Relieving joint pain: Strategies for managing discomfort

Joint pain can have a significant impact on your daily life, making it challenging to engage in activities you love. It can also affect your mobility and overall quality of life. Finding effective methods for pain relief is essential to improve your well-being and maintain an active lifestyle. In this article, we'll explore the causes of joint pain, its impact and various strategies for managing it. 

Understanding Joint Pain 

Joint pain can result from various factors, including arthritis, injury or overuse. Arthritis is a very common cause of joint pain. Osteoarthritis, by far the most common form of arthritis, is caused by wear and tear damage to your joints over time. Injury, such as sprains or fractures, can also lead to joint pain, as can repetitive stress from activities like exercise and work.    

Common symptoms of joint pain include stiffness, swelling, redness and reduced range of motion. These symptoms can affect different types of joints, such as knees, hips and shoulders, making movement and daily tasks more difficult.   

Lifestyle Changes for Joint Pain Relief 

1. Maintaining a Healthy Weight: Excess weight can put stress on your joints, especially your knees and hips. Maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce this stress and relieve joint pain. 
2. Adopting a Balanced Diet: A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help manage joint pain. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, nuts and seeds also have anti-inflammatory properties. 
3. Engaging in Regular Exercise: Low-impact exercises like swimming, walking and yoga can strengthen muscles around the joints and improve flexibility. Regular physical activity helps maintain joint function and reduces pain. 
4. Improving Posture and Body Mechanics: Proper posture and body mechanics can alleviate pressure on your joints and prevent pain. Be mindful of how you sit, stand and move throughout the day. Minimize activities that aggravate the symptoms.  
5. Assistive Devices: Devices such as a cane or brace can help to provide additional support and alleviate stress on affected joints.  

Pain Management Techniques 

1. Heat Therapy: Applying heat packs or taking warm baths can relax muscles and increase blood flow to the affected area, providing relief from joint pain. 
2. Cold Therapy: Using ice packs or cold compresses can reduce inflammation and numb the pain, especially in acute situations. 
3. Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers: Medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Ibuprofen, Aleve, etc. can offer temporary relief from joint pain. You should consult your doctor before taking these medications. 
4. Topical Treatments: Creams, gels or patches containing ingredients like anti-inflammatory medication, menthol or capsaicin can soothe joint pain when applied to the affected area. 

Seeking Professional Help 

If joint pain persists or is severe, consulting with a healthcare provider is crucial for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Depending on the cause and severity of your joint pain, your provider may recommend medical interventions such as physical therapy, corticosteroid injections or even joint replacement surgery, if conservative measures are insufficient. Typically, you will see an orthopedic physician for non-surgical treatment options first. However, surgery is sometimes the best way to treat knee pain, hip pain, or other muscle and bone problems.    

If you are experiencing joint pain that will not go away, IU Health’s orthopedic experts are here to help you. For more information or to find an orthopedic specialist near you, visit iuhealth.org/orthopedics.

Written by Dr. Michael Gabbard, orthopedic surgeon at IU Health West