FIRST AID TIPS (for injuries, concussions, and first signs of getting sick)

#1

After having a little incident the night before last (I’m fine!), it dawned on me I should ask the best health minds about the best practices when things happen. (I google, but I also know this group puts google to shame!)

I got banged in the nose, so I iced it, but I wasn’t sure about doing anything else. I then woke up feeling like a truck hit me, so my friend had me get arnica (she was mostly worried about preventing black eyes). I got it, but is this anything you recommend?

Yesterday, I didn’t take my daily baby aspirin with the thought of reducing potential bruising. But then I was told that might help prevent a clot. ?

My PT told me the bang on my nose gave me a slight concussion (argh!).

Aside from resting, is there anything to do to help minimize any long term risk neurological risk associated with getting them? (This was pretty minor, so I’m not really worried, but always better to be proactive).

I thought it might be nice to list all the things we should do immediately or over the first couple of days when things go wrong.

What do we take or not take?

Heat/cold/anti inflammatories/etc.

If we have the first signs of a cold, flu, covid

If we get a concussion, bloody nose, cuts

I’d love for anyone to chime in, but I’ll also tag docs @DrFraser @Dr.Bart @KarlT

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#2

Quick note of caution: arnica is for external use only. Ingested, it can be a deadly toxin.

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#3

Excellent to know, thank you! I had the gel but my friend said get the tablets! I’ll stop taking those now… see, I told ya you were better than google!

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#4

I recently read this article about virus prevention and treatment that has inspired me toward iodine nasal and gargle after exposure.

#5

There are homeopathic arnica tablets, and that might be what you have. Those may be safe, but I’ll decline to discuss whether homeopathy is useful. :smiley:

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#6

I am usually not a believer, but I do know two people whose surgeons suggested it. I thought at worst it was harmless. But if there is a remote chance they are not safe, no reason to take them! These are the homeopathic ones, fwiw.

Also, some things we take (food/supplements) are good for reducing inflammation, but then again, I’ve also heard we want inflammation at the beginning to help heal…I have no idea what to do with this broad idea.

And thx for that link!

Fwiw, if I think I’m coming down with something, which is rare, I’ll neti pot with a little colloidal silver… a doc had me do that when I was living in a place that gave me frequent nasal infections. That was to stop taking anti biotics and it did work. I haven’t used silver in years and not sure if it’s actually safe.

#7

I just start taking every remedy/supplement and use my sauna most days. Kitchen sink approach.

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#8

Haven’t used Arnica. Hadn’t even heard of it. For topical pain relief I advise Voltaren gel or Solarcaine Aloe gel.

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#9

I forgot all about Voltaren gel! I used that a million years ago for knee pain after they took my beloved Vioxx off the market.

That would be great to have in my first aid kit, thank you!

#10

So … arnica hasn’t been consistently shown to decrease bruising in the limited trials done. So go for it if you want to – people swear by it … but studies show different.

In my 30 years of practice, I don’t think I’ve ever diagnosed someone with a concussion with nasal trauma (with or without fracture) without cranial impact. Rest isn’t what I recommend - I know some recommendations offer that, but in general light physical activity is recommended from day one, but nothing that would risk a second head injury.

Skipping aspirin will make no difference - all of your existing platelets will be inhibited and any bleeding/bruising will occur in the first 24 hours generally. Also there would be no increased risk of blood clots due to nasal trauma to want to have that as the rationale to continue with aspirin. I’d not consider starting or stopping aspirin to be a consideration with isolated nasal trauma.

For most trauma - ice for first 24 hours and then heat or cold doesn’t impact outcomes, but can be used for comfort.

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#11

Thank you for that and it’s really helpful!!!

My PT based concussion on the fact that I was dizzy and had double vision etc (he said follow my pen and I said which one! :slight_smile:

I am hoping and assuming you are 100% correct because we know concussions are an added risk factor for the apoe4 stuff (with your ER work, I’m sure you would have seen it if it were possible from just a bang on the nose, so yay). Worst case, I was hoping a minor one wouldn’t add much risk anyway, if it even works like that, but fingers crossed.

