Although this was suggested years ago by my late dermatologist, I've only recently been forced to consider cold compresses as part of measures to reduce inflammation and alleviate discomfort. This is mainly to reduce my reliance on oral steroids, considering the side effects that come with long-term use.
20-minute applications do the trick, with at least one-hour intervals in between. Since it takes two hours to freeze an ice pack, I need at least two packs that I can alternate.
In school, the office recently acquired some ice packs for injuries, but I've been using these with a flannel between lessons. My productivity has definitely been affected, but its been reasonable so far. Let's hope this is temporary.
