muscle spasms, heat or ice?

[misdee]

shoulder in spasm. typing one handed. taken co-codyamol. what else can i put on? is it heat or ice.

anyone?

I would put heat. Is it for you misdee or peter? Because anyone with heart problems should not put ice on left shoulder. (As I remember -I'm a physio but have worked in neurological field for many years so not completely up to date in other fields.)

for me. left should blade, up left side of neck.

If it's for you Misdee, my chiropractor recommends alternating heat and cold for a minute each, so you do hot, cold, hot, cold, hot, cold, for a minute of each, if that makes sense. Do it a couple of times a day, I think. Good luck.

(alternating apparently encourages the blood flow through the muscle)

Yes alternating heat/cold will increase blood supply to the area. If it was me I would in the first instance use heat , say 15 minutes and massage (if you have someone who can massage your shoulder.)

thanks. i am just waiting for gel packs to freeze up. my mum has been and applied some aloe vera heat gel, and left me it as well as some tiger balm. its easing a bit, can now type with 2 hands.