Sprains and bruises

If possible, the sprained area should be kept straight - an arm, for example, can be supported in a sling. Try to keep the injured area in the same position while you are sleeping, perhaps by placing a couple of pillows under your sprain.

Ice

Since blood enters the tissues when you have a sprain, the main thing is to limit the bleeding. This can be done by cooling. Try the following techniques.

In each case, wrap the cold bag in a towel before placing it on the sprain. Always put a piece of fabric between your skin and the coolant, otherwise your skin may get frostbite.

Stop the cooling long before your skin turns white or hard. Contact a doctor if your skin does not regain its usual colour after the process has stopped. It is a good idea to cool the skin for 15 minutes, stop for 15 minutes, then cool again, and so on.

Usually, the cooling is felt in different ways. This can range from cold to painful, burning and finally numbing.

Be careful if you are diabetic. To prevent damage to your blood circulation, do not cool an area without consulting your doctor.

Compression

You can also wrap bandages around the damaged area to prevent movement. Most people use a pressure bandage at first, followed by tape when the swelling has disappeared.

If you are wearing bandages, it is important to monitor the area surrounding them. If this becomes blue-coloured and the surrounding tissue seems cold, you should remove the bandages and contact a doctor.

Elevation

The injured area shouldn't point downwards, otherwise fluid build-up may occur. This prolongs the healing process and causes more pain.

How can I relieve the pain?

The most important treatment for a sprain is rest, ice, compression and elevation, as described above. However, the pain experienced following a sprain can also be relieved with over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol (eg Panadol) or paracetamol and codeine (eg Panadol ultra).