Whether you were injured playing a sport, working out or just walking down the street, it’s important to know what steps you should take immediately after an injury. These steps can help you recover more quickly and can also benefit your personal injury claim.

Seek medical attention. Getting assessed by a medical professional allows you to receive an accurate diagnosis and document your injuries.

Rest

The body is a complex machine that can be easily injured in the gym, on the playing field or walking down the street. Whether it’s minor or major, injury can be very debilitating.

One strategy that is often used, and often ignored, is resting. This is a crucial aspect of recovering from an injury and it’s also one that is largely misunderstood.

Essentially, people think that relative rest means a blank cheque to train/workout as hard as they can. However, if they don’t give their injuries enough recovery time, they run the risk of re-injury or aggravating the injury even further. The key is to find a balance and take it easy until you’re completely clear by your doctor.

Ice

Ice is most helpful for acute injuries such as sprains, strains and bruises. Ice will decrease swelling and inflammation by decreasing blood flow to the area. It is best used for the first 48 hours after injury.

Using a cold pack, bag of frozen vegetables or compression sleeve filled with ice will do the trick. Be sure to keep a barrier such as a cloth or towel between the ice and your skin to prevent frostbite. Apply ice for 20 minutes and take breaks to allow your skin to return to normal temperature.

Avoid icing your injury before exercise as this can cause the muscle to contract and increase swelling. Instead, wait until after you have completed a warm up and the swelling has subsided before exercising.

Compression

If possible, prop the injured body part up on pillows, above the level of your heart, to help decrease swelling. You can also use a sling or make a game out of finding creative ways to elevate the injury around your house (using tolerant family members and random pieces of furniture works well).

Wrapping the injury firmly with an elastic bandage will help reduce swelling, but do not wrap so tightly that you restrict blood flow or increase pain. You will know if the wrap is too tight or cuts off circulation if you experience pain, numbness, tingling, or cooling of the skin below the bandage.

While time spent resting can feel like a waste, it is an important part of the healing process. Be patient and take it easy until your doctor gives you the green light.

Elevation

An injury can be a difficult time to get away from the gym, weight room and other training activities. Athletes must remain motivated to overcome their injuries and develop a new set of goals that focus on recovery rather than performance.

Using the RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression and elevation), can help to relieve pain and swelling during the healing process. Apply a cold pack or bag of frozen peas to the affected area as soon as possible after the injury to reduce inflammation and pain. Wrap the injury with a light bandage, but not tightly enough to cut off blood flow. Elevating the injured body part above the heart can further minimize swelling. Use pillows to prop up the affected body part, such as a sprained ankle.

Seek Medical Attention and Legal Advice

Sustaining an injury is a traumatic experience that can have lifelong effects. Even if the injury seems minor at first, it is important to seek medical attention immediately after an accident to ensure that the injuries are properly diagnosed and treated.

Many injuries like traumatic brain injury, internal bleeding and fractures can cause significant damage even when they are not obvious. By seeking immediate medical care, physicians can perform thorough evaluations including CT scans to identify hidden injuries and prevent complications.

Another reason to seek medical attention right away is that it shows insurance companies that you take your injury seriously and are not trying to exaggerate your injuries for financial gain. You will also have medical documentation of your injuries which can be valuable when filing a personal injury claim. You can get help with the claim from lawyers like personal injury attorney in Carrolton GA.