Cold packs work like a miracle for pain and healing. That's why professional athletes use them for slight and serious injury. Once the tissue cools down after the initial shock they actually feel warm. They deaden pain almost 100%. Ice packs also promote healing because the cold reduces swelling and inflammation, and new blood comes to the area when the ice pack is removed.

Don't let the initial shock of the cold stop you. Just endure it for a minute or two. You'll see. It'll make you comfortably numb.

Some procedures and cautions:
- Ice on for 20 minutes, then remove. You can repeat hourly.
- You can alternate with warm for injuries except when swelling is present. If swelling is present, use only cold.
- Be careful about frostbite. If your freezer is below 0 degrees F., double wrap the pack. I like ice cubes and a little water in a doubled zip-lock plastic bag. It is always 32 degrees until all the ice melts and thus cannot cause frostbite. However, as Cathie pointed out, they are drippy. Even without leaks, moisture condenses on them.
- For nerve pain, use cold only. Heat makes PN pain worse.

So, where is heat good? For infection, tissue damage and injury without swelling present. Warm increases blood flow to the area, speeds up the healing process, and helps your white cells and antibodies kill bacteria and clean up the area.

Heat may or may not be good, but cold packs always are.