If you’ve recently suffered an injury, you may be wondering when and how to ice it properly. It’s a good idea to work with a professional, such as a chiropractor, to treat injuries and speed up recovery. That said, you may not always be able to get to a chiropractor’s office quickly, and treatment at home can also provide relief. If you want help with applying ice to an injury and live near Carrollton, GA, schedule an appointment with Dr. Pete Lazarnick.
Icing Right After an Injury
If you have just recently suffered an injury, it’s typically good to get ice on it right away. Keep in mind, you don’t necessarily have to use literal ice, but instead simply something cold, so long as it is clean. This might include a sports drink or can of soda fresh out of an ice box, an ice pack, or even an unopened bag of frozen peas. Putting something cold on a developing bruise or recent injury can relieve pain and also reduce swelling. In the long run, this might shorten the recovery time.
Generally speaking, you’ll want to limit your skin’s exposure to direct ice. Too much contact with ice can cause frostbite, blisters, and other issues. It’s often smart to wrap ice or an ice pack in a paper towel, a thin washcloth, or something similar. Generally speaking, you won’t want to expose your skin to an ice pack or ice for more than about 10 minutes at a time. it’s usually a good idea to pull the ice pack away for the same amount of time it was applied.
Besides ice, other things can help with swelling and inflammation. If possible, it’s a good idea to raise the bruised or injured area above your heart. You might hold your arms up, or you could lie down on the ground and rest your legs on a chair. Folks living around Carrollton, GA, who need help with applying ice to an injury or otherwise recovering can work with Dr. Pete.
Seeing a Chiropractor for Further Care
After initially icing your injury, it’s a wise idea to contact your chiropractor. They can provide further advice about icing your injuries to provide comfort, reduce inflammation, and potentially speed up recovery. You may want to alternative between icing and using warm compresses, for example, to provide relief. Whether a warm compress or ice pack will provide the most relief and benefits will depend on where you’re at in the healing process and other factors.
Other forms of care, including chiropractic adjustment, massage therapy, and various therapeutic exercises could also help provide relief and might speed up healing. When treating injuries, it’s important to examine each situation and develop a custom treatment plan. Should you live near Carrollton, GA, and need assistance with applying ice to an injury, come see Dr. Pete. Call (770) 832 2226 to get the conversation started.