RICE = Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate

The RICE method often helps with many types of joint and muscle injuries. The method will ease pain and help speed recovery. The RICE method is very helpfully if you use it right away after an injury.

REST - For most injuries, rest the area until the pain decreases. However, For simple sore muscles gentle stretching will reduce stiffness more quickly.

ICE - Ice is the most effective treatment for reducing inflammation, pain and swelling of injured muscles, joints and connective tissue. The cold helps keep blood and fluid from building up in the injured area, reducing pain and swelling. For the first 48 hours post-injury, ice for 20 to 30 minutes every 2 hours. More than 30 minutes doesn’t help heal the injury any faster, you can cause damage to the tissue.

COMPRESSION – Between icings, wrap the injured area with an elastic bandage to help control swelling and provide support. Begin wrapping at the farthest point away from the body and wrap towards the heart. The wrap should be snug, but not cutting off circulation to the extremity. So, if the extremity becomes cold, blue, or tingle, re-wrap!

ELEVATE – Raising the injured area for the first 24hours above your heart will allow gravity to help reduce swelling and draining excess fluid. The less swelling present, the faster an injury will heal.

Dr. Howard Shoemaker is now with Saltzer Medical Group in both Meridain and Nampa, Idaho! I can’t tell you what a relief this is for me personnally as well as professionally.

I first started working with Dr. Shoemaker and his nurse Lynda some four years ago. That was when I discovered that I had a passion for this line of work. Through Dr. Shoemakers indirect influence and Lynda’s direct influence, I made the decision to go back to school (after 20+ years) to obtain an Associates Degree in Health Sciences. I felt that through this degree and a certification as a Medical Assistant I would be able to give more of myself to the area of work comp and the injured worker. I can’t begin to tell you how they both have influenced me; both professionally and spiritually and how good it is to be a part of his Occupational Medicine team again.

Dr. Shoemaker has over thrity years of experience in the world of Occupational Medicine. His willingness to treat injured workers and to assist them in their rehabilitation process is commendable. Dr. Shoemaker prides himself on his specific protocols which help him to return the injured worker back to a full duty status sooner.

I value Dr. Shoemakers’ experience and the knowlege that both he and Lynda posses and am truely blessed to be a part of the Occupational Medicine team here at Saltzer Medical Group. If you have experienced a work related injury, I would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Shoemaker and his staff to you. So if the occasion should arise, we would be glad to see you and to help serve your needs as a work comp patient.

Saltzer Medical Group is ramping up their Workman Compensation program, with the return of Dr. Howard Shoemaker.

I worked with Dr. Shoemaker as his nurse for several years and when he decided to return to the Treasure Valley, he called me and requested that I come back to work with him. Of course it didn’t take long to answer him.

I’ve been at Saltzer Medical Group for just a few weeks and have met so many nice people. I wanted to get to know as many people as I could before I started woking in the clinic.So far everyone has been great to work with. Saltzer seems to have picked the cream of the crop of employees. The public is so fortunate.

I am looking forward to working with Dr. Shoemaker again and working as a team. Most importantly working with the public and giving them the best care that they deserve.

Dr. Howard Shoemaker is Saltzer Medical Group’s newest expert in the field of Occupational Health. He is Board Certified with 30 years of Occupational / Preventative Medicine.

Dr. Shoemaker obtained his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Miami School of Medicine followed by his Masters of Health Sciences at the University of Colorado. Additionally, Dr. Shoemaker is a Medical Review Officer.

Dr. Shoemaker has extensive experience in all forms of Occupational Medicine which includes 14 years in Hospital based Medical Programs, 15 years as the in-house Medical Director of a major telecommunications company in Colorado and 4 years in Idaho / Oregon with Medical groups. Dr. Shoemaker has extensive experience as a consultant to all types of industries ranging from Preventative to Injury treatment perspectives.

Satzer Medical Group has invited Dr. Shoemaker to start on April 15, 2008. I’ve spoken with Dr. Shoemaker and he’s really excited to start servicing the community.