Injuries can be difficult to deal with. From recuperating to finding a way to relieve the pain, injuries can lead to much discomfort.

Ice packs and Gel Ice Packs help you to fight the pain and find quick relief. Although using an ice pack is common, using one correctly is not. If you have used or are currently using ice packs, here are some mistakes you should avoid:

Using it Directly on Your Skin:

Using an ice pack directly on your skin could lead to more harm than good. Ice packs help you to reduce the pain and allows for mobility.
However, applying an ice pack on unprotected skin would not offer any help. If anything, it would reduce the blood flow and could lead to frostbite.

So, if you want to use an ice pack to get relief, make sure your ice packs don’t get in direct touch with your skin. Cover the spot you’d use an ice pack on with some cloth or towel.

Keeping the Ice Pack for Too Long:

When it comes to using ice packs for pain relief, the key is always to let your skin rest. If left for too long, gel ice packs could cause nerve damage. Besides, it restricts the blood flow in the region.

Typically, an ice pack should be left for about ten to fifteen minutes. Most of the commercial ice packs list the time on the pack. If you’re using a homemade ice pack, you should leave it on for ten minutes.

Once you take the ice pack off, you should wait for five minutes, at least, before you get another one.

Ice Pack is a Helping Hand and Not the Solution:

Ice packs should not be considered as the last resort or the only resort to your injuries. The thing is ice packs offer aid and relief; however, it does not take away other care practices.

Even if you use an ice pack, you’d need to take care of your injury. Always remember to avoid elevation when it comes to injuries. Elevation may risk more swelling and pain. Avoid the same to find faster recovery.

What More to Know When You Use Ice Packs?

If you’re using gel ice packs or even home-made ice packs, here are some more things to keep in mind:

• Ice pack treatment differs from injury to injury. You should consult your doctor before you apply one to your body. Following the same instructions for every kind of injury could make ice treatments ineffective.
• Make sure you move the ice packs often. Most of the time, people get ice burns because they leave the ice pack on for a long time without any movement. Apart from using a cloth between your skin and the ice pack, remember to move the ice pack in circular motions for better results.
• Before you reapply your ice pack, remember to rest. Your skin should not be numb and should be warm when you reapply the ice pack. Let your body return to “normalcy.” Let blood flow return to normal after your ice pack treatment.
• To reduce pain and swelling, remember to use compression.

With that said, you should consider reading the instructions properly. Furthermore, if you’re confused about anything, you should speak to your doctor about the injury and how to treat it.

Although gel ice packs have a good effect on your injury, you’d still need some help regarding how to use them properly.