Understanding and managing joint and muscle pain

Understanding pain

Regardless of which part of our body we feel the pain, the process is the same. Sensory receptors detect pain throughout our body and when our muscle and joints are damaged, chemicals are released that trigger, activate or sensitise these receptors.

Pain signals travel via the nerves from the affected area (such as the muscle and joints) to the brain.

Common muscle and joint pain

There are I've 200 types of muscle and joint problems, here are some of the most common:

Sprains and strains

Up to 50% of muscle and joint problems are likely to be sprains or strains, these are often grouped together, but can have different symptoms.

Sprains are associated with pain around the joint and strains are associated with muscle pain.

Lower back pain

Back pain is a common pain in the UK affecting around a third of adults.

Lower back can be triggered by poor posture, lifting something badly or a sprain/strain.

Back pain is more likely to develop among people who are overweight, stressed, physically inactive or work in strenuous jobs.

Neck pain

Neck pain is most often due to poor posture, sport/working activities or sleeping awkwardly.

It's more likely to develop in people who are older, have had previous lower back or neck pain, or who have a demanding job with repetitive work.

Joint pain

Joint pain can affect just one or many joints and be the result of many causes, partly depending on your age and how active you are. In some instances, there may be a problem with the lining in the joint, tendons, ligaments or muscles around a joint. Sometimes you may need to see a healthcare professional to diagnose more severe conditions such as arthritis.

Joint pain may also be caused by pain felt along the course of a nerve. This is called 'referred pain': where a problem in your hip may also cause pain in your knee.

Shoulder pain

Shoulder pain can be due to poor posture, an injury or from an undlying condition such as tendon/muscle damage.

It's more likely to develop in people who do heavy lifting, have had a shoulder injury or who have certain health problems such as diabetes.

Knee pain

The knee joint is probably the most frequently damaged joint and is particularly vulnerable as it takes the full weight of your body.

Knee pain can be caused by many different factors including sprains and strains, tendonitis or an injury such as a torn ligament or cartilage damage.

Osteoarthritis can also cause pain and stiffness in both knees and is more common in older people. Please see a healthcare professional if you think you have osteoarthritis.

TIPS ON MANAGING INJURIES

In addition to using pain relief for your body, you can also try to make lifestyle changes. For example, you can try to focus on managing a good posture and making sure you get a good amount of sleep every night.

If a sprain or strain has occurred then you can follow the R.I.C.E (Rest , Ice, Compress and Elevation) therapy that aid in reducing swelling and supporting the injury.

REST- Rest the affected area and avoid activity for 48-72 hours after an injury.

ICE- Apply ice wrapped in a damp towel to the affected area for 15-20 minutes every 3-4 hours after an injury.

COMPRESS- Use an elastic bandage during the day to support the damaged area and help control swelling.

ELEVATE- Raise the injured area e.g by supporting on a pillow, until swelling is controlled.

Treating and managing joint and muscle pains

Using pain relief can not only help manage the pain but also help you get back to your normal activities sooner.

Oral Pain Relief

Anti-inflammatory tablets, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, can help relieve joint and muscles pains.

Many types are available to buy from pharmacies without a prescription. They offer relief by reducing the pain associated with joint and muscle pains.

Topical anti-inflammatories

A topical treatment is applied to directly to the site of pain on the skin and can include anti-inflammatory ingredients such as ibuprofen or diclofenac.

Topicals are proven to be efficacious and provide targeted relief directly at the site of pain. This also means that there is usually a lower level of active ingredient that goes throughout the body.

New topical ibuprofen pain relief patches are available that can offer 24 hours targeted pain relief.

ALWAYS READ THE LABEL BEFORE USING ANY PAIN RELIEF. CONSULT A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL FOR MORE ADVICE AND INFORMATION.

Thank you guys for reading x