Hot cold microwavable packs are used to relieve pains. Cold packs are often used during the first 48 hours of an injury. When placed on the injured area, the cold packs help to reduce swelling and relieve the sharp pain. Hot packs help relieve pain from a muscle spasm and related stiffness in the lower back, as it results from a strain or over-exertion, creating tension in the muscles and soft tissues around the spine. The muscle spasm that results from the back injury can create sensations that range from mild discomfort to inability to move and excruciating pain.
Hot cold microwavable packs (Hot Cold Pillows) are also effective when treating chronic problems. It is well known that warming a painful area, increases blood circulation and speeds recovery by bringing in fresh blood cells and removing wastes. Muscles are then relaxed, pains relieved and stiffness eased.

How do hot cold pillows actually do it?
The effectiveness of hot cold pillows can be explained by their ability to achieve a balance between the blood supply and the sympathetic chain of nerves that runs adjacent to the spine, and the blood supply, which goes to the Para vertebral muscles of the back. When the skin, for instance is warmed, so are the tissues of the muscles of the back beneath it. muscles become relaxed and there is less resistance during the blood flow and consequently the pain is relieved.
When pain is accompanied by inflammation, cold microwavable packs are more effective and may provide a better relief of pain.

It is important to remember that even with all the high tech medical options nowadays, such simple treatments using hot cold pillows can still be one of the more effective, proven methods to ease pains. While cold packs are mostly effective after an injury occurs, or after any activity that causes pain or stiffness, it can also be very helpful in alleviating postoperative pain and discomfort, for example cold packs help reducing temperature, ease headaches and have been proven to help reduce migraine headache pain. Migraine headaches are thought to be due to a dilation of the blood vessels in one half of the head (thus the name hemicranium, or migraine). Patients with migraine do not do well with aspirin or with preparations which product vasodilatation. They do not respond well to ingesting any amount of alcohol because this causes further dilation of the blood vessels, additional pain, and other symptoms characteristic of migraine headaches. Cold contracts the blood vessels and thus, reduces the pain. Apart from migraines, cold packs can be used for sinusitis or as a rest for tired eyes.

Hot packs are good too, exploiting the overall qualities of warmth and heat that have long been associated with comfort and relaxation. Both, hot cold pillows go a step further by providing not only a pain relief, but also healing benefits for many types of problems.