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Home Remedies For Joint Pain

Joint Pain is usually associated with Arthritis. Nonetheless, pain in the joints can be caused by other factors like injuries, certain infections and other diseases as well. Knee, elbow, ankle, neck and back are some of the most common locations of Joint Pain and stiffness.


Basically, a point at which two or more bones meet is referred to as a joint. These joints are further cushioned by cartilage and supported by muscles, bursae, tendons and ligaments.

Conditions or injuries affecting any of these structures give rise to Joint Pain. This problem is more common in older individuals, especially the ones suffering from obesity.

Successful Joint Pain treatment depends on accurate identification of the exact cause of the pain. Although there are many over the counter pain medicines available in the market, individuals are now turning to the natural home remedies for Joint Pain relief to heal common Joint Pain without any side effects. Severe cases, however, do need specific treatments.

Causes of Joint Pain

Joint injuries, sprain and conditions like Osteoarthritis, Gout, Tendonitis and Bursitis are some of the most common causes of Joint Pain. Tendonitis generally affects the elbow, wrist, shoulder or heel. Prior fracture, injury or dislocation of kneecap increases the risk of developing this problem resulting from Chondromalacia Patellae.

Osteonecrosis or Avascular Necrosis characterized by temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to the bones and joints may also contribute in causing Joint Pains. Alcoholism tends to aggravate this problem.

Besides, common infectious diseases like Mumps, Measles, Rubella (German Measles), Chicken Pox, Influenza, Parvovirus, Hepatitis, Lyme disease, Epstein-barr syndrome and other such conditions may also cause the same.

Moreover, Osteoporosis bone disorder and bone infections leading to Septic Arthritis and Osteomyelitis can also cause severe Joint Pains. Autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Lupus etc can also contribute in causing this debilitating problem.

More often than not, Joint Pain is caused by the degeneration and wearing down of the muscles, tendons and ligaments due to increasing age.

Symptoms of Joint Pain

As the name itself indicates, the most obvious symptom of Joint Pain is mild or severe pain and stiffness in the one or more joints. Knee Pain, Back Pain, Elbow Pain, Neck Pain, Jaw Pain, Wrist Pain, Foot Pain, Hip Pain, and Shoulder Pain are some common forms of Joint Pain. Joint Pain due to Arthritis is often accompanied by inflammation as well.

Natural Home Remedies for Joint Pain
  • Performing hot and cold fomentations is one of the most widely used Joint Pain home remedies.
  • Drinking a combination of two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and two teaspoons of honey mixed in a glass of water is a highly beneficial natural remedy for Joint Pain.
  • Eating garlic loves fried in butter is a highly beneficial remedy for relieving Joint Pain in a natural way. The anti-inflammatory properties of garlic are highly beneficial in healing Joint Pain and swelling due to Arthritis.
  • Having some warm water mixed with half a teaspoon of turmeric powder is one of the most valuable Arthritis home remedies for Joint Pain and stiffness. Regularly consume this mixture at least three times per day.
  • Similarly, taking one teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of warm milk also serves as a good natural cure for Joint Pain.
  • Prepare porridge and add some molasses, clarified butter and two teaspoons of winter cherry in it. Have this porridge on an empty stomach for about fifteen days to get rid of Joint Pain at home.
  • Simply rubbing warm vinegar on the affected area is the easiest Joint Pain home remedy.
  • Regularly drinking tea prepared from papaya seeds about 6-7 times in a day is useful in reducing Joint Pain naturally at home. Follow this home treatment for at least two to three weeks to relieve the pain considerably.
  • Olive oil and camphor oil are considered as excellent home remedies for Joint Pain natural treatment. Regularly massaging the aching joint gently with either olive oil or a combination of camphor oil and sunflower oil helps to reduce the pain in the joints to a great extent.
  • A combination of warm sesame oil/almond oil and approximately three drops of oil of cajeput is also useful in this regard.
  • Yoga, acupuncture, acupuncture and other such alternative therapies also serve as successful Joint Pain cures.
Diet for Joint Pain

When dealing with Joint Pain, pay special attention to the diet and make relevant lifestyle changes like exercising regularly. Positively include lettuce, cucumber, carrots, lemons, mushrooms, onions and other similar nutritious fruits, vegetables, whole grains and oils richin omega-3 fatty acids in the diet.

