Many of us suffer from joint pain. In fact, 1 in 4 adults suffers from arthritic pain. Looking after your joints and trying different forms of pain relief can make it easier to live with achy joints. Here are just a few different steps worth taking.
Stick to low impact exercise
Exercise is a great form of pain relief – it stops muscles and joints from seizing up and releases feelgood endorphins that helps to numb pain. However, you do need to be careful about which exercises you take up as some exercises could aggravate pain. High impact exercises that involve running and jumping should be avoided. Instead, you should stick to low impact exercises such as swimming, walking and yoga.
Try topical painkillers
Topical painkillers are creams and gels that can be applied directly to the achy area. Some people find them to be more effective than traditional over-the-counter pills. There are many different topical painkillers out there – its worth trying a few of them to see if any have a significant impact.
Try herbal medicine
There are herbal medicines that can also help to reduce joint pain. Turmeric is a popular example – it can be consumed a powder in hot water and is thought to be as effective as many over-the-counter forms of pain relief. CBD is also a popular form of pain relief – this is extracted from the cannabis plant and used by many people around the world to treat arthritic pain. Is CBD legal in the UK? Yes, it is – because the THC has been removed, it does not contain any of the high of cannabis, resulting in only the numbing properties. Herbal medicines should be taken with care as they can have side effects.
Treat yourself to a hot bath
A hot bath can be a simple method of pain relief for achy joints. The buoyancy of the water helps to support muscles and joints, while the heat of the water can help to stimulate nerve endings and pump feelgood endorphins around the body. Some people find that adding products like Epsom salts can help further with pain relief.
Try acupuncture
It could also be worth trying acupuncture. This treatment involves placing long thin needles into the skin at specific pressure points. Many people find that it can be effective against joint pain. Make sure to always use a qualified acupuncture therapist.
See a doctor
If joint pain is severe and seriously affecting your day-to-day life, your best option is to see a doctor. They may be able to prescribe pain relief or even recommend treatment such as surgery if they think it can help.
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