1. Anyone Can Get Chronic Joint Pain
You don't have to be a super athlete to experience chronic joint pain. Shoulder, elbow or knee joint pain may hit anyone from a professional athlete to a couch potato. Active or sedentary, joints may wear out and get inflamed over time. Chronic joint pain gets more prevalent over time in those working at computers all day. Constant use of a keyboard and mouse may cause inflammation of wrist and elbow joints.
2. Be Patient: Treatment Takes a While
Treating chronic joint pain effectively may be a hard pill to swallow. If the pain is severe, allow the joint to rest awhile. Listen to your body and let it rest as long as it needs to. Prescription drugs may be recommended for some sufferers of chronic joint pain, but some of these drugs have proven dangerous side effects. Try over-the-counter remedies such as Aleve, Motrin or plain old aspirin. Be mindful that over-the-counter drugs have long-term effects on the body, too, so don't reach for the pill bottle too often.
3. Ice Is Nice, Heat Is Sweet
When chronic joint pain causes the area to feel hot when you touch it, try ice packs. Apply ice for 10 minutes and then leave the ice off for 10 minutes. Keep alternating this way as long as the joint feels hot. Do not apply heat to a hot joint. If the heat from the joint is gone and the pain is not severe (and there's no swelling), cold-and-hot alternating treatments may be used. Apply ice packs for 10 minutes, then a heating pad for 10 minutes, and keep alternating until your joint feels some sweet relief.
4. Natural Relief
Arthritis or bursitis may cause chronic joint pain. There are safe, effective natural nutrients that may help. Pineapple has a healing enzyme called "bromelain" that research shows is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Licorice may help inflamed joints because it contains a chemical called "glycyrrhetinic acid" (GA), which studies show to be helpful in reducing inflammation. Curcumin (the ingredient that makes turmeric yellow) has been proven in some studies to be more effective than ibuprofen in relieving pain and inflammation. Researchers found that 20 mg of curcumin works as well for many people as 200 mg of ibuprofen.
5. Get Up and Move Again
When your pain subsides, get that joint moving again. Exercise is a must after an attack of joint pain. Stretching exercises are best for keeping the joint mobile and preserving range of motion. Walking is good for knees and hips. Moderation is important. Don't push too hard. Do a "cat stretch" for shoulder joints: Get on your hands and knees with your hands slightly in front of your head; keep your elbows stiff and stretch backward, and come down on your heels.
