Oooohh, a nice warm back, or better yet–a whirlpool? Well, sometimes that may feel good is not the best thing for you.
A good rule of thumb to use when trying to decide whether to use heat or cold for what ails you is this: if it’s stiff, heat is the one to choose in order to loosen things up and encourage mobility. If it’s painful, always try ice first.
But when you apply ice, make sure you do it properly. Many people do not keep it on long enough and wait til the area becomes numb, and so lose out on the benefits ice gives. Ice also makes a great anti-inflammatory that won’t irritate your stomach.