Hot and cold therapies are known to relieve pain, but the combination of the treatments does not work for all conditions like it does for arthritis. It is vital to know which conditions to use each method for.

If you have had an injury like a sprain, then you should use ice. Ice is always recommended to relieve acute pain, and in the case of injury, it can prevent swelling because it constricts blood flow to the area.

To use ice for hand pain prevention:

• Cover your hand with a wet cloth to protect your skin.
• Place a bag of crushed ice or frozen vegetables on the affected area.
• Leave for up to 20 minutes.
• Before repeating, allow your skin temperature to normalize.

Heat should be used if you suffer from chronic pain. Heat will encourage blood flow to the area, which can help to relieve pain and release tension.

To use heat for hand pain prevention and relief:

• Cover your hand with a moist towel.
• Place a heat pack onto the affected area.  To make your own heat pack, you can put a wet washcloth in a freezer bag and heat in a microwave.
• Leave for up to 20 minutes.
• Before repeating, allow your skin temperature to normalize.