How to Reduce Pain and Inflammation

Great you’re committed to staying fit, I’m a gym junkie myself. Studies prove how exercise boosts your cognitive function and memory recall, improves mitochondrial function, spreads healthier DNA and improves mood .?.?. makes your jeans look good too! But one misplaced step can result in an injury that hurts for days, or longer!  

A sprain refers to a stretched or torn ligament, for example, in the wrist or ankle. Ligaments connect bones to other bones at a joint. Some of you feel a ‘pop’ when it happens. A strain refers to a stretched or torn muscle/tendon. Strains cause pain, swelling, and sometimes muscle spasms. No fun! Medicines usually treat the smoke, not the fire. To quickly improve your level of comfort consider RICE.

The RICE acronym will help you remember essential steps to relieve a strained ankle, wrist, or other area.  “R” is for rest. It’s important to minimize use of the affected area while it heals.  Also important immediately after a strain is the “I” for ice. Ice reduces swelling that occurs while your body sends blood to bring white blood cells and nutrients to the hurt area. The “C” is for compression, which also helps with inflammation. Finally, “E” is for elevation.  Keeping the strained joint elevated sometimes decreases inflammation but a physician should be consulted. Certain supplements may provide natural relief for pain and swelling, thus treating the “fire.” Here goes: