The body fluid contains the chemicals our body uses to fight off infection and to heal injured areas. When the body senses an injury, it is a natural response to send out an army of fluid to begin the healing process. The tissues soak up as much as they can and the leftover fluid goes into spaces between the soaked tissues. Swelling occurs where the extra fluid is, placing pressure on the tissues surrounding the broken bone. 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.