Hot/cold compresses for pain relief. Bruises, sprains or bumps are painful. They prevent you from working and are a distraction for a long time. There is also a risk of swelling. However, these are minor injuries that only require pain relief. Nexcare ColdHot mini compresses can help. Leave a compress to get cold in the fridge and place it on the affected area. Then secure it with an elasticated bandage. It will slowly cool the area and shorten the healing time, as the cold will stop internal bleeding and prevent swelling. This also applies to bruises and sprains. However, the compresses on the bare skin should not be extremely cold, as this can lead to additional freezing trauma. A hot compress relieves muscle pain. It is good for cramps and soothes stiffness.