If you’re dealing with an orthopedic injury, you’re likely wondering what the best way of managing the injury is. Ideally, you’ll have an appointment with an orthopedic expert lined up, but you might have a few days before the appointment during which you need to treat the injury. In other cases, you might simply be trying to manage chronic pain. Do you do so with heat or ice, though? It actually depends on the type of injury you’re dealing with.
Using Heat
If you’re dealing with arthritis or any other type of chronic joint pain, heat is the way to go. By applying heat to an area, you’ll increase the blood flow and help loosen up the tissues around the joints. However, it’s important that you do this before you begin any type of activity that you know is going to cause you pain. You don’t want to use heat after the activity, nor should you apply heat to any sudden injury. Only use the heating pad to treat your chronic condition as a pre-emptive solution.
Using Ice
While heat helps with chronic conditions, ice is the solution for acute (sudden) injuries. If you’ve hurt yourself within 48 hours, apply ice to the area where you have swelling. It will help reduce the swelling, stop muscle spasms, and even reduce the pain. You can also use ice for treating any chronic condition, but you want to do so after you’ve worked out or done any other activity. Here, the ice is used to help with inflammation. Never use ice before you’re active.
Tips for Controlling Pain with Heat and Ice
There are a few ways you can use heat and ice to help deal with chronic orthopedic pain. Using heat before an activity and ice afterwards will help minimize the amount of pain you feel while you’re active and during the rest of the day. You do, however, want to avoid using both heat and ice on any area you know has poor circulation or that has a lack of sensation. Also avoid both types of treatment on any area that is infected.
Every person and every injury is unique. If you’re not certain whether to use heat, ice, or neither, contact the experts at Maximum Orthopedics to discuss your specific injury and treatment plan.
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Posted on: Apr 30 2019
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By: admin
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, on the job accident, or other type of injury that has left you unable to work for months, years, or for the rest of your life, you need to seek out disability benefits. These benefits will allow you to maintain your current state of living while you deal with medical bills, physical therapy, and adjusting to your new way of living. Before you begin the process of applying for benefits, though, you need to understand the differences between temporary and permanent disability so you know which one to pursue.
Temporary Disability
Temporary disability, as the name suggests, is designed to temporarily help you cover your bills and medical costs until you can return to work. You will likely be awarded temporary disability if you will eventually fully recover and be able to return to work. It’s meant to help you remain financially stable in the short term. It can cover injuries such as broken bones or illnesses such as severe cases of the flu. Anything that makes it impossible to do your job or to handle routine tasks such as walking or preparing meals can make you eligible for temporary disability.
Note that a number of insurance companies and even state governments don’t offer this type of disability. Even those that do will have a maximum amount of time you can take advantage of temporary disability benefits.
Permanent Disability
If, on the other hand, you have been injured to the point that you will be permanently impaired, you can apply for permanent disability. This type of disability is designed to provide you with financial assistance for the rest of your life. This type of long-term disability is only awarded if medical experts have determined that you will not recover completely and will always have a disability. Losing a limb, for example, could qualify for you for permanent disability if it means you cannot do the job you’ve been trained to do. In addition to being injured, it’s also possible to be born with a qualifying disability such as blindness.
Determining which type of disability is right for you often requires a medical specialist. The experts at Maximum Orthopedics can help you apply for the correct type of disability.
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Posted on: Apr 15 2019
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By: admin
