Joints made the connections between bones in the body. They allow you to move in different movements and also provide support. Any damage to the joints from an injury or disease can interfere with your movement and cause a lot of pain.
Joint pain can be felt from mildly irritating to debilitating. In some cases, it may go away after a week or may last for months. It doesn’t matter how short or long-term the pain and swelling in the joint stays, as long as you feel the pain, it can affect your quality of life. Whatever the cause of joint pain, you can usually manage it with medication, physical therapy, or alternative treatments.
Medication
When taking medicine for pain, it depends on how moderate or severe it is. If the pain is milder and has no swelling, acetaminophen also known as Tylenol can be effective. Just be cautious when taking this medicine, especially when drinking alcohol, because high doses may cause liver damage.
There are a lot of medications to choose from, for moderate-to-severe joint pain with swelling, an over-the-counter or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium, can provide relief. If you’re looking for a newer generation, you can try NSAIDs which are known as Cox-2 inhibitors and also good for pain relief. There is one drug (Celebrex) that has been removed from the market due to its increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events. NSAIDs also can have side effects, potentially increasing your risk for gastrointestinal bleeding.
If the pain is so severe that Cox2 and NSAID are not enough, you have to consult your doctor to prescribe a stronger opioid. Opioid drugs can cause drowsiness, you should only use them under a doctor's care.
Physical Therapy
To improve your range of motion, stabilize the joint, and strengthen the muscles around the joint, you can work with a physical therapist. There are several techniques therapists use like ultrasound, heat or cold therapy, electrical nerve stimulation, and manipulation. If you are overweight, losing weight can relieve some of the pressure on your painful joints. Exercise one effective way to lose weight with a proper diet, but be careful to stick with low-impact exercises that won't further irritate the joint. For those who have problems with their joints swimming and bicycling are among the best exercise because both allow you to exercise your joints without putting impact on them and water is buoyant, it means swimming also relieves some of the pressure on your joints.
Alternative Treatments
There is a study about glucosamine and chondroitin supplements saying that it can help with joint pain and improve function. Both of these substances are components of normal cartilage, which helps cushion the bones and protect joints.
Our supplements Alfa Plus Supreme, Biolife Plus Supreme, Joint/Arthritis Formula 1oz (Bio-JA), Joint Formula Capsules, Turmeric Forskolin + Bioperine, and Forskolin Turmeric Blend have the ingredients of glucosamine and chondroitin that can be good with your joints.
This may not work for everybody but supplements are safe to try because they don’t have any significant side effects. If the pain gets intense, get medical help right away. Always consult your doctors first. Remember, joints are very fragile, it suddenly becomes inflamed and deformed or can no longer be used at all.