Injuries take time to heal, however you can help increase healing by keeping your fluid intake up, receiving massage therapy, and eating correctly.
In order for you body to heal it needs time to rebuild the tissues that were injured. To do that it needs fuel to rebuild, if you have an injury to a muscle group red meat has been shown to be the best fuel for rebuilding muscle. It also needs to remove the damaged cells. Your body moves damaged materials out through its fluids, if you are dehydrated it limits your body’s ability to recover. Massage therapy helps speed the break up of the scare tissue and allows it to be carried out through those fluids easier.
RICE — rest, ice, compression and elevation — and ibuprophen.
You don’t have to run at the gym. You can still exercise. Stop being lazy.
ice it
Depends on the injury, it’s severity and your fitness level.
The inportant thing is to let it heal before you use it again or you’ll damage it further.
Consider doing alternative workouts in the meantime, that do not involve the injured area (e.g. upper body weights, hand bikes, water aerobics).