Self-Care for Pain Control
For mild to moderate muscle and joint pain, cold and heat can often be as effective as medication, without the risks and costs.
COLD PACKS-Place a damp towel over the painful area. Put the cold pack on the towel and cover it with dry towels for insulation. Do not leave the pack on the area for more than 20 minutes at a time. Check your skin regularly for loss of underlying redness.
HEATING PAD-Place a towel over the painful area and put the pad on top. Limit use of heating pad to 30 minutes at a time. Check occasionally for red and white blotches.
