cool overheated muscles with cold water

i get SORE OVERHEATED muscles - esp in my hands say after typing or mixing batter - i then have to stop and bathe them in water with a bit of ice in it. good for relief, sounds obvious but i only recently discovered it.
i wonder how very icy water would go.
it seems the energy-producing process in the muscle cells produce more heat than energy - and that the byproducts of this cause my immune system to flare up on its account. anyway - anyone else, share your story please!