Ice pack treatments can promote vasoconstriction --- narrowing of the blood vessels --- and help reduce swelling. However, prolonged ice applications can also irritate a swollen hand by causing ice burns, which lead to numbness, redness and tingling. When this happens, it is time to use other methods to relieve a swollen hand.
Step 1
Consult a doctor for advice, particularly if you experience pain with movement. You may have fractured or sprained your hand. A doctor will perform tests to evaluate the damage.
Step 2
Elevate your swollen hand by placing it on a few pillows. MayoClinic.com suggests doing this for at least 30 minutes, three or four times daily to help pump excess fluids back to the heart. People who don't move around much while sleeping may also try this technique at night.
Step 3
Wrap your hand with a compression bandage -- not too tightly, however, as to hinder circulation. Gentle pressure helps prevent fluid from collecting in the tissues, according to MayoClinic.com.
Step 4
Purchase an over-the-counter pain medication to reduce swelling and pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or NSAIDs, are frequently used to treat inflammatory conditions and work by blocking pain-causing enzymes, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Take the medication with food to avoid stomach irritation.
Step 5
Monitor the injury and follow up with a doctor if you continue to experience pain and swelling after several days of treatment. If no signs of improvement exist and the area becomes red or warm, the FamilyDoctor.org notes that an infection may be present.
Things You'll Need
- Compression bandage
- Over-the-counter NSAID pain reliever