Arnica, you are so out! Happy to save the money.

This is the first I’m hearing about light physical activity, so thank you very much!!!

I appreciate the feedback and now I’ll know what to do and not do if there is a next time. THX again.

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#12

I’ve taken full strength arnica (not the homeopathic) for a month at a time after several surgeries, sometimes at the surgeon’s recommendation and otherwise with their consent.

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#13

BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene ) works against the virus by disrupting the lipid membranes, in turn making them vulnerable to the immune system and damaging their ability to penetrate human cells. Butylated hydroxytoluene, lipid-enveloped viruses, and AIDS - PubMed

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#14

Well, I’m a user and student of classical homeopathy, and I would say that this is a classic arnica situation. Homeopathic remedies can be quite apt - and amazingly effective - for first aid and sudden illness situations. That said, there are seemingly unconventional ways of dosing them, and following these protocols ensures best success and no danger of overuse or reaction to an improperly chosen remedy. So it’s best to work with a qualified practitioner in most cases - but if you’re going to misuse a remedy, boy, arnica is still effective and not dangerous, most times. Basically, you rarely need much - one dose will be amazingly effective, and more is not better IF you got relief from the first dose.
There are quite a few good handbooks for homeopathic first aid, and you can’t go far wrong with most. I definitely recommend adding this practice to first aid protocols, for individuals and families, to get relief, save money, and avoid exposure to needless drugs and procedures. Ask more if you like…

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#15

That is great feedback!

You know, what is odd, my minor ‘non concussion’ concussion is still around!! My nose is oddly still sore (looks fine, although I think there is a tiny bump but not sure if it’s new, but just feels bruised)… but, I’m sleeping a LOT… I slept aprox 10 hours a night over the weekend with hour long naps! I googled to see if it could be related, and Dr Google says decidedly so! Last night slept over 9 hours!!! I feel mostly fine and really only worry about long term damage with anything.

The anica 30c bottle said to put 5 under your tongue, so i did that the day afterwards. I stopped after hearing I might be wasting my time

Do you think it’s too late to try again… and how many more times would you try?

#16

Well, arnica is the classic remedy for bruising and local inflammation. And it works right away:) More will not send more of a message to the tissues, which are healing on the strength of that initial dose, so, yes, more would be superfluous. Let’s wait and see how well you resolve this - if more and different symptoms arise or persist, perhaps another remedy may come into focus to get you past that sequela.
The most effective way to dose a homeopathic remedy is actually to dissolve ONE pellet in a bit of water, stir or shake it vigorously about 10 times, and then take a teaspoonful. We’re talking hocus-pocus here:) a process called succussion, which amplifies the power and effectivity of a remedy. Drugstore level offerings like Boiron won’t go into this, although their products are fine to use “properly”, and will be vastly more effective thusly employed.

Lots to read and study here if you wish; it’s a huge and well-developed medical art with the power to correct all sorts of deep “mistunements”, as they say. But home first aid use is easily learned and effective for sudden incidents, illnesses, etc. Hope you feel better…

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#17

Reminds me of this excellently done video.

It is a self limited issue - anything that gets better with homeopathy doesn’t need my skills as an emergency physician, and the rest requires some specific meaningful treatment (which is a small % of human illness as our body does a great job sorting out things in most cases).

I however see interventions done from allopathic medicine that are completely unnecessary, and see individuals thinking their home therapy is going to work for something that just isn’t going to work out well at all.

One size doesn’t fit all, but I prefer no therapy rather than therapies that don’t make sense for the things that simply get better by themselves.

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#18

That was hysterical!

#19

I thought I’d share something I just tried that made a dramatic difference in my concussion recovery.

After four weeks went by, and having an awful couple of days, my doc had me try 20mg of propranolol.

N=1 but the clouds parted and the angels sang!! It’s the first time I’ve felt like a fully functional person in almost 5 weeks. I can’t explain it and have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I wanted to share this unusual option.

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