Limb injuries are no joke. They can be painful and debilitating, which is why it’s important to know how to recover from them properly.
Limb injuries can range from minor sprains and strains up to fractures or other more serious issues. So, in case an injury needs to be treated immediately, keep a tourniquet in your first aid kit, like the one linked here.
In the meantime, several tips have been compiled below that show you how to heal from a limb injury.
Table of Contents
1. The first 24 Hours Are The Most Crucial
The first 24 hours are the most crucial. Most doctors will tell you this, and it’s true. The first day is when you need to be extra careful so as not to cause any further damage or increase your risk of infection.
If your limb is infected, you may need antibiotics and other medications. When you’re recovering from a limb injury, you mustn’t put too much stress on yourself or the injured area right away.
2. Lightly Massage Your Limb
Massaging your injury will help increase the circulation of blood to your limb, which can reduce pain and swelling.
A massage can also help increase flexibility and range of motion in your injured area by reducing muscle spasms that may occur during recovery.
One way to massage your muscles is with a foam roller or tennis ball. Use these tools to roll over the injured area, applying gentle pressure while moving slowly from one side of the muscle group to another.
You can also use a massage stick or foam roller on larger muscles in your upper body, such as your back or thighs; just be careful not to apply too much pressure when using these tools on tender areas like joints, as this could have the opposite effect and have you feeling more pain instead.
3. Rest
Easily one of the hardest points to accept. Rest is essential to the healing process. It allows the affected limb time to recuperate. Now, most do this incorrectly, rest does not imply lazing around on the couch, it simply means the affected limb should be counted out of any strenuous labor.
Doing so allows you to assess any complications, such as bruising, swelling, or discoloration.
If even after resting and medications, the limb injury is not recovery, you will have to go to a physiotherapy clinic in Singapore to help you get back on your feet. Make sure that you are working only with the best and most experienced physiotherapists to overcome your limb pain.
4. BeSure To Elevate Your Injury
Make sure to raise your limb so that it rests in an elevated position above the heart. You can do this by resting it on a pillow or a raised surface, like a table or chair, to prop it up.
Remember to not levitate it too high, or you will cut off blood flow.
5. UseIce To Help With Swelling And Pain
Ice is a great way to help reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation. Ice should be applied for 15-20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. You can use any kind of bag filled with frozen vegetables or corn for this purpose.
6. Use Heat
Once you’re able to put weight on the injured limb, use heat as soon as possible. Heat can help with pain and swelling, but it also increases blood flow to the injury so that your body can start repairing itself more quickly.
For example, if you have an ankle sprain, then the heat would be beneficial in helping with both inflammation and flexibility of the ankle joint.
In general, heat therapy is most useful when there is an injury that affects a joint or muscle group because these areas are usually prone to swelling after trauma occurs.
7. Lower Body Versus Upper Body
The best way to recover from a lower-body limb injury is to stay off your feet. If you have the option, use crutches or a wheelchair. If you can’t do that, use a walker and keep moving as much as possible.
Don’t let yourself get stuck in bed unless necessary: if you’re immobile for too long, it will be harder on your leg muscles to start walking again after the injury heals up.
If none of these options are available, try using a cane or brace; this may help stabilize you enough so that you can move around just fine on your own two feet again.
If you injure your arm or upper body, it’s best to keep the injured limb immobilized until further notice. You can use a sling, wrap, or brace to immobilize the injured limb. If you’re not sure what to do, ask someone who is trained in first aid for help.
Conclusion
If you have been injured, you can also visit a podiatry clinic that offers specialized treatment and rehabilitation plans to help you recover from the injury. This will accelerate your recovery plans and allow you to get back to your normal activities in no time.
Recovering from a limb injury can be easy if you do it right the first time. It is important to use your common sense and not rush into any activity that might cause further harm or pain.
