Joint Pain and arthritis in the UK affects 1 in 5 people over the age of 16.
It is one of the most common causes of joint problems. Having inflamed and painful joints can make it difficult to do simple activities and can significantly affect your daily life.
Learning how to manage your arthritis pain or joint pain to find relief can help you regain mobility and enjoy the things that you love.
Do you want to learn more about effective types of treatment for joint pain, causes of joint pain, and more? Keep reading this guide to learn more about the most effective ways you can learn how to treat joint pain.
At-Home Treatments
When you first start to experience symptoms of joint pain, your doctor will likely recommend some at-home treatment options to help you manage your pain. There are many simple changes you can make to your lifestyle and everyday routine to help you manage the pain and avoid making it worse.
For example, you may want to use a heating pad or ice on your inflamed joints throughout the day to ease the pain. It is essential that you rest your joints and avoid overworking them.
Other types of home care that can help you relieve short-term pain are using a wrap or compress to protect the joint, elevating the joint, or splinting the joint to avoid movement.
Medications for Joint Pain
Medications are another common treatment for joint pain. There is a wide range of medications that you can use to ease your pain, from over-the-counter medicines to prescription pain killers.
Your doctor may recommend that you start taking ibuprofen to lower the inflammation of your joints to provide joint pain relief.
There are also some topical treatments that you can use to lessen your joint pain. For example, ointments or gels that include Capsaicin. These create a burning sensation that makes your skin feel cooler and can help you with minor joint pain.
Capsaicin also blocks substance P, which is what transmits pain signals to your body. Instead, it will tell your body to release endorphins which will naturally block the pain you feel in your joints.
Injections
Injections for joint pain relief are a great option for people who haven’t found success with oral or topical medications for their joint problems.
There are many common types of injections that can be used to treat joint inflammation. The most common is a steroid injection into your joint. Hydrocortisone injections are one of the most common steroid injections your doctor can provide.
Another common type of injection treatment is Ostenil. It is used to treat osteoarthritis and acts as an artificial alternative to synovial fluid, which lubricates the joints in the body and absorbs shocks.
These injections are only a temporary treatment for joint pain and may have to be repeated every 3 – 12 months.
Physiotherapy for Joint Pain
Physiotherapy is something that can help you identify the underlying cause of your pain so you can find the best ways to treat it. When you work with a physiotherapist, they will help you strengthen the muscles surrounding your injured joint.
This will help stabilize the joint and can improve your range of motion.
Physiotherapists also have many other types of treatments that they can provide for you. They may offer injection treatment, as was mentioned before, along with focused shockwave therapy, manual manipulation, and more.
Exercises
In addition to physiotherapy, there are some exercises that you can do on your own to help you gain strength and mobility in your joints. Your doctor will likely recommend some low-impact aerobic exercises, like walking or swimming.
This way, you will avoid causing further damage to your joints with strenuous workouts or high-impact activities. Before exercising, you should always do some gentle stretches to help improve your mobility.
Not only can exercise help you regain strength and mobility, but it may also help you with weight loss. Even just a couple of extra pounds can increase the strain on your joints and increase your pain.
Alter-G un-weighting
Another option to exercise is with the Alter-G.
The AlterG enables individuals at all levels including those with functional restrictions to walk and run in a safe and supportive environment.
Exercising at partial body weight can improve cardiovascular fitness. Also, strength and endurance, range of motion, bone, and also joint health. It also increases confidence and functional capacity.
Supplements
If you are looking for a natural treatment for joint pain, your doctor may be able to recommend some dietary supplements to help you achieve joint pain relief.
One of the most common supplements you can take for joint pain is glucosamine. This is a compound naturally found in your cartilage, which is the tissue that cushions your joints.
When you take glucosamine supplements, they can help your body increase the cartilage and fluid near your joints. They can even be taken preventatively to prevent your joints from breaking down.
Make sure you check with your doctor before taking any dietary supplements.
Additional Supportive Aids
Finally, you can use other supportive aids to get relief from your pain. There are many ways you can support your inflamed joints. These include a brace, cane, and even an orthotic aid in your shoe.
This will help you increase your mobility and take some of the strain off of your painful joints.
Learn More About Joint Pain Relief Today
When you suffer from chronic symptoms of joint pain or arthritis pain, it can greatly affect your overall quality of life. Learning more about these different types of treatment for joint pain can help you find relief and get back to doing the things that you love!
If you need help treating your pain, Core Physio Clinic can help! Our physiotherapy clinic can provide everything from rehabilitation exercises to injection therapy and more.
Contact us today to learn more about our services or to book an appointment to treat your joint pain.