Question about old injuries? - Burns & Injuries Message Board

D.L. · 05-24-2005, 05:29 PM

Hey,

If you have an old injury(in this case a leg injury), is it good to soak it in ice cold water or hot water? Becuz I've heard that you should do it when tha injury is fresh. Does that mean that if you do it when it's old, that it will make it worse?

froggy123 · 05-25-2005, 12:06 PM

Well, I've heard that Ice is used to reduce swelling, and Heat is used to relax muscles. I wouldn't really think it would matter that much if an injury is new or old. My dad has a bad back, he has scoliosis and injured his back when he was like 16 or 17 when he fell off something on their farm. So like I said, I don't think it matters much. I would say if you are having swelling, use ice. If you are sore, use heat.

Good luck

D.L. · 05-27-2005, 04:22 PM

Thanks alot for tha help. Do u know if when u go to tha doctor, that they are supposed to ask u for an x-ray, if u have an injury? Especially for a leg injury? Becuz my friend has been to a couple doctors already, even a sports doctor, and they still haven't asked for an x-ray. And their injury is still very bad, even after months and months.

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggy123

Well, I've heard that Ice is used to reduce swelling, and Heat is used to relax muscles. I wouldn't really think it would matter that much if an injury is new or old. My dad has a bad back, he has scoliosis and injured his back when he was like 16 or 17 when he fell off something on their farm. So like I said, I don't think it matters much. I would say if you are having swelling, use ice. If you are sore, use heat.

Good luck

froggy123 · 05-29-2005, 02:49 PM

Honestly, I don't think all docs have their patients get x-rays. I injured my knee a few years ago, when I went to my pediatrician, he didn't do an x-ray. He referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon and he didn't do an x-ray. I went to get a second opinion, and this second orthopaedic surgeon did an x-ray. This surgeon also did an MRI, which had also not been done before...found out that I have a malaligned patella and the fall made everything worse.

If your friend hasn't had an x-ray yet by any doctors, he can ask to have one done, he could also ask for an MRI or CT scan to be done to check for soft tissue damage.

If your friend has already had an x-ray done and docs aren't asking to see it, that may be because they already have the report showing the results or they don't know that an x-ray was done. I would suggest that your friend bring the x-ray to the next appointment.

Sorry for the two scenarios, I wasn't sure if your friend already has had an x-ray done or if your friend hasn't had one and no docs have asked to get one done.

Has your friend been to an orthopaedic surgeon? That may be helpful if he/she is in lots of pain months after the injury. If he/she has already seen one, maybe a second or third opinion is necessary. At least see someone who is going to take the injury seriously and do the appropriate tests to make sure that everything is ok.

D.L. · 05-30-2005, 04:52 PM

Thanks alot for this advice. No, he has not had one done yet and none of them had asked. No, I don't think he's been to an orthopedic surgeon. I'll tell him about that.