To send joint pains packing, we have to make sure that we’re fit and in good health, but also to take care of our bones and the joints that usually tend to have problems. Joints are the parts of the body where our bones meet, and various factors can lead to serious issues and discomfort if we do not take good care of our bones. Ignoring joint pains can only lead to serious discomfort and result in major injuries and arthritis that can impact your swift movements.
Although joint pains are not life-threatening, they can limit your movement and impact your quality of life, which is why you need to be sure that you’re using the right home remedies to resolve joint aches in the right way. Joint pains usually can occur anywhere in the body, but the most common joint pain problem is knee pain, followed by shoulder and hip pain.
Understanding And Preventing Joint Pain
To resolve joint pain issues, it is important that we understand why they occur in the first place. As we know, a joint is where two bones meet along with a cartilage which serves as a cushioning pad for the adjacent bones and provides us with fluidity in the movement. On the other hand, there are ligaments that attach bone to bone around the joint along with bursae which are basically fluid-filled sacs that provide a gliding surface for adjacent tendons.
Joint pain usually occurs when there is any injury or disease to any of these structures or due to inflammation of joints.
If you’re experiencing more pain and swelling on a regular basis it is important that you take it seriously and focus on taking good care of your joints to prevent any further damage.
Preventing joint pains is a better way to resolve this health issue. You must make sure that you do not put too much pressure on the joints that are in pain, as that will only escalate the issue. On the other hand, you can wear the right gear that can help you to keep your muscles and joints in the right position while you’re moving. If you are playing sports, wear the right sports gear that can help you to prevent recurrent joint pain.
Simple And Effective Home Remedies For Joint Pain
While it is important that you undergo medical treatment to resolve joint pain issues, you may also try out home remedies that can help you to ease pain. Here are few home remedies that you can try out.
Regular Exercise
Joint pains can slow down your movement, but regular exercise is important to ensure your weight is under control, as being overweight will eventually put more strain on the joints. Exercise also strengthens your muscles and lubricates the joints. Not exercising will only make the joints stiff, and that will lead to more pain in the near future. Go for a 15 minute brisk walk, and do joint-targeted exercises and stretches to get rid of stiffness and pain.
Ginger And Turmeric: A Potent Combo
We all know that ginger and turmeric are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and they can relieve rheumatoid arthritis. You can combine both of these together and come up with a spicy tea combination that can help you relieve your joint pain naturally. If you don’t like the spicy taste of ginger and turmeric, you can add honey to taste. Enjoying two cups of tea can really help you ease joint pain effectively.
Epsom Salts
Magnesium sulfate has been used as a pain reliever for many decades and if you have joint pains, an Epsom salt soak is a good way to relieve pain at home or in the office. Epsom salt contains a high level of magnesium sulfate, and it works like a miracle. Fill a large bowl with warm water, add half cup of Epsom salt, stir it well and submerge your sore joints in the liquid. Soak your joints for 15 minutes and you will notice a difference.
Eating High-Magnesium Foods
Most people with joint pains have low levels of magnesium in their body. If you think you may be one of them, ask your doctor for a blood test. Magnesium relaxes our muscles and relieves stiffness and pain. Eat high magnesium foods that can help you to improve magnesium level in your body naturally. Your diet should include dark leafy vegetables like raw spinach, nuts and seeds, avocados, fish, beans, yogurt, bananas, dried fruits and dark chocolate.
Olive Oil
While olive oil can add more taste to your recipes, it can also help you to relieve joint ache. However, you need to ensure that you make use of extra virgin olive oil which contains oleocanthal which produces inflammatory enzymes COX-1 and COX-2. Some of the studies reveal that oleocanthal works like a pain reliever and around two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil is equal to 200 milligrams of ibuprofen.
Hot And Cold Compresses
Another home remedy to ease joint pain is to apply hot and cold compresses alternately. The combination of hot and cold compresses works effectively and does not require you to do much. Wrap both compresses in different towels and place them alternately on the affected area (not directly on the skin) for about three minutes. Repeat the process for 15 to 20 minutes.
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Joint pains can happen to anyone and are a natural sign of aging. They are also a message from your body that it needs help and that you need to resolve the root cause of the pain, rather than popping up pills that take away the pain temporarily.