R.I.C.E.
Make a "Slush Bag"
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Take a quart sized Zip-Lock bag. Add 6 cubes of ice, 1 ten-ounce glass of water, 12 heaping teaspoons of ordinary table salt. Tightly lock the bag, pressing out the air as you close it. Apply the bag to the painfully affected area. Apply 2 minutes on, 1 minute off. Go back and forth trying to drive down the swelling, pain and inflammation. When the ice has melted, put the bag in the freezer. If you have enough salt in the solution, it will not freeze, but turn into a bag of slush, which will then conform nicely to the affected part, and stay very cold for a good while. If it freezes into a block of ice, add more salt and try again after it melts to make a slush bag. |
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For safety, you may double bag for protection from leaks.
Icing of a painful area is effective in diminishing swelling, reducing discomfort and eliminating inflammation. However, after 3-4 days it may no longer be effective.
Heat Application:
At this time we recommend to switch to applying heat to the area. This will increase the speed of the fluids flowing through the affected zone, dilate the blood vessels and relieve some of the discomfort.
Warm water flowing from a bath spout, whirlpool bath (Jacuzzi types), heating pads, hot water bottles or liniments (Antiphlogistine A-535 Heat rub or Icy Heat are great ones) can be used here.