My chiropractor said that to me last year when I went to her with a terrible neck/shoulder pain. So I did the ice thing. It was horrible. I hate putting cold things on my skin anyway. Then I bought a weighted lavender smelling neck/shoulder wotsit that can be heated in the microwave (or frozen in the freezer) and it really helped. I'm just saying it might be worth trying heat even if you immediately go back to ice ...