Swelling is the abnormal enlargement of a body part, typically the result of inflammation or a buildup of fluid. Here are some ways to reduce swelling:
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Rest: Taking a few days of rest can help keep the swelling to a normal amount and reduce swelling faster in the long run.
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Ice: Cold therapy can help reduce pain and swelling by reducing blood flow to the area and keeping it to a normal level until healed. Any form of cold therapy can be beneficial, such as ice packs, ice baths, and ice machines that deliver cold water to wraps. Ice should be used a few times a day for about 20-30 minutes at a time to reduce swelling effectively.
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Compression: Applying pressure to an injury helps reduce swelling by restricting the flow of blood and other fluids. You can apply compression with static bandages, elastic bandages, or cold and compression devices. When using static or elastic bandages, adjust the pressure as necessary to make sure they provide enough compression without being too constrictive. As swelling increases and decreases, you should adjust the bandages accordingly.
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Elevation: The key to reducing swelling with elevation is to get the injury above the level of your heart. This decreases blood flow to the area, which means less swelling. Sometimes you may have to adjust how you are sitting or lying down and reclining if necessary. If it is a lower leg injury like an ankle, keeping your feet up will decrease the fluid from pooling into your ankles.
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Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs treat joint pain and inflammation, which helps reduce swelling. You may need over-the-counter options, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
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Magnesium: Supplements like magnesium can be helpful in reducing water retention and pain. You can reduce your water retention and pain by adding 200 to 400mg of magnesium to your diet. However, if you have a kidney or a heart condition, speak to your doctor first, as it may not be advisable to increase magnesium with those conditions.
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Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD): An effective way to reduce swelling is to use MLD. It has the added benefit of improving the healing process and increasing lymph flow, aiding the removal of harmful toxins from tissues, reducing swelling, and re-routing fluid from congested areas. The treatment feels like a massage and is relaxing as well as therapeutic.
Its important to note that if you have heart disease or kidney disease and the swelling gets worse, you should contact your provider right away. Your treatment will focus on the cause of the swelling, and your provider may prescribe diuretics to reduce the swelling, but these can have side effects.
