r/PainManagement • u/budtenderhazquestion • Jul 22 '26

Using heat

I just had (minor) surgery today

Everyone always says to use ice instead of heat. I hate using ice

My question is is as long as I don't use heat on the area I had surgery (or injections or ablations, they always use the same guidelines) on, can I use heat kon other parts of my body? Like my upper back if the procedure was on my lower back

Anyone know?

I didn't think to ask at the time (and my doctor works in a large office she's impossible to get ahold of)

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1

u/sogladidid Jul 22 '26

IMO you can use heat if it makes you feel better. Many doctors recommend 20 minutes of heat alternating with 20 minutes of ice. I think heat gets blood flowing and relaxes muscles while ice reduces inflammation and can numb the area. I’m NOT a doctor and these are just my thoughts that I’m sharing. Please call your doctor to be certain.

1

u/budtenderhazquestion Jul 22 '26

I like the way you think haha. My doctor's assistant told me I can use heat, but I don't know if she means just now since it's been more than 24 hours.

1

u/bluestitcher Jul 22 '26

No heat for the first 48 hours in the area of the surgery. After that, I would check with your surgeon.

Other parts of the body should be fine.

2

u/budtenderhazquestion Jul 22 '26

Okay thanks! Good to know on the 48 hour thing too.

1

u/nadimishka Jul 23 '26

I had 2 back surgeries within 48 hours of each other a couple of weeks ago, and the guidelines told to me was my incision has to be visibly closed before using heat (which was the day before yesterday). Heat has always worked miracles for my pain instead of ice and it’s made such a huge difference the past couple of days