Inflammation: To Prevent Or Not to Prevent

[Skilzat85X]

Ok practical application guys, I need to come to a decision on this one.

Because most standard sources for information on healing certain injuries involving inflammation, as well as the standard doctors diagnosis say: Ice, Wrap, and most of all, Anti-inflammatory medication.

However, I also have found other sources and sites that say stuff like "oh inflammation is good for you anti-inflammatories will make you recover slower," and generally stuff along the lines of inflammation is your bodies natural response (true, obviously), and you shouldn't try to get rid of it.

This also applies to splinting and whatever else to limit the range of motion of say an inured joint/tendon/muscle/whatever to prevent aggravation. This is often the common advice, however some sources say that you need to have free mobility or else your body won't be using your muscles/whatever else enough to heal them efficiently.

For example, my wrist is gay, as always. There is inflammation is part of it, oh goodie.
Now, some sources say ice, anti-inflammatories ibuprofen etc, and wrap it up or splint it with a brace, then let it heal and follow up with rehab exercises and stretches later.
Other ones say no anti-inflammatories, no splint/brace, ice only when the injury first occurs, and let it go through it's natural range of motion so that the muscles of the wrist still get used.

Both of them seem pretty reasonable. But I'm sure only one of them can lead to the best/most efficient (aka, HEAL ME FAST PLZ) results.

So the question is: Which the NIGG is it?

Which would it be for my specific problem? Is it always that choice? Is it a case by case basis? What does it depend on if so? etc

Thanks guys

[Rahf]

Splinting should generally only be used if you have trouble supporting your weight on say, a foot. If you sprain something (stretch a tendon) one action is to wrap it tight, using the bandaids full elasticity, keep that on for 20 minutes (it should almost be a blood stopper), take it off for a few minutes, wrap it gently and keep it that way for a few hours.

If you're going to use a splint or other external support, the reasons should be that you cannot support yourself or perform regular daily routines without it. Why should you use your full ROM if doing it is accompanied by an intense amount of pain?

NSAID can be used at your own leisure, an inflammation is not an infection and giving your healing a slight boost shouldn't be a problem really. You should remember that you still have to find the cause for the inflammation or it might blossom again. A possible reason for people to draw the conclusion that anti-inflammatories do not help is that they use them, it eases the inflammation and then they go on using that bodypart like normal again, this is the key difference since NSAID does not completely heal the inflammation it simply relieves the symptoms. You should not exercise the affected bodypart regardless if you're using NSAID or not.

Rest is the answer, sad but true. If you wish to use NSAID then do it.

Healing wounds with ice is apparently a huge thing in the U.S.

[Lees Dragon]

What exactly is inflammation?
I have only a rough idea of what it is, but not a specific one.

[Rahf]

What exactly is inflammation?
I have only a rough idea of what it is, but not a specific one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflammation

[anfeyd]

Like Rahf said, immobilization should only be used if it is a broken bone or that particular structure cannot support itself on its own.

For most muscular injuries I think treatment should be rather aggressive. Check out this Bill Starr rehabilitation protocol: http://strengthmill.net/forum/showthread.php?t=700

Immobilization for most injuries will only lead that muscle to lose function and make the surrounding muscles make up for it. As said in the rehab protocol you have to use the muscle so it heals under normal contractile structure. Otherwise you'll end up like me and have restrictive scar tissue that limits the function and flexibility of the muscle.

If the pain is more due to tendinitis NSAIDS can be used to continue using it but I'd try to find a way to fix it without them so you don't have to be popping pills all day.


Also from my own experience, icing a muscle belly injury within the first 48-72 hours greatly reduces the swelling and dramatically decreases the healing time. It has to be done regularly through out the day though when the injury first begins.

[kinetic]

Also from my own experience, icing a muscle belly injury within the first 48-72 hours greatly reduces the swelling and dramatically decreases the healing time. It has to be done regularly through out the day though when the injury first begins.

What can be done once that time frame has passed? I have found ice effective after that on previous injuries. Actually im icing my hip right now haha.

[anfeyd]

What can be done once that time frame has passed? I have found ice effective after that on previous injuries. Actually im icing my hip right now haha.

It depends on the injury. This coming from left field out of my head: the ice holds down the inflammation. This reduces how big/thick the scar tissue forms.

Why are you icing your hip?

[tracekillz]

ice is most effective within the first 24-48 hours. effectiveness after this period greatly decreases. it still has "soothing" properties after the 48 hours tho. generally results following the first day or 2 is correlated with a placebo effect.

if youre going to ice, its suggested that you ice the area for 20 minutes, then take the ice off for 20 minutes. This prevents freeze burns and shizz. :P

NSAIDs should be taken for 7-10 days as a theraputic plan of care. it will reduce inflammation, but it is MUCH more beneficial if you take it consistantly for a week than if you take it only once when the pain is felt.

as far as anti-inflammatories slowing th healing process, its 50/50. the inflammation occurs because your body is working to repair that area. supressing the inflammation will supposedly lengthen the healing process. HOWEVER, depending on the severity of the injury, NSAIDs could actually be beneficial.

regardless of which route you choose, its all gonna take about 6 weeks anyway.

like rahf and anfeyd said tho..RICE that shit. if pain is the issue, then take the pills. its all about comprimise. (:

[kinetic]

It depends on the injury. This coming from left field out of my head: the ice holds down the inflammation. This reduces how big/thick the scar tissue forms.

Why are you icing your hip?

I usually use it after sessions to soothe the pain/stop the swelling. It doesn't seem to be increasing though. It seems to be staying the same, like my ankle. My ankle did the same thing but now its completely fine and still looks a little bit swollen.
Sorry my answer is pretty late haha. Well it's only to my disadvantage anyway.

[Kitosho]

take ze fishies oils

[dpitlock]

GOD IN A BOTTLE
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[del]

I had a training session today and everything went smooth but when i got home my ankle had swollen up like mad, didnt even feel it during the session but now i can barely move it :(

[TrickerD]

I would think that you should let it inflame if you aren't going to put any weight on it or use it at all. If you do have to use or move it wrap it up and see if it helps.

[anfeyd]

MY LEG IS HAVING SIMILAR SYMPTOMS TO COMPARTMENT SYNDROME. INFLAMMATION IS BAD :dead: