Ice For Chronic Tendonitis?

I wrote a few days ago about my bilateral wrist tendonitis that began 1-1/2 yrs ago. Would icing it at this point help?

I've been told to apply heat (my heating pad).

What you say makes much sense; however, because my problem is chronic and not acute, I want to make sure that the treatment is the same for eliminating the inflammation.

Thanks so much. I am so happy that I found this site!!!


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Joshua Answers:

Absolutely ice cold is beneficial for chronic tendonitis symptoms and problems. Absolutely.

The pain is chronic partly/primarily because of inflammation. Icing acute injury but not chornic injury is not the most effective of tendonitis treatment plans.

Heat is great. It brings blood and new nutrition to the area. But due to the effects of inflammation, like swelling and fluid getting trapped in the area, even tiny amounts of area, that can be a bad idea.

Ice flushes out old fluid, and then the body pushes in a lot of new blood and nutrition.

If you have the time, alternate heat and cold for increased circulatory turnover.

And, just Ice cold itself, when applied in the most effective ways, does a darned fine job.

The only real difference between chronic and acute Inflammation with a Tendonitis dynamic is that when the Process of Inflammation is in an acute phase, the process is dialed up ON HIGH ALERT, and there's A LOT going on, and A LOT of it.

Chronic inflammation basically means there is a low grade mechanism that is set in place, and may or may not 'let go' and go away.

Did that answer your question?





Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com