Many times, orthopedic injuries
that are not obvious traumatic injuries requiring immediate physician attention,
may be treated with RICE. RICE is an acronym that stands for Rest, Ice,
Compression, and Elevation.
Rest -- letting the injured
joint rest by drastically limiting its use.
Ice -- applying ice packs to
the joint for the first 24 to 48 hours. Ice should not be applied
continuously, but rather on an alternating schedule of 10 to 20 minutes
of ice applied, then removing the ice for 10 to 20 minutes, and repeating
this procedure. A bag of frozen vegetables works well if an ice pack
is not available. After the swelling has stopped (usually 24 to 48 hours
after the injury) heat packs can be applied based on the same heat on/heat
off alternating schedule.
Compression -- wrapping the
joint in an elastic bandage will help limit swelling The bandage should
be snug but not cause numbness or tingling or additional pain. If
the joint is wrapped, some limited movement will actually help ligaments
heal. Ligaments do not contain blood vessels, so the nutrients are
transported to the joint via the synovial fluid during joint movement.
Elevation -- elevating the injury
above the level of the heart will help decrease the swelling.
This "RICE" formula should not
be substituted for a medical evaluation if there is any suspicion of a
serious injury. Also, if pain and swelling persist for more than 24 to
48 hours, or symptoms worsen during this time, an orthopedic evaluation
should be scheduled.
