Many of us will experience achy joints at some point in our lifetime - whether it’s from an injury or long-term wear and tear (i.e. arthritis). Joint pain can be a nuisance that can stop us from partaking in everyday activities. It can even stop us from sleeping properly. Finding a way to relieve joint pain can therefore be a necessity.

For effective muscle and joint pain relief, a targeted approach is essential. Whether you're dealing with post-workout soreness or chronic discomfort, finding the right solution can make all the difference. Arnica cream offers a powerful remedy, providing the relief you need to feel your best. By incorporating this cream into your recovery routine, you can experience significant muscle and joint pain relief and get back to your daily activities with ease.

But just how should you treat joint pain alone? Aside from using over-the-counter painkillers, there are many other ways in which you can relieve pain in the joints. Below are 11 effective ways to relieve joint pain. 

Know when to use heat and when to use cold

Some people treat joint pain using an ice pack, while others use a hot water bottle. But which is more effective? 

You can actually use either for most forms of joint pain. Heat helps to relax muscles and lubricate joints, while the cold can reduce inflammation and swelling. 

 If your joints are hurting and you're about to engage in physical activity, a hot water bottle or hot flannel may be better for getting your joints ready for exercise. Consider consulting a physio in North Sydney for expert advice on preparing your joints and preventing further discomfort.

Don’t spend all day in bed

Many of us just want to rest when we’re in pain. While some rest can be good for reducing stress and reducing aggravation to joints, you don’t want to rest too much. Exercise can stop muscles and joints seizing up and it can provide an endorphin rush that can relieve pain. It can also reduce weight gain - gaining weight can increase pressure on your joints and is something you want to avoid. 

Gentle physical activity such as walking may be all that’s needed. You could find that pain is greatly reduced after a physically active day compared to a day spent in bed. When it comes to more intense workouts, it’s best to stick to low-impact exercises that won’t aggravate your joints. 

Take up yoga or pilates

Yoga and pilates can help to relieve joint pain in a number of different ways. Both forms of exercise help to lubricate joints and strengthen muscles around joints. Yