With the cup of ice, you don't hold it on one spot. Instead, you massage the area, with a towel handy to catch the dripping melt water. I and physical therapists have used it on my feet and legs, and hands and arms. With the ice moving and melting, I don't see how there'd be any danger. No matter how cold the ice is to start, it is 32 degrees when it melts.

I'm not sure I agree with always keeping a cloth between if you use ice packs for under 1/2 hour. Unlike the commercial cold packs or alcohol slush, if there's water in an ice pack, it is 32 degrees, not more or less, and can't get cold enough to cause damage. I've used a lot of ice packs over the years directly on my skin, and never had a problemproblemproblemproblem.

Thanks for the well wishes, i am on the free public system, so you just have to sit back and wait till there ready to do you, the ortho' surgeon who's been looking after me, seen me last November and said it will be early next year, i contacted the hospital a couple of days back to see whats going on, my name is in there [ pre op department] which is a real good sign but no set date as yet for the op , so it shouldn't be to long., they closed over the xmas period only do emergency cases, so they haven't been back very long, but who knows i may get a call anytime, i hope.

Ok, thanks very much

Brian - I did try dispirin once, but dissolved it and tried it as a spray. Didn't work that way . . . but using it as a paste would seem like it has a better chance of working. I will definitely check it out. Thanks very much.

As to ice on the skin . . . one reason to be very, very careful, if not avoid, is that using it when you have an open wound is not good, especially with the PN population. I know I have missed very slight cuts on my feet and find it is best just to avoid.

rafi

Is the concern infection? If that is the case, how would the risk differ from any water on the skin?

Ok, thanks for the your advise, and yep your right about the paste, you need the paste to make the disprin absorb down into your skin.
good luck.

I forgot to mention that i used to leave the mixture in the fridge, thats helps a little when applying it.

No, the concern is not with infection. Ice can cause a burn or abrasion at the site, and it is not desirable in the area of an open wound. You can create further damage or retard healing.

rafi

OK. We'll just differ on this detail. I've used it on blistered skin after hikes. As soon as the ice touches the skin, it begins to melt and almost instantly becomes smooth and silky so abrasion isn't an issue. My experience is that massage with ice in a cup dramatically promotes healing.

Of course, if anybody has any concern about the use of ice massage they can consult with their physician, who may just guess on this and present an opinion less useful or authoritative than yours or mine.

While we do differ a bit, the difference is probably not that much. I have no doubt of your own experience and what works best for you, and could very well be true for others.. I also think that the risks I state are probably on the low side.

I once worked at a hospital and became friends with an ER doc - that is where I got my info. I have followed it ever since. But I suspect that there is no authoritative statement that applies here.

rafi