Home Care

How can I help the pain at home, and how can I shorten the healing time-line? First have to choose between types of pain, new versus old, sharp versus dull, local versus radiating. If you consider any pain episode to be an injury, after you label it acute or chronic you have your choices.

On any new injury you can apply RICE's rule for the first 48 Hours and for 48 hours following any aggravation of an old or new injury.

R = Rest
I = Ice
C = Compress
E = Elevate

Rest, so you don't tear any more tissue: Ice, so you can clean and clear out the swelling: Compress, so you can clear out the swelling: Elevate, so you can clear out the swelling.

You are getting the picture about swelling now. When you injure something there is tearing at some level, which creates the leaking and pooling of blood and fluid in the surrounding tissue. Your body mobilizes its' defenses immediately to clean up the mess, but this is a case where knowledge is power and by performing the simplest of acts you may cut the healing time line in half.

Time: How long do I use the Ice or Heat?
10-20 Minutes based upon the size of the body area or injury. You must not exceed the time because you will create the reverse affect as the body tries to defend itself from the exposure to Heat or Ice.

Time: How soon can I use it again?
With multiple applications, you must wait the same 10-20 minutes between applications so the body may keep up with the pace.

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