Remedies for Osteoarthritis & Joint Pain

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It primarily affects people later in life. Symptoms can include aching, burning and tenderness in various joints such as the fingers, wrists, elbows, hips, knees, shoulders and back and neck vertebrae. Osteoarthritis can often affect multiple joints. At times, a person's joints can become swollen as well as creak and crack. Remedies for osteoarthritis and joint pain usually include rest, ice, heat, medications, supplements and exercise.

Rest, Ice & Heat

• People who have osteoarthritis should rest to prevent further inflammation of a particular joint. During this time, you should use ice on your aching joint to help reduce inflammation and pain. Ice reduces inflammation by causing vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels), which limits the flow of blood and lymph to the affected joint. You should use ice at 20-minute intervals throughout the day (every three to four hours). Use an ice pack and directly compress it against your joint. Once the initial inflammation has subsided, use heat (i.e. heating pads, hot baths) to promote blood (with its healing properties) flow to the surrounding soft tissues and joint.

Medications

• According to WebMD.com, acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help reduce joint pain but has no effect on inflammation. Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) can reduce both inflammation and pain. Ibuprofen and naproxen medications are Cox-2 inhibitors, which reduce inflammation and pain by limiting the effects of Cox-2 enzymes and prostaglandins (chemicals), the body's natural inflammatory response to joint irritation or injuries. For more severe pain, your doctor may prescribe Tramadol or Celebrex for your osteoarthritis and joint pain.

Supplements

• Glucosamine (an amino sugar) and chondroitin (a complex carbohydrate) are believed to help relieve osteoarthritis symptoms. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine says that glucosamine is a natural component of cartilage, and chondroitin helps cartilage retain water. A recent study showed that both of these supplements can significantly reduce pain for people suffering from osteoarthritis.

Exercise

• Exercise is important for maintaining flexibility in your osteoarthritic joints. It also helps promote blood flow to the area, bringing oxygen and vital nutrients for healing joint pain. For fingers and wrists, simply moving them in different directions or rotating them can provide joint pain relief. Shrugging the shoulders or moving the arms backward and forward can help alleviate pain from cervical (neck vertebrae) osteoarthritis. If you have pain in the lower back (lumbar vertebrae), try pressing your back against the floor while lying down or pulling both knees toward your chest. You can stretch or do light weightlifting for any osteoarthritic joint. Walking can also help alleviate osteoarthritis and joint pain symptoms. The key is keeping the joints mobile.