G. W. Meyer and D. O. Castell
Normal persons often note chest or back pain during rapid ingestion of cold liquids, commonly believed to result from cold-induced "spasm" of esophageal muscle. We studied the effects of swallowing cold liquids on esophageal function in five normal subjects, aged 20 to 44 years, by comparing their response to cold ice cream (-5 degrees C) and room temperature ice cream mix (20 degrees C). Decreased peristaltic amplitude was seen during cold ice cream ingestion, primarily in the midesophagus. When seven subjects rapidly ingested ice cream until chest pain was produced and maintained for at least 60 s, complete absence of motor activity in the distal esophagus occurred, with slow return to normal during the ensuing five minutes. Our studies indicate that ingestion of cold liquids significantly depresses peristaltic amplitudes and frequency of peristalsis in normal persons, and pain is associated with complete absence of motor activity in the body of the esophagus, rather than esophageal "spasm" as commonly believed.
So glad indeed that I am not alone on this. What i do really when i have my spine freeze episodes is push my tongue to my upper palate to warm it. it works for me. eases the pain much quicker.
I get this really bad you might want to have it looked into. I have MS and back thing got real bad about 4 yrs ago along with the MS.
I also experience bilateral kidney pain at the same time that I experience brain freeze, but it's new to me. Happened the last 3x that I had brain freeze and my brain freezes are worse than in the past too. They last longer & are more painful. Was anyone able to get some answers?
this just ahppened to me on Saturday...and it WAS a Sonic slush
i heard it was aherniated disc
It's the exact same thing as Brain Freeze, but it's in the back. I have had it my entire life. There are no other health issues, my spine is fine, no MS, nothing like that at all. It only comes from consuming something really cold. Most people get brain freeze, some of us get back freeze. From what I've heard some people have both, though that's rare. Those that have had both tend to say back freeze is a lot more painful than brain freeze. I wouldn't know, I've only ever had back freeze. I've also read it is genetic. I don't know anyone else with back freeze, none of my family nor my five children have back freeze - only the brain freeze. It's normal, we are just unique.
what race are you? are you over weight?