The extra pressure on the nerves in the tissues causes more messages of pain to be sent to the brain and a cycle of swelling and pain can quickly go out of control. Gravity also plays an important role in swelling. Your heart is the pump that helps to deliver the healing properties in your body to the injured area. Another way to decrease swelling is to apply ice packs to the injured area within the first 24-48 hours following injury. Use care when applying cold to the area.
Ice can freeze the skin, like freezer burn, and cause even more problems.
If your doctor has prescribed medication to help control pain, it is a good idea to take it regularly to keep the level of medication released in your blood constant. This will help to keep pain from going out of control, which can make it very difficult to get your pain back to a level you can deal with. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for further knowledge on the subject of pain control. NAON Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing, Third Edition, pages 109-118. Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc., 1996.