Heat and cold packs are great medicine-free pain relief tools that are easily available and even easier to use. Simply activate the instant cold packs or place the reusable ones in the freezer, wrap the pack in a cloth, and apply it to the affected area for around 20 minutes.
Cold compresses are typically used for injuries like bruises, sprains, and swellings. The cold causes things to contract, which is why fingers and toes sometimes get stiff if you don’t wear gloves during the winter. The cold is causing the tendons in your hand to contract and lose mobility. This contraction also reduces swelling, inflammation, bleeding, and nerve activity, which then reduces pain. This makes ice packs (cryotherapy) very helpful for treating various types of pain, such as muscle pain, arthritis, headaches, the pain that comes with muscle spasms, sports injuries, etc. After the pack is removed and the area comes back to a normal temperature, more blood will flow, aiding in the body’s natural healing process.
Safety Note
Both heat and cryotherapy should have their uses limited. Overexposure to heat or cold can easily cause serious damage to the skin and underlying tissues. Only use the packs in 20 minute intervals, and with 30-40 minutes between each session at a minimum. Always wrap the ice pack in a cloth or dish towel before using it to protect your skin.
What’s the Difference Between Disposable and Reusable Ice Packs?
Disposable ice packs are packets with two interior bags. One holds water; the other holds a chemical such as calcium ammonium nitrate. When you break the interior bags and shake them, the water and chemicals mix and begin to react. This type of reaction is endothermic, meaning it absorbs energy as heat to function. The endothermic reaction is what causes the cold sensation.
The content of reusable ice packs varies depending on the manufacturer, but they all contain water, an agent that lowers the freezing point (so it stays frozen for longer and acts faster), silica-gel to keep the ingredients combined and add weight, and a thickening agent, which makes it easier for the pack to take shape.
Using Ice Packs on the Head and Neck
Head and face injuries tend to cause a lot of bleeding and swelling because there are a lot of blood vessels close to the skin in those areas. This makes ice packs an invaluable asset for these types of injuries.
There are two effective ways to cure a headache with a reusable cold compress will help numb the pain. Placing the pack on the back and sides of your neck and on your forehead and temples Placing the compress on the neck will cool the blood going through the carotid artery, which directly feeds into the brain and will reduce pain. In contrast, placing the pack directly on your forehead/temples will cool and contract the vessels that go around the skull.
Using Ice Packs for the Face and Eyes
As with head and neck injuries, reusable cold compresses are great for face and eye injuries. I’m sure everyone is familiar with the image of a fighter using a frozen steak to cover a black eye. While this is iconic imagery, it is not a great idea. Steak will not retain the cold as efficiently as a cold pack, and will also expose your eye to bacteria that may cause infection or illness. Since the face and eyes have very little fat and muscle, you should limit exposure to the cold to 10–15 minutes instead of the full 20 to prevent damage to the tissue.
Using Ice Packs for the Chest and Back
The chest, back, and limbs are going to need larger packs. Whether you need to treat sciatica, muscle spasms, or any other form of lower back pain, reusable and instant packs come in a variety of sizes to properly treat any area of the body. If you are treating lower back pain, lay on your stomach so the bed or couch does not reduce the effectivity of the ice pack. Make sure to let your skin come back up to temperature before reapplying an ice pack.
Using an Ice Pack for the Legs and Arms
Cold packs should also be used in combination with elevation to further reduce swelling. Using both an ice pack and elevation will speed up the healing process significantly. Elevating forces the blood to fight against gravity, reducing blood flow and therefore reducing swelling. Using medical tape or pre-wrap to secure the ice pack will make treatment much easier. Securing the pack will let you keep the injured limb elevated and treat it without using your hands.
Which Is Better?
Reusable and disposable ice packs have their own advantages and drawbacks that make them better or worse in certain situations. Disposable ice packs are better for quick treatment while travelling because they can be activated at any time and don’t require refrigeration. Disposable ice packs should be kept securely in a med kit so they don’t get activated accidentally.
Reusable ice packs are better for non-emergency, at home pain relief. Since you have to refrigerate reusable cold packs they require significant waiting time before use. As well, since they are reusable, you only have to buy one or two.
In short, put disposable ice packs should be in first aid kits and reusable ones are for home use.
