What about topical gels?

Topical gels and creams have compounds such as menthol, camphor, ilex or capsaicin (pepper extract) or a combination of these with some other botanicals. They work by creating a sensation on your skin that tricks the brain into not feeling the pain. They do not actually cool or heat the tissue, it only feels like it. Some contain natural forms of aspirin which in theory can help with inflammation. There is disagreement on how much this actually absorbs to have a therapeutic effect. There are other more exotic creams such as Emu oil among others but again there is disagreement on how effective they actually are. Topicals are generally safe so if you feel it helps take the edge off of your pain then by all means go for it. You may want to postpone applying them until after using heat or ice. The combination of both can cause some skin irritation. Some people do not tolerate capsaicin on their skin so be careful when using it for the first time. If irritation occurs with any topical discontinue use and wash area with soap and water.

The short answer is generally YES. Start with gentle basic range of motion as soon as you feel you can. In the neck, gently turn from side to side, tipping your chin down at the end of each turn (nose turned toward your shoulder). Repeat 5-10 times each side. Try this at regular intervals throughout the day, i.e. hourly. Avoid pulling your neck to the side until you speak to your doctor about your specific problem. For the lower back lay on the floor or your bed face up. Bend your knees with your feet on the floor. Gently roll your knees from side to side but control the movement with your trunk muscles. Keeping your “tummy” muscles tight will often reduce the discomfort. Gently pulling one knee at a time to your chest can help. It this is comfortable try both at the same time. If you have “sciatic” (leg) pain, try lying face down and pressing your upper body up while leaving your hips/pelvis on the floor. Hold this position while propping your upper body up on your elbows. You can gently pull your torso forward with your elbows while relaxing your trunk and back. Lying face up with knees bent while resting your lower legs on a couch or chair can reduce lower back pain. This is a good position to use ice. – Injury As you heal, the muscles, tendons and ligaments lay down new connective tissue to mend tears and strains. The new tissue is generally not as flexible as the original tissue and is often laid down in a jumbled mess….you know this as “scar tissue”. It happens inside your body as much as it does on your skin such as with a cut. Gentle mobilization of this tissue causes the body to align the fibers in a more flexible, mobile orientation and develops a stronger bond. If you are injured there may be a period of time from a couple days to a few weeks that the area should be rested before attempting activity or exercise. There are often specific exercises that can be phased in starting with the most basic movements progressing in difficulty as your condition allows. You should talk with your doctor for specific timing and exercises that will be right for you. – Chronic pain In people with chronic long standing back and neck pain there is documented atrophy (shrinking) of stabilizing muscles. This tends to promote further dysfunction and pain. Exercise has been shown to rebuild atrophied muscles, improve stability and reduce pain. In chronic pain patients exercise can often be painful in and of itself but the benefits when done consistently and carefully will outweigh the aggravation. Your doctor will discuss with you and show you exercises that will be appropriate for your specific problem.

Search Results for “” – Cascade Chiropractic

Contact

By Escobar | October 16, 2023

Cascade Chiropractic Olympia, Washington

Contact How To Reach Us Address 1709 State Avenue NEOlympia, WA 98506 Phone (360) 570-8151 Fax (360) 943-6602 Email [email protected] Business Hours Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM Friday – Sunday CLOSED Emergency / After Hours Information In case of an emergency, Dr. Evans can be reached…

Self Help Tips

By Escobar | October 16, 2023

Self Help Tips Ready To Get Started? Contact Cascade Chiropractic today! Don’t Wait to Seek Care! The Sooner You Start, The Sooner You Will Get Relief. Browse our self help tips below to see what you can do at home for relief. Should I ice or use heat? I am often asked which is better,…

Work Injury

By Escobar | October 16, 2023

Work Injury Ready To Get Started? Contact Cascade Chiropractic today! Injured on the Job? At Cascade Back Pain Relief Chiropractic, our doctors and therapists are well versed in treating on the job injuries. Our goal is to get you healed and back to work as soon as possible. We are glad to work with your…

Auto Injury

By Escobar | October 16, 2023

Auto Injury Ready To Get Started? Contact Cascade Chiropractic today! Injured in an accident? Know someone who has? Unfortunately, many of us have experienced the pain and frustration of an auto accident. Most people don’t realize the problem is epidemic in proportion.Statistics show about 3 million people are injured in auto accidents in this country…

New Patient Forms

By Escobar | October 16, 2023

New Patient Forms Ready To Get Started? Contact Cascade Chiropractic today! New Patient Forms Download a PDF of the New Patient Form by clicking the icon below. We recommend Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill. New Patient Form Coming Soon! Need Adobe Acrobat Reader? Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free program used to view and fill out…

Meet Our Doctor

By Escobar | October 16, 2023

Meet Our Doctor Ready To Get Started? Contact Cascade Chiropractic today! Practicing In Olympia, WA Since 1993 Roy C. Evans, BS, DC Dr. Evans graduated Cum Laude with a Doctor of Chiropractic Science from Western States Chiropractic College in December of 1992. He has practiced in the Olympia area since early 1993. He also holds…

Home

By Escobar | July 20, 2021

Cascade Chiropractic Back Pain Relief | Auto & Work InjuryOlympia, WA Welcome Welcome and thank you for visiting the home page of Cascade Back Pain Relief Chiropractic. Please take a few minutes and browse our site, meet our providers, take advantage of our self-help tips, learn about auto injury and work injury treatment and even…

Privacy Policy

By Escobar | September 15, 2020

Privacy Policy Your privacy is important to us. It is [Name of Company / Business Here] policy to respect your privacy regarding any information we may collect from you across our website, [Website Link Here] and other sites we own and operate.We only ask for personal information when we truly need it to provide a service to you. We…

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