Someone please attempt to explain to me how heat and cold are supposed to help. Because it just seems to me that either one just aggrivates things even further for me. Some of my worst swelling comes just after an encounter with heat or cold. Pick one, it doesn't seem to matter which, it happens either way. And it's EXTREME swelling too, not like my normal little tidbits. Mostly my hands and feet are effected by this, so maybe it has something to do with my circulation....but I sure though heat and cold were somehow supposed to help. It's been so many years since I've had to do anything on a regular basis for this, that these are the kinds of little things I've forgotten....Sorry! And thanks for any info! :)
Katie
Yeah, I cannot do ice on my joints makes me worse.
I cannot feel hot water run over my knees, every since I was a kid.
Me & heat get along to a point
Cold constricts blood vessels which is supposed to help with swelling. Heat opens up the blood vessels which helps with circulation. I prefer heat over cold as cold makes ache very badly. For me, it seems that when I am warm and everything is circulating properly I feel much better.
Maybe you are super sensitive to both because that is just you. Ra does do funny stuff to us and make us react to things in a weird way sometimes.
I agree with u Katie! I have used a heating pad on areas of pain in the past...felt some relieve when I was using the heating pad, but the min I took it off the pain came back x's 10! I do tend to wash my hands alot when they hurt or are swelling...the heat from the water and rubbing them makes me think Im helping it to feel better (although I know Im not)! Plus, that makes me feel like Im cleaning off all those little kiddie germs I come into contact with at work (I teach Kindergarten)...So atleast Im doing something beneficial by washing my hands. Heat makes things swell. :| Ice makes me stiff and achey. It's a lose-lose game. *sigh*