how to reduce swelling?

Question

How do I reduce swelling? I know you can use ice, but is there any medicine (like tylenol or advil or something) that will help?

Answer 1

Advil, Motrin, Aleve all help with reliving swelling. Also make sure you keep the injured area elevated above your heart as much as possible (if it's in your leg try to keep at least at hip level when sitting and prop it up when you're laying down.) Ice for the first 24-48 hours 20 mins on 20 mins off 3x, then alternate ice and heat (again 20 mins on 20 mins off)

Answer 2

You need to do the RICE method. Rest Ice Compression and Elevation. Lay down. Then, put ice on it. Then, put an elastic bandage on it that will further reduce swelling. Of course, then, elevate the body part, that means above your heart, not just a foot or so off the ground. laying down and resting it on a pillow should help. You can take Tylenol, it's an anti-inflammatory, or any brand of over the counter medication that has acetaminophen. Hope that help!

Answer 3

Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory, but it takes a long time for it to reduce swelling.

R.I.C.E. is best for soft tissue injuries and swelling.

Strains are injuries that affect muscles or tendons, thick bands that attach muscles to bones. They occur in response to a quick tear, twist, or pull of the muscle. Strains are an acute type of injury that results from overstretching or over contraction. Pain, weakness, and muscle spasms are common symptoms experienced after a strain occurs.

Sprains are injuries that affect ligaments, thick bands of cartilage that attach bone to bone. They occur in response to a stretch or tear of a ligament. Sprains are an acute type of injury that results from trauma such as a fall or outside force that displaces the surrounding joint from its normal alignment. Sprains can range from a mild ligamentous stretch to a complete tear. Bruising, swelling, instability, and painful movement are common symptoms experienced after a sprain occurs.

RICE is the acronym used for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. It is used as the best initial treatment of soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, and contusions. The combination of RICE helps reduce inflammation that occurs after acute injury. It is important to remember that the earlier this treatment is put into place, the more effective it is.

Rest: Rest and protect the injured area.

Ice: Apply ice to the injury. The cold will reduce swelling and pain at the injured site. This step should be done as soon as possible. Apply the frozen object to the area for 20 minutes three times a day for the first 48 hours.

Compression: Compress the injured site. This will decrease swelling of the injured region. Although the wrap should be snug, make sure it is not too tight as this can cause numbness, tingling, or increased pain.

Elevation: Elevate the injured area above the level of the heart as much as possible. This technique will also assist in reducing the amount of swelling to the injured site.

Once the pain and swelling are eliminated, you should start gradual range of motion exercises but not to the point of pain. Each day your range of motion will increase slightly. Continue until you have complete range of motion. Than start gentle strengthening exercises to re-build the strength in the injured area.

The stiffness will go away over time.

Good Luck

Answer 4

Because you listed this under injuries, I am assuming your swelling is due to an injury. The main cure for swelling due to an injury is time. Ice packs, elevation and rest may speed to process along, and anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen (Advil) may help a tiny amount.

Answer 5

take an OTC anti inflam unless you need something stronger...such as toradol....if yo ucannot take anti inflams, a shot of toradol is really quite different, and works immediately....very good....I also believe that Aleve is wonderful. much better than the generic or brand of ibuprofen...and of course there is Ice......Depending upon the reason you are swelling, it may be prudent to wait two days until you apply heat intermittently. Hope that this helps...i am not a doctor, but saw one yesterday from a pretty bad and swollen muscle strain from shoveling snow. That was his guidance to and for me, though please consult your own doctor.

Answer 6

YES, R-I-C-E IS ONE OF THE REMEDIES YOU CAN GIVE TO PATIENT WITH SWELLING SUSTAINED AFTER TRAUMA. BUT HOW CAN YOU APPLY THIS REMEDIES PROPERLY AND CORRECTLY? FIRST IS LET THE PATIENT REST FOR SOMETIME. PLS MINIMIZE USING THE AFFECTED AREA. 2ND, YOU APPLY COLD COMPRESS. HOW LONG? IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT DURING THE FIRST 24 HRS AFTER INJURY, COLD COMPRESS IS INDICATED, ATMOST 20MINS PER HOUR FOR THE NEXT 24HRS AND AFTERWHICH COLDS COMPRESS IS NOT INDICATED ANYMORE FOR WARM COMPRESS IS ADVISED THERE AFTER. 3RD, YOU APPLY COMPRESSION ON THE AFFECTED AREA BY USING ELASTIC BANDAGE. BUT HOW DO YOU APPLY IT? OFCOURSE THE PROPER METHOD OF APPLYING AN ELASTIC IS YOU START FROM THE DISTAL PART OF THE AFFECTED AREA GOING PROXIMAL AND BE SURE YOU HAVE A 50% OVERLAP OF THE ELASTIC BANDAGE AS YOU MOVE UPWARDS. 4TH- ELEVATE, SO WHILE THE PATIENT IS RESTING, TRY TO PUT 2 PILLOWS ON THE AFECTED AREA FOR IT TO BE ELEVATED AND HELP MINIMIZE SWELLING.

FOR MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF SWELLING, THERE IS ALOT OD MEDICATIONS THAT ARE OUT IN THE MARKET WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE A POTENT ANTI-IFLAMMAOTY EFFECT

EX. CELEBREX (CELECOXIB) 400MG 1 CAP ONCE A DAY
AULIN (NIMESULIDE) 100MG 1 TAB 2X A DAY
MELOXICAM 15MG 1 TAB ONCE A DAY
ARCOXIA 60MG 1 TAB 2X ADAY
NEOPYRAZONE SR 1 CAP ONCE A DAY
NEOPYRAZONE 50MG 1TAB 2X A DAY

Answer 7

Stay with the cold, use compression, keep sleeping at 45 deg, take anti-inflammatories, and realize that jaw surgery is major and is going to leave you busted up for awhile.

Answer 8

Motrin and rotate hot and cold compresses.