Swelling

After any type of trauma there will be swelling in the tissue. This occurs after an injury, like a sprain or fracture, or after surgery. This is part of the body's normal repair mechanism. When tissue has been damaged, the walls of the tiny blood vessels leak fluid and the healing cells that normally circulate in the bloodstream. These cells and fluid flood the area of injury to begin the process of repairing the damaged tissue.

Though swelling is normal, it is not comfortable. You can do several things to decrease the amount of swelling you get, and help minimize your pain:

Compression

Mild compression with an Ace Bandage may help to control swelling after a sprain.  Care must be taken so that the bandage is not too tight that it constricts the limb.

Elevate
The first and most important to do is to elevate the injured area. Position it with pillows to keep it higher than the level of your heart (mid-chest). You will find that letting it dangle down will cause throbbing and increase your discomfort.

Ice Packs
You may put ice or cold packs on the area, also. If there is a thick splint or cast on the cold may have difficulty penetrating to the injured area. The ice pack should not be left on for over 20 minutes at a time, and wait a half hour between applications. A bag of frozen peas or frozen corn from your refrigerator may work as well as ice, and can often be molded around the injured area.

Loosen Dressings
If you have elevated the area and put on ice packs, and the swelling is still severe, the splint or dressings should be loosened. If you notice that the digits beyond the dressing are numb from swelling you should contact the office to arrange to have the dressing released. If you can not reach anyone, you may either carefully release the tight dressings yourself with a scissor, or go to your nearest emergency room.