Showing posts with label sprain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sprain. Show all posts

Monday, July 1, 2013

Treatment For a Sprained Wrist

8:50:00 AM
A sprained wrist is very painful, especially if you do not rest the hand. If you expect to get full use of your wrist back, make sure you allow it some time to recover from the injury. Following the proper steps, a sprained wrist will quickly recover.
Apply an ice pack to it. Ice your wrist as soon as possible after you sprain it. It will prevent the swelling. An ice pack will work double duty because it numbs and stabilizes. The ice wrap should extend from the hand to the elbow. A too tight wrap is bad for the circulation so make sure you keep it only snug. It is important to put ice on a sprained wrist.
Raise the wrist and arm. Keep your wrist raised with some pillows while you keep the sprain iced. With a sling or cushion, make sure your whole arm stays elevated above the position of your heart. Your arm will need to remain in this state for seventy-two hours or more.
Relax your wrists. It's important that you give it a rest. Your wrist will require several days to heal, and if you keep demanding that your wrist be fully utilized, the recovery you seek will be prolonged. Make sure you avoid using your sprained wrist for as long as possible, at least a few days if you can manage. Your wrist's tendons and muscles will better recover with more rest.
Don't go near the heat at the beginning. It is imperative to keep your sprained and swollen wrist as far away from heat as possible while in the healing process. Heat will make the location become swollen, which means additional pain for your wrist that is already hurting badly. Don't cozy up to the fire, and in general, try to keep your sprained wrist at body temperature or cooler. Your wrist will continue to swell if exposed to heat so avoid at all costs.
After a few of days, moderate heat will help. After the inflammation recedes from your wrist, some moist heat should provide relief. Make sure the wet towel is warm before applying it.  Apply this to your wrist for a period of thirty minutes. Doing this should alleviate some pain around the sprain location.
Slowly increase the amount you use your wrist. 3-5 days is the average amount of time for your sprained wrist to stop hurting so deeply. Only begin to use your wrist again when you are comfortable, and do it slowly. If you push it too hard, then you are likely to injure it again and make the recovery process longer. When you begin using your wrist, don't use it to its full potential for the first couple weeks. (You'll get a feeling for when it's safe to remove the sling, the ice and the warmth and start using your sprained wrist again - but be sure it is when you no longer feel ache when you employ your wrist).

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Foot Pain Relief At Last!

10:05:00 AM
"As an arthritis specialist, one area that I see people complain about more often than almost any other, is their feet." So says Dr. Nathan Wei, Clinical Director of The Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. "This is too bad because there are many treatments that can be helpful," Dr. Wei adds.
The foot is made up of 26 bones and 39 muscles...
The foot and ankle are designed to bear weight. The multiple joints in the feet are capable of adjusting to almost any terrain and the padding in the feet are designed to absorb shock.. The ankle joint allows the foot to move up and down, side to side, and inward and outward (inversion and eversion).
Not All Foot Pain Comes From The Foot!
Careful examination of the low back, hip, and knee should be performed because pain from these areas may affect the foot and ankle. In particular, pinched nerves in the low back can cause foot pain and weakness.
Ankle sprains are common- 25,000 people sprain an ankle every day!
The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and prevent instability.
Treatment of an acute sprain consists of rest, ice compression and elevation ("RICE"). Exercises to help stabilize and strengthen the ankle should be started.
Arthritis of the ankle may cause recurrent pain and swelling.
Pain from arthritis typically is made worse by weight-bearing particularly on uneven ground. What this means is you should try to avoid excessive walking or running on uneven ground. Anti-inflammatory medication and proper foot support can do wonders.
Pain in the ball of the foot has many causes...
  • Foot strain occurs when a person "overdoes it." And the treatment is pretty straightforward. Rest.
  • Morton's neuroma (a benign nerve tumor usually located between the 3rd and 4th toes)
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome (pinched nerve in the ankle)
  • Arthritis.
Other common causes of foot pain include:
  • Stress fractures may occur after excessive walking.
  • Achilles tendonitis causes pain in the back of the heel. Treatment consists of anti-inflammatory medicines, rest, a heel lift, and gentle stretching.
  • Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the bottom of the heel. Treatment includes rest, anti-inflammatory medication, heel cup, orthotics, stretching, and local steroid injection.
  • Flat foot.
Muscle strengthening exercises and orthotics are helpful.
Two other common problems are:

  • Osteoarthritis, particularly common in the big toe. The big toe will point out to the side. When bursitis alongside the great toe joint develops, this condition is referred to as a bunion. Treatment involves proper padding and footwear. In extreme cases, surgery is required.
  • Neuropathy. This painful condition is particularly common in diabetics. This occurs when the small nerves in the feet are damaged. Symptoms include burning, tingling, and pain in the feet - worse at night.
Well fitted orthotics (arch supports) can alleviate not only foot and ankle pain but pain in the knees, hips, low back, and neck!!
We often take the ability to walk for granted. This ability involves the use of two engineering marvels- our feet and ankles. Because of the tremendous amount of force transmitted to the feet with walking, unique problems may develop. Attention to proper preventative care, i.e., comfortable shoes, sox, hygiene, support, along with proper prompt medical care can really put the brakes on foot pain.