Experiencing pain at some point in your life is, for the most part, a fact of life for most of us. The variations are innumerable, just like the intensity and places it manages to find a home. For most who have had to bear moderate to serious pain, the mind gets locked onto one idea: "How can I get rid of this pain?.

Whether you have been involved in a car accident, a household accident, a sporting accident, or one of those everyday mishaps, pain drably brings your quality of life down when an accident occurs. You might not feel discomfort right after the accident; in fact, adrenaline and shock can mask the pain and cause you to believe it wasn't that bad of an event. However, medical attention after an accident is necessary not only for checking serious conditions but also to start off your recovery.

Although you should always consult a qualified medical professional, there are things you can do at home to safely lower pain. For sprains, strains, minor bruises, simple fractures and dislocations, you can use the RICE method. That stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.

This means resting the affected area. Use of crutches, slings or splints to immobilize the area if necessary. This is very effective for joint injuries like elbows, wrists, ankles, knees, arms, legs and feet. Avoid strenuous physical activities and heavy lifting. These can just aggravate your injuries. If necessary, try to get a leave of absence from your doctor if your case calls for you to stay at home for a few days.

In addition to decreasing pain, ice is a vasoconstrictor, so it inhibits bleeding and subsequently decreases swelling. These characteristics allow a bump or bruise to heal faster. If it involves areas such as your ankles, wrists, hands, and feet, you may soak them in a bucket of cold water and add ice as it continues to melt. For areas that you cannot soak or immerse in water, such as your back, shoulders, and legs, you can use ice packs. If you do not have an ice pack, you can improvise with a plastic bag. The edges should be sealed tightly together; you do not want a leak to happen. Finally, never apply the pack to the surface of the skin; this can be dangerous. Use cloths, towels, or at least two layers of compression dressings underneath the pack. In case of slipping, wrap the ice pack in place with a real bind to prevent it from moving.

Like ice, compression does not permit blood and plasma to collect in excess near the site of the injury. The method involves wrapping the sprain, along with the ice, in an elastic band or a flexible cloth. Apply it firmly but make sure that you do not over-tighten and restrict circulation. You will know by restricted blood flow, which is indicated by pain, numbness, cramps, and purple discoloration of the nails if the compression is too tight.

Elevation reduces the blood flow to the affected area thereby accelerating the process of healing. Elevate the affected part above the heart level by back supporting it with pillows or cushions while you are, simultaneously applying ice and compression.

After the initial treatment for your injury, there are a number of factors that must be taken into consideration to improve your chance of speedy recovery.

One of the most underrated parts of recovery is staying hydrated. Water helps your muscles receive the proper amount of electrolytes to aid in healing. It also maintains the synovial fluid—a fluid that lubricates joints and eliminates friction while moving. It also makes weakness in the area even worse when you lose some of that strength because you are dehydrated.

The benefits of yoga extend far beyond simple physical exercise; for many, it's a spiritual discipline. But its benefits in terms of pain reduction certainly can't be minimized. Stretching and strengthening muscle is a critical part of recovery. Many have been able to use it to help overcome chronic pain, mainly in the back and spine.

Your body needs all the help it can get during recovery to fight back, regaining strength and vitality. Besides getting as much rest as possible, one of the most critical facets of healing is good nutrition. Vitamins and proteins found in food aid in repairing and building new tissue.

Recovery time is an individual aspect. Your health before the accident, pre-existing conditions, age, and other health markers will influence the time it takes to recover.

Recovery time can range from a few days to 6 weeks for injuries from a moderately bad car accident. For sports injuries, recovery time depends on the severity and type of injury. Always consult a professional for estimating the time to recover.

Mild sprains could amount to 2-8 weeks, moderate ones 6-12 weeks, while severe tears usually require 6-12 months of recovery.

Fractures take 6 to 12 weeks to heal. Of all these, the greatest factors that would affect these processes are age, bone density, and the type of fracture sustained.

Also, depending upon the kind and degree of injury, the recuperation time for tendon injuries can vary from some weeks to a half year.

Recovery can be frustrating, and pain is one of the factors reducing the quality of life so much. Recovery processes are shaped by the type of injury and other health-related variables. However, there are several factors you can optimize to help the process of recovery, which you have seen. Adopting new habits may be uncomfortable, but it will lead to a faster, more lasting recovery.