. And, you will have noticed this in the past if you've had gotten out of a hot shower, looked in the mirror, and saw that your shoulders, arms, or neck area was a little red. That kind of redness is proof that those areas experienced an increase in blood flow, because the redness is additional circulation coming to the surface of your skin. While in the warm shower, and if you are able, try to gently move your head in circles, both left and right movements.

Step 4: Avoid Ice/Cold Therapy for Neck Pain - The neck (cervical spine) is a sensitive area. Most people better and experience more relief and get back more flexibility and range of motion in their neck after using a hot pad or heat therapy, compared to using an ice pack or cold therapy on their neck. If you click this link here, you can read more about when to use ice versus when to use heat.

Next, if these tips do not work or do not provide you with any neck pain relief, then it might be time to seek a Doctor of Physical Therapy who is a Neck Specialist.

Now, if you didn't know, an expert Doctor of Physical Therapy can provide you with a proper diagnosis and hands-on manual therapy treatment at the very first visit. This is what we offer to busy New Yorkers who might be dealing with annoying neck pain that could be disturbing their sleep, getting in the way of working, or preventing them from doing the things they love... such as time with children or grandchildren, exercising, or even just reading.

Furthermore, what we have found to be effective is working with a Movement Expert who can:

1.) Find the Root-Cause of Your Neck Pain, and then...
2.) Fix the Root-Cause So That it Does Not Return.

If your Doctor of Physical Therapy does not identify where your neck pain is coming from, then they may be "chasing symptoms" or they may be treating the incorrect area.

When we are able to identify and find the root-cause of someone's neck pain during their first home visit, they should expect to feel at least 10-15% pain relief, if not more. This is much more possible if you have had neck pain for 3 weeks or 3 months. However, if you have been dealing with neck pain for 3 years, then may take 2-3 home visits to start feeling positive progress and neck pain relief, because having pain longer than 3 months is considered "chronic pain." And, it may a few follow up visits to feel some relief that you deserve.

If any of this sounds like you or sounds like what you are dealing with, then feel free to speak with our 24/7 receptionist by calling (646)-781-8884.

Our receptionist will collect some of your information, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy will personally call you back (typically the very same day, including weekends).

We wish you nothing but the best in getting neck pain relief and investing in your health and wellness.

Learn What Successful Treatment Looks Like

Call 24/7: (646)-781-8884

When Should I Use Heat or Cold? (Hot Pad vs Ice Pack)

2/23/2022

"When should I use heat or a hot pad... and when should I use a cold gel pack or ice therapy?"
We get this question a lot from new clients and busy New Yorkers just like you.

Here's the answer:
- If you just hurt yourself in the last few hours or few days, use an ice pack/cold therapy.
So, this includes things like rolling your ankle, bumping your elbow, landing on your knee, stubbing your toe, or you did something or got injured where you now see a "bump" (swelling or swollen area) or you see a bruise (red, purple, blue area). If you sustained a mild or moderate injury listed above, then do not place a hot pack or heating pad on this area until 2-3 weeks after the injury occurred.

- If you are dealing with a pain or injury for longer than 2 weeks, then it actually does not matter if you use ice or heat. After 2 weeks, it is up to you and your preference of ice or heat.

Some people will prefer heat as they like the warm, smoothing feeling. So, if you have a pain or injury that is over 2 weeks in duration, then you can use a hot pack or heating pad on your area of discomfort. Others prefer the numbing sensation of ice.

Precautions: Do not use ice or heat if you have...
- poor sensation,
- poor blood flow circulation,
- diabetes,
- an open wound or healing wound, cut, or laceration,
- a known infection or suspect an infection.

If you have any additional questions about your pain, injury, or your condition, you can call us any time, and our 24/7 receptionist will answer your call, collect some information, and you will get a call back from one of our specialists. If you are not yet ready to speak and prefer to learn more, click here to check out dozens and dozens of our success stories and testimonials from other New Yorkers, just like you.

Call 24/7: (646)-781-8884

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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:
All information on this website is intended for informational purposes only. The authors are not responsible for any harm or injury that may result. Significant injury risk is possible if you do not follow due diligence and seek suitable professional advice about your injury. No guarantees of specific results are expressly made or implied on this website.