Sprains, Strains and Windex

A lesson from My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Michael Constantine played Gus Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  His character is famous for many things, you can probably think of 3 right now.

While with a patient this morning, she complained of pain on the outer elbow that was tender to the touch and  sent shooting pains down her arm.  She writes with this hand and the affected side is the arm that she writes with.  I examined the arm and told her to put ice on it.  I tell people to put ice on acute injuries quite often.  Often enough that it feels like I recommend it to nearly everyone.  Much like Gus did in the movie…… with windex.

Ice does the following:

1. Reduces inflammation

2. Decreases pain

3. Speeds recovery

Ice is the windex of the real world.  Acute injuries, sprain/strain traumas, bruises and bumps all benefit from “cryotherapy”.  Ice should be used for no more than 20 minutes at a time but may be used multiple times in one day.