Joint Pain: Causes, Symptoms & Pain Relief
Joint pain is common, especially as you age, and it can cause you a significant amount of discomfort. Keep reading to find out what causes it and the joint pain relief options that are available to you, including Naprosyn® Pain Relief.
Always consult a healthcare professional if you are worried about pain you are experiencing.
What causes joint pain?
There are many reasons why you might be battling joint pain. Some of the most common causes include:
An injury
If you sustain an injury, such as a sprain or strain , you may notice that you feel joint pain. This can happen after intense or repetitive exercise. You might also experience swelling or bruising.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes the joints to become stiff and painful. You may also notice swelling, tenderness and a crackling sound when moving the affected joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition that causes swelling, stiffness and pain around the joints. It usually affects the hands, wrists and feet.
What are the symptoms of joint pain?
You may experience one or more of these symptoms around the affected joint:
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Warmth .
Types of joint pain
Joint pain can be felt anywhere in the body. Some of the most common types of joint pain are:
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Pain in the hip joints can be caused by an injury, or it can be age-related. The symptoms can include discomfort, swelling or stiffness. You may also struggle to walk or bear your weight on the affected side.
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The symptoms of shoulder joint pain can include pain on the top of the shoulder where the collarbone and shoulder joint meet, discomfort when trying to use the affected shoulder or arm, a tingling, weak or numb arm, or stiffness that does not go away.
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Joint pain in the neck usually lasts a few weeks. It can be caused by a pinched nerve, an injury, bad posture or sleeping in an awkward position.
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Ankle pain can be caused by sprains and strains, as well as exercising too much. You may experience swelling, bruising or a dull aching pain around the ankle joint, and you may also struggle to bear weight on the affected foot.
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Joint pain in your wrist is often caused by injuring your wrist. You may find it difficult to move your wrist, and other symptoms you could experience include swelling and bruising.
How to relieve joint pain
With plenty of rest, you should find that your short term joint pain improves. However, there are a few other things you can try to relieve your pain at home.
Over-the-counter painkillers
Pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can help alleviate joint pain, but if you find these aren’t providing enough relief, there are alternative treatments available from the pharmacy counter without a prescription - such as Naprosyn® Pain Relief.
Naprosyn® Pain Relief contains naproxen and are anti-inflammatory tablets for joint pain, as well as back and muscle pain. These dual effect joint pain tablets can provide up to 12 hours of uninterrupted pain relief.
Simple exercise
Doing some simple exercises can help relieve the discomfort of joint pain. The type of exercise you should do will depend on where your joint pain is located, but generally speaking, activities such as going for a leisurely walk or a gentle swim could help alleviate any stiffness in your joints.
You might be worried that exercise might make your pain worse. However, gradually becoming more active is unlikely to cause additional discomfort.
Heat therapy
Heat therapy is a simple and natural way to loosen stiff joints, and it can help to relieve muscle joint pain too.
For example, you could simply take a hot bath or shower to reduce stiffness - and this can be particularly effective before you exercise as it can help prepare tight joints and reduce the chances of injury.
Alternatively, you could apply a warm compress to the affected area. You can do this by using a washcloth that’s been soaked in warm water.
How to prevent joint pain
There are a number of ways you can help prevent joint pain, including:
- Stay active
- Always warm up before exercising, and cool down afterwards
- Avoid overexercising
- Stick to a healthy, balanced diet for strong bones
- Limit your caffeine intake.
Find out more about Naprosyn® Pain Relief
Offering all day pain relief, Naprosyn® Pain Relief is available to purchase at the pharmacy counter in leading pharmacy stores. Visit our about Naprosyn® Pain Relief page to learn more, or speak to your healthcare professional for more information.
