Many members of MyOsteoTeam experience pain due to fractures, compressed nerves, and muscle spasms. Heating pads and ice packs can both be effective methods for treating pain related to osteoporosis. Applying heat helps to relax your muscles, and applying cold helps reduce inflammation and numb acute pain. Both options are safe, provided you avoid extreme temperatures.

Members on MyOsteoTeam each have their own preferences. “I use heating pads and microwave pads to help the pain. Some people use ice, but I never fancy it,” one member commented.

Sometimes using heat and ice in combination can be helpful. “I am alternating ice and warmth at the moment,” a member shared.

Cold or heat therapy can be a good complement to other pain management methods. “I have returned to using ice therapy and the TENS unit to help control the pain,” one member reported.

The best way to find relief is trial and error. “Different bodies respond to different things,” a member advised. “Keep experimenting until you find relief.”

Experimentation has led members to find relief in unexpected places, including a heated vest for outdoor activities. “It’s like a heating pad around the back of my neck and shoulders and all down my back. It gave me more pain relief than any heating pad I've ever used,” one member shared after trying on her husband’s newest winter gear.

On MyOsteoTeam, the social network and online support group for those living with osteoporosis, members talk about a range of personal experiences and struggles. Heat and ice therapy is one of the most discussed topics.

Here are some conversations about heat versus ice:

• “Does anyone wake up at night with pain? Should I use heat or ice?”

• “Some people use ice but I never fancy it.”

• “My husband bought a heated vest to wear in the cold. It gave me more pain relief than any heating pad I’ve ever used.”

Do you prefer heat or ice to treat your pain? Share your experience below or write a post on MyOsteoTeam today.