Hot and cold hydrotherapy is an important natural remedy because it increases blood circulation to speed up healing and removal of the fluids causing all the swelling.  In this post, I will share how I used my creek for the cold water.

My Ankle Continued to Swell

After injuring my foot, I noticed that it swelled up more than on the day of the injury.  I didn’t use cold packs as much as I should have, but I did start using one that I found in my refrigerator and was doing it at least once a day.  That’s not enough! My Physical Therapist friend, Joe, called to check up on me.  He reminded me of the importance of doing hot and cold hydrotherapy on my foot, and  I knew he was right.  Therefore, I needed to take the time to do it.
To see how I injured my foot click this link. https://healthyhomesteadingadventures.com/homesteading-woman-gets-hurt-while-tearing-apart-a-piano/

It all started when my girlfriends came to help me get this ruined piano out of my house.  https://healthyhomesteadingadventures.com/make-your-coworkers-girlfriendsthey-will-volunteer-to-move-a-piano/

My Water Situation

I was concerned about my water situation.  My water filters were clogging up frequently and when that happened, I would be totally out of water.  My foot was in no condition to take me up a steep mountainside to change the filters.  I had to conserve water, so I put the laundry on hold and didn’t flush too much.  I prayed for God’s mercy to keep my water going.  Later, when I made it up the mountain, I found out that I had squished the filter and the water was getting past it.

Use the Creek for the Cold Water

I figured that I could use the creek for the cold water, then I wouldn’t have to make ice.  The evening temperatures had dropped and I was sure that the water would be cold enough.  I heated a small pot of water on the stove until it boiled.  Nex, I got the basin and put the pot in it, and then I very carefully made my way down to the creek.  Going down to my creek isn’t easy with a swollen and painful foot.  It didn’t hurt too much unless my toes would bend.  I had to be very careful of the uneven rocky surfaces, but I made it to the edge of the creek.

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Not all body parts can’t easily be given a hot and cold treatment and these gel packs would help.

Hot and Cold Hydrotherapy to Reduce Swelling

I set the basin and pot in a safe semi-level spot and then removed both my shoes and socks for a comparison shot.  As you can see from the picture, I had some noticeable swelling in my right foot.  Swelling caused the foot to be stiff and painful when moved.  Hydrotherapy treatments using hot and cold cause an increase in circulation to the area which brings blood to the area to remove the excess fluids.  Sometimes, we become apathetic and think that nothing will help and we just need to wait for the foot to heal.  It often takes a friend to get us moving in the right direction to do a treatment.

How to do a Hot and Cold Hydrotherapy Treatment

To do a hot and cold hydrotherapy treatment, you start by putting hot water in the basin.  If it doesn’t feel too hot to your hand, it can still be too hot for the injured foot.  Feet are more sensitive to hot water than are our hands.  If it is too hot for your foot, just add some cold water, or wait for it to cool off.  In my case, I waited for it to cool off.  Keep the foot in hot water for 3 minutes and then put it in the cold water for 1 minute.  With me using the creek, I had to scoot down to the edge of the water to put my foot in.  It was indeed cold enough to make my foot go numb.  I would not want to go swimming in it.

More Instructions and Results 

The hot and cold cycle should be done at least three times. Three was it for me since my hot water was cooling off.  It would be good to do it seven times.  Make sure to add more hot water each time you return your foot to the basin and keep the pot covered so it will stay hot longer.  During the treatment, I started moving my toes to see how much range of motion I could get.  I could barely move at first.  By the end, I had dramatically improved my range as you will see in the video.  It would be a good idea to do this twice a day, but I wasn’t going to do it.  I did commit to once a day and I did do it the next few days.  It really helped a lot with bringing down the swelling, increasing my range of motion, and decreasing my pain.

Added Benefits of Using the Creek

There is an added benefit from using the creek for the cold.  While I was sitting there, I could enjoy the beauty of the creek.  I could hear the sounds of birds singing and the water flowing over rocks.  This is all very healing and good for overall wellbeing.  Also, as you will see in the video, I was outside, and my cats could come over and visit me while I was doing the treatment.  So I got some pet therapy from three that decided to come to see what strange thing I was doing this time.

Conclusion

If you ever find yourself injured when you are camping by a creek or homesteading by a creek or other body of cold water, using the natural source for your cold treatment will be very important, especially if you don’t have refrigeration to make ice.  Most people will have something to heat water in.  Make sure you bring a basin to wash your dishes in.  You never know when you will need it for doing hydrotherapy on your foot or hand.

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