if you have swelling in elbow like a torn ligament or muscle pull do you cold pack or heat pad for some relief.
2007-12-18 13:10:43 · 10 answers · asked by lions_mouse06 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
Initial treatment for that type of injury is:
Rest
Ice
Compression(wrap)
Elevation.
Take a Motrin for pain and additional swelling.
Once that is under control, apply heat to relax the stiffened ligaments/muscles. Generally 20 min. increments of alternating ice/heat will help.
2007-12-18 13:16:09 · answer #1 · answered by Kat 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you are talking about immediately after the injury, then always ice first. Always, always. Heat makes inflammation worse.
After the first 24 hours it doesn't matter as much, because the injury is already as inflamed as it will ever be (unless you develop infection, or injure it more), so you apply heat or ice, whichever feels the most comfortable.
The most therapeutic thing to do is alternate, heat, then ice, the heat, then ice, in 20 minute increments, ending on ice. This promotes circulation, which means blood flow, which means healing.
You can also take ibuprofen, (advil, motrin) a pain reliever that is also an anti-inflammatory. Read label for allergy warnings, but most people tolerate it well. Take it with food to avoid stomach upset. Therapeutic dose for short term use, such as recup from an injury, is 800 mg (four tabs over the counter) every 6 hours to reduce pain and swelling...a week or two is all I would do at this level. For inflammation relief, you don't necessarily go by your pain to decide when or if to take it...you re-dose to keep it in your system.
2007-12-18 21:21:02 · answer #2 · answered by musicimprovedme 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ice it, then go see a family doctor for x rays. my elbow swelled up during baseball. I went to see the doctor and had xrays, i had torn my UCL. Then I had to see a orthopedic surgeon and have an MRI. I found out I had particle tearing, and to have Tommy John ligament replacement surgery. have a doctor check it out before it gets worse, i thought it was nothing and it turned into surgery!
2007-12-18 21:23:40 · answer #3 · answered by Greg 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cold helps to reduce inflammation. Which in the case of a tear or pull you would have. Heat helps to increase blood flow and loosen muscles.
2007-12-18 21:16:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
ice it for fifteen minutes (this helps keep the swelling down)
Then heat it for fifteen minutes (this makes the blood rush to that area of your body. The blood brings oxygen other nutrients that will help repair the injruy)
keep doing this repeatedly through out the day.
2007-12-18 21:20:20 · answer #5 · answered by Andi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should put ice on it 15min 3x day for 2-3 days,then moist heat..if you put heat on it now,you will increase the swelling and it will be very stiff the next day.
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2007-12-18 21:21:41 · answer #6 · answered by carpal-tunnel-provider 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
ice it after activity but if your going to be using it and you need it not to hurt for a while heat is good.. other than that ice it constantly
2007-12-18 21:14:08 · answer #7 · answered by watchagonedo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
heat then later ice
2007-12-18 21:13:55 · answer #8 · answered by softball chic 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋
USE ICE!!! i tore my ligaments in my ankle in volleyball and i was told by my doctor and trainer to ICE like every hour for twenty minutes and i was playin' again in a week! ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE
2007-12-18 21:18:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
YOU USE AN AIR PAD!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-12-18 21:13:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