In fact, regular consumption of bananas and just one large teaspoon of a combination of carrot juice and lemon juice are regarded as effective natural home remedies for Joint Pain.

Natural Ways To Get Relief Hip Joint Pain

The pain in hip joint is also very painful. There are many causes of hip joint pain. Some of the most common causes of hip pain are bursitis, nerve irritation, muscle strain, arthritis etc.

Arthritis - Hip is an example of "ball and socket" joint which is formed by the pelvic bones (the socket) and the end of the femur bone (the ball). A smooth layer of protective cartilage covers both the bones. Arthritis is caused by the loss of this cartilage from wear and tear, inflammation, or injury.

Bursitis - The large muscles which cover the hip joint and the hip joint are lubricated by five large bursa sacs and the fluid which is present in the hip joint. Lubricating fluid which is produced by each of the sac, performs its function properly in the direction to reduce pressure and friction around the joint. Due to injury, excessive pressure, and overuse, these bursa sacs become irritated. Bursitis is caused due to inflammation of a bursa.

Muscle strain - A group of three major muscle help to move the hip through a wide range of movements. Sometimes due to irritation and overuse of these muscles can result into muscle strain.

Nerve irritation - The major nerves crosses the hip which controls the lower leg function. There may be the pain through the hip or down the leg due to the irritation of these nerves. When there is a frequent injury to the sciatic nerve, it may result into the pain along the outer thigh or down the back of the leg. This condition is known as sciatica.

It is necessary to limit the activities to reduce the hip joint pain. Some of the activities which must be limited -
  • You must avoid jumping and running.
  • Activities which require you to spread your legs widely must be avoided.
  • Contact sports like rugby, football and wrestling, and stop and go sports like tennis, basketball and racquetball must be limited and avoided.
  • Repeated bending of the hip and direct pressure over the hip must be avoided.
  • Sleeping towards the affected side must be avoided; it is preferable to sleep on the back or stomach.
  • Stair stepper, stair climbing, step aerobics, bicycling etc must be avoided.
  • Avoid prolonged sitting.
  • Working in a stooped position must be minimized.
  • Repetitive bending at the hip must be limited.
For reducing the hip joint pain, you can take herbal supplement such as Rumatone Gold Capsules and massage with Rumatone Gold pain relief oil. Some exercises on the advice of the doctor are also very helpful.

Home Remedies for Ankle Sprains

Swelling of the lower leg and ankle is a common problem. Determining the cause of ankle swelling is the first step to finding effective treatment. Once the cause of the ankle swelling is determined, effective treatment can be initiated. Painless swelling of the feet and ankles is a common problem, particularly in older people. It may affect both legs and may include the calves or even the thighs.

Swollen ankles, feet and legs often referred to medically as edema usually occurs when fluid is retained in the spaces between body cells. Some home remedy for ankle swelling may take the following processes. First of all the ankle should be lifted so that the leg is straight in front as this is very necessary and as such should be done.

Home remedies such as coconut and garlic oil help reduce pain and swelling when they soak directly into the skin. Mix 3 table spoon of coconut and garlic oil into a container and heat in the microwave for ten seconds, slightly warming the mixture. Generously massage the oil directly onto your ankle for ten minutes, allowing the oils to soak into your skin.

Lecithin seeds are yet another effective home remedy for the treatment of swelling of feet during pregnancy. Usually a tablespoon of about 3-4 is taken every day for about2-3 month. This is noted to have a magical effect and also manifests good results within 2-3 months.

Ice is another very important and effective treatment material for sprained ankles. If you get a sprained ankle and use ice in the injured area within the first hour of your injury, you levels of pain and swelling ids supposed to be very low. It helps your injury to recover soon too. Medical studies have found that if ice can be used properly in time, the possibility of your recovery increased by 50%.

If the affected area is read and swollen, you may apply a mild steroid cream like 1% hydrocortisone cream. This should be easily available from any pharmacy without the need of a prescription. Hydrocortisone helps in reducing inflammation rapidly. Alternatively, if you have a bottle of calamine lotion at home, this may help too.

