I.C.E. DOWN Cold Therapy for Back Pain

Back pain is typically the result of some sort of injury, whether that injury is cause by trauma, repetitive strain, or a medical condition. Understanding the injury and the nature of your back pain can help you prevent further injury and pain.

Strain or Sprain

A back strain injury occurs when muscles or tendons in the back are pulled, twisted, or even torn. Tendons connect your muscles to your bones. Back sprain is similar but affects the ligaments, which connect bone to bone.

Back strain or sprain can cause:

• Muscle spasms or cramping in the back
• Decreased range of motion or stiffness
• Pain that gets worse when you move

Herniated Disc

In between the vertebrae in your back are discs. These discs are elastic and rubbery. They act as cushions or shock absorbers between the bones in your back, and keep your back flexible. The outer case of the disc is made of cartilage and inside is a gel-like substance.

A herniated disc is sometimes referred to as a slipped disc, bulging disc, or ruptured disc. It happens when the outer casing is ruptured and the gel-like substance inside slips out of position putting pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves inside.

A herniated disc can cause sciatica. Sciatica is inflammation of sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve runs from your lower back through the back of your leg to the foot.

Arthritis

Both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can cause back pain and damage to your spine.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition which often strikes while you are still very young, involves inflammation, and can affect any part of your body.

Osteoarthritis is the result of wear and tear. The cartilage breaks down, inflammation sets in, and the joint degenerates over time. It is a condition commonly associated with aging, and about 95% of people over 50 have some amount of osteoarthritis in their spines, but it can affect children, too.

Both types of arthritis can led to spinal stenosis which is narrowing of the spinal canal in which the spinal cord resides.

Repetitive Stress Injury

The two most common types of repetitive stress injuries (RSI) are computer-related injuries and sports-related overuse injuries. Poor posture, poor ergonomics, and improper movements lead to RSI over time, by constantly or repeatedly putting inappropriate or unbalanced strain on part of the body.

RSI back pain is often caused by what we think of as inactivity – sitting for prolongs periods of time. Getting up and moving around, stretching and getting your blood flowing again, can go a long way in prevention of computer-related RSI back pain.

To learn more about I.C.E. DOWN for back pain, or the place an order, please visit our online store today.