I hit leg day a little hard last night at World Gym Palm Springs, and by bedtime, I could tell that I was gonna be paying for it in my back today. I have an old lower-back injury that flares up now and then, much less often since I started practicing Yoga, but still, certain kinds of exertion and stress set it off, and I can pretty much tell when the pain is coming.
I've learned lots of things to do for the pain: stretching, resting, hot tubs, ibuprofen... but my favorite is putting on a ThermaCare Back Wrap. The gentle heat provides lasting relief. Now an electric heating pad would be more cost-effective, but here's why I prefer ThermaCare:
- They're portable. You don't need to be near an outlet.
- They're easily hidden under your clothes.
- They stay warm for at least eight hours.
- They stay put, keeping the heat where you need it.
- You can sleep in them.
I have a 32.5" waist, and can use either size, but prefer the L/LX to the S/M. Also, becuase my lower back pain is localized in a small area, sometimes I use the neck/arm wrap, which has adhesive that keeps it in place. (The back wraps have a velcro closure.) I don't have knee problems, but there's a knee wrap as well.
The back wraps run about $3-4 each, less if you buy them at Costco, on sale, or in the occasionally-available bonus packs. For simplicity sake, you can buy them at most drugstores and supermarkets, but I suggest you order an assortment from Amazon.com
P.S. I also put one on before a long plane ride.
Oh, and thanks very much for the Thermacare suggestion. I tried the Ben Gay equivalent at first, and what was supposed to be heat, turned out to be cold, and very uncomfortable.
Posted by: Babs | July 07, 2007 at 12:30 PM
They also have a large, sort of egg shaped, Thermacare patch for menstrual cramps.
I no longer have a need for any such thing, but the shape and size were perfect for my localized upper back pain.
Posted by: Babs | July 07, 2007 at 12:26 PM