Never just assume that any pain you have in your ankles and feet is being caused by arthritis. These pains can be caused by many different things, including lower back and hip problems. Before just shrugging your shoulders and thinking, "Its only arthritis", make an appointment with your doctor for an exam. Only then will he be able to tell what's causing your infirmity.

Nervous pain near the ankles often cause ankle sprains. It is called as referred pain. When the nerves that connect the leg to the brain stop sending signals due to blockage or nervous injury, the ankle ligaments then can cause pain. But, it happens very rarely.

Rest is very important especially in the first 24-48 hours after the injury in order to avoid stress on already inflamed tissue and to prevent more damage. On the other hand, prolonged immobilization of ankle sprains is a common treatment error, so it is also important to start a proper rehabilitation program and gradually put weight back on the ankle.

How To Treat a Sprained Thumb

The thumb is one of those areas of the body that is used continuously in everyday life. The thumb is used for gripping, grasping, picking things up and holding items. When the thumb is injured, your ability to perform any task with your hand is virtually impossible.

When a strain occurs in the thumb, a ligament is typically torn. This means that when the thumb is strained it is the ulnar collateral ligament that is strained, which causes a significant weakness in one's ability to pinch or grasp.

Causes and Symptoms of a Sprained Thumb

Causes
  • The most common causes of a sprained thumb are due to falling injuries. A person may fall while their arm and hand are extended in order to reduce the impact of the fall, but in the attempt to absorb impact, actually do more damage.
  • Another common thumb injury occurs while skiing and is known as 'skier's thumb.' This occurs when a fall takes place while the ski pole is embedded inside the hand, near the base and alongside the thumb region. This type of injury typically results in a torn ligament in the thumb.
Symptoms
  • Symptoms vary depending on the nature and severity of the sprain, although general weakness in the ability to grasp and hold items between the thumb and index finger.
  • There may also be pain and swelling around the base of the thumb when it is sprained. Bruising and tenderness to touch are also common.
Non-Surgical Treatment of a Sprained Thumb

When the ligament in the thumb is only partially torn, non-surgical treatment is possible to repair the injury. The doctor may immobilize the thumb to keep it stable and prevent the ligament from moving. This may be done using a cast, split or thick bandage that supports the thumb. To relieve pain and swelling, anti-inflammatory medication may be prescribed, along with daily cycles of ice application.

Surgical Treatment of a Sprained Thumb

When the ligament is completely torn, surgery is the only option to repair the tear and provide the ability to move the thumb again. Surgery involves the reconnection of the ligament to the bone so that normal movement can be regained once the area is healed. Following surgery a cast or splint may be put on, along with short arm cast for six to eight weeks to prevent the thumb from moving. Immobility is critical for the healing process.

While many people ignore a sprained thumb and believe it will heal on its own, in some cases if left alone the thumb can become deformed and the individual may never regain proper function and mobility.

Credit : David L Greene

Home Remedies For Joint Pain

If you are reading this, and happen to be over the age of fifteen, chances are that you've felt joint pain before. When you feel joint pain, you realize how much you take pain-free freedom of movement for granted. There are so many joints in your body and each is subject to aches and pains at some point in our life, but the common ones that seem to bother people are knees and hands, followed by feet and shoulders.

When you first start feeling pain in one of your joints, your first reaction will be to wonder what happened, and why. In order to begin this voyage of self-discovery, you should first know that while there are many possible causes to the pain, they usually do fall into one of two broad categories. The first is injuries or strains. The second category, is a variety of medical conditions which can then be subdivided into two smaller groups. Chronic conditions (such as arthritis) cause inflammation in the joint, and are long-term ailments. Acute attacks from infection by bacteria or viruses also can cause pain and inflammation in the joints. These are most often short-lived and the pain will abate as soon as the infection passes. Sometimes finding out what category your pain falls into is easy, other times it is hard to tell and you will want to visit a professional as soon as possible.

