Icing an injury

[withm]

Ah, I can go back to watching cartoons then

Oh pooooo. Zen, you are usually much more knowledgeable about these things. Who are you and what have you done with Zen?

[Eden]

I'd ice anyway (actually I'd alternate ice and heat - my coach who is also a PT put me on to that and it works really well - at least for acute injuries). The ice is meant to reduce inflammation and the heat, I think, increases blood flow. Unless you think the inflammation has already gone away by the time you get around to icing, then it should do some good no matter when you do it.

[OakLeaf]

Only tangential, but did you ask your PT about doing the elliptical? It seems like a bad idea to keep your arms raised and extended for so long - especially with the long reach required for most women who're too small for the big machines. Makes my rotators hurt just thinking about it...

[rocknrollgirl]

Can you ice in transit? An ice pack and an ace bandage would probably do the trick for the ride home from the gym. I travel long distances to train and race and I ice in transit all the time.

[ny biker]

When my knee hurts I ice it whenever. Hours after a ride, when I get up in the morning, whatever. It always seems to help.

[Becky]

Can you ice in transit? An ice pack and an ace bandage would probably do the trick for the ride home from the gym.

I have an awesome clay pack that came with a cover and attached elastic & velcro strap. It works great for icing/heating on the move. I think I found it at Walmart of all places.

[withm]

I have an awesome clay pack that came with a cover and attached elastic & velcro strap. It works great for icing/heating on the move. I think I found it at Walmart of all places.

Becky - do you have a link or a name or a photo of this pack? I'd be curious to know more about it. I'm sort of flooded out this weekend so can't go up to Walmart until the water recedes in a couple of days.

As far as the other comments - I think that "ice is nice" pretty much anytime you use it, but I suspect it's probably better to ice immediately after exercise - but like I said, I'll ask the PT on Wed.

He's OK with the elliptical - I can raise my arm that far, and it's a gentle motion which helps to maintain/improve my range of motion. It doesn't seem to bother it so I'll continue, building up gradually. I stop everything as soon as I get even a twinge. Including sleeping it seems.

As for icing on the move - well I have no way to keep the ice pack frozen all day at work, or at the gym, and can't figure out a way to hold it on my shoulder and drive at the same time. So while it would probably work well for other body parts I don't think I can make that one work even if I could keep it frozen till I needed it.

On the other hand, I have got a little improvement on the range of motion but it's going to take a while before the pain is gone, and probably a year before I could even think about swimming again. I am a true believer in PT and really appreciate the input by all the PT types on here. If I wasn't thinking more about retirement instead of a 3rd career, I'd seriously think about going back to school for PT. They work miracles!

[Becky]

Becky - do you have a link or a name or a photo of this pack? I'd be curious to know more about it.

Here's a link to the product: http://www.thermipaq.com/thermipaq.html. I have the smaller one (6" x 12"), and it's been perfect.