I used to use heating pads when I was younger, for my aches and pains.
Then my knee dislocated in 1998 and I went to a chiro who explained that HEAT creates more pain, when nerves are involved. She advised me no longer than 10min with heat. Put an ice pack back there instead.
Also if you have a specific point where the pain is give Salonpas patches a try. I have used them on the back many times and they take the pain away for me in a day or two. I wrenched my shoulder trying to fix a bumper on our boat 3 years ago... and Salonpas saved me. Infact I use them EVERYWHERE esp the feet.
http://www.salonpas.us/salonpas.php
This is the version with the active ingredients-- they are not all the same!
You can stack the small ones -- I used 3 for my shoulder. They are not expensive either. Alot of relief for little money.

To You Mrs D My 91 Yr Old Aunt Agrees,her Dr. Said Yes To
Them And She Is Very Happy...so Thanks For Yor Advice.
Big Hugs Sue

So she tried them? That's great! I'd be miserable without mine.

Darlind no one touches me now on my extreme areas which are my legs. I learned after 10 docs that it sends me back into vicodin every few hour pain. Even after I went to the internist and she touched another area where I am less sensitive I hurt for days. That is the issue it is one thing to not get any help from a doc but to come out worse is not ok. So now they say I want to touch your legs and I say NO I have had all the tests and repeats done so there is no need. They feel the same as other legs. Most comply now. I will not come out worse from trying to get help anymore.
On that note do people feel no only in there severe areas that other parts are very sensitive. I have become so sensitive my whole body. I lift something even small and my back hurts for days. I wish I could return my body and get a new one. I wish they would stop coming up with new plastic surgery stuff for cosmetic issues and start researching more help for people like us.

Thanks, I will definitely see if I can find these patches!!!! I also will not let him touch my neck and shoulders again!!!!

Mrs. D, I was interested to read about the Salonpas patches. My husband has polycystic kidney disease and cannot take any anti-inflammatories for muscle/joint aches and pains. I didn't know if the "salicitate" referred to a form of aspirin that might be absorbed into his body?????? I will check with his doctor before I will let him try them, but I was just curious about the absorption.

It is always a good idea to ask. But there is not much in the patch...just enough to get to the site. I've never had a systemic effect, ie. relief of pain elsewhere with them. And they are small.

When you use a drug orally it gets diluted thru the whole body.
A patch like this will send only a minute amount into the body, while concentrating it locally where the patch is applied. If you apply HEAT like with any patch, you can drive the drug into the blood stream.

The patches work better IMO because when there is inflammation, there is reduced blood circulation too. By using the medication locally you send the med directly to the target, so much less is needed. Some of an orally used drug may never reach the target!

This is why some PTs use dexamethasone in a process called an iontophoresis.
http://www.ptjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/2/161

The principle is similar only much more modest with Salonpas.