Injuries to joints can occur in the obvious ways such as sports injuries, or work related injuries. Some exceptions are unusual, such as a fall, or simply stepping off of a curb awkwardly. What joint injuries have in common though are that they are usually caused by extending the usual range of motion the joint is capable of, or the ligaments and muscles are flexible enough to handle. It is for this reason that professional athletes and fitness experts take part in regular stretching exercises. The more flexible the muscles and ligaments that support the joint, the less likely you will overextend them. There are cases of direct impact damaging the cartilage, but these instances are rare.

Among the medical conditions that can strike the joints, the one that everyone has probably heard of its arthritis. Arthritis is simply a case of the joints wearing out, which explains why it is usually associated with growing older. The cartilage is gone, so the bones are rubbing against each other instead of being cushioned. This causes pain. It's probably not news to anyone who's had a severe case of the flu that when little "nasties" invade your body , it does affect your joints a lot of the time. Personally I always wondered why I ached in my joints when I had the flu. Well, I eventually found the answer. When your body is attacked, it has self-defenses, similar to a little war going on in your body. Some of both sides die, and collect in the blood stream. The blood then carries these casualties and other debris from this battle, and deposits them in your joints. They say it's always the innocent that suffer in a war.

Besides these more common ailments, there are a few that are less well-known but should also be discussed. You can also find people who suffer from Lupus, and Fibromyalgia. Both of these are chronic conditions, and even resemble arthritis in some respects but have different root causes. I actually have personal experience with Fibromyalgia, as my wife has suffered from it for years. In her case the condition is debilitating, and some days she actually can not even get out of bed.

What about causes? Well for the most part, medical authorities have not been able to pin point the specific causes of many of these conditions. They do seem to find a correlation to genetics. Arthritis they've said is just getting old and wearing out. However, there are some activities you should avoid such as too much exercise. Being overweight also puts a lot of extra strain on the joints, and that is a contributing factor not only to joint pain but many other symptoms.

If you are feeling joint pain, of course the first thing you should do is consider consulting a medical professional. Realistically however, there are plenty of people who just can not afford to do this unless it is a matter of life and death. Often this is not the case, so these unfortunate people will suffer with their pain as long as they can take it. Hoping all along it will just go away. We do have some ideas that you can try at home, that might help in these situations:
  • Move! The tendency you have when you are in pain is to curl up in the fetal position and wait it out. Okay maybe that's just me. At any rate, when you are hurting, the last thing you feel like doing is being active. But this is exactly what you should do. If you don't, your pain will only get worse. Whatever is making your joints swell and hurt is getting there through the systems of your body. In order for these systems to also get rid of any contaminants, they need a little help moving things out. When you move your joints, the bones come into contact and alternately squeeze and release those tiny tubes that carry materials both in and out of your joint area.
  • Cold and Hot. Yes this may seem counter intuitive but it works. You probably have used ice or a cold gel pack on a swollen joint or muscle or even your head. You also have seen the success of such products such as Icy Hot. With the joints, they do swell, so it is good to use the cold pack to reduce swelling and inflammation. Once it is back to close to normal however, you should apply heat to stimulate the blood vessels and other body systems. Plus it feels great!
  • Massages. Sure, it would be nice if it were possible to massage the cartilage directly, but something that does that hasn't been invented yet. We can only hope. The muscles, and ligaments near to your ailing joint are also affected by the joint. So massaging them to stimulate the flow of blood helps to reduce recovery time. Yes, it also feels great. Try Thai massage if you can, that has worked wonders for me.
  • Over-the-counter medications. Of course a trip to your local pharmacy is not a bad idea. Let the pharmacist know what you are experiencing and I'm sure they will recommend a product that will help. Make sure it is an anti-inflammatory.
Whether you have a chronic condition or an injury, joint pain is not fun at all. Especially if you're active and find that with this pain you end up just sitting around the house. You'll go crazy. So do what you can to go see a medical professional at least to find out what is causing it. If that isn't possible, try to figure out what is causing it, using the categories I've outlined here. That's not going to make you a doctor any time soon, but it sure will help you stop worrying. Keep in mind the remedies that I listed that you can use yourself while at home, they're cheap and effective. If you do, you might find that dealing with joint pain is a bit easier in the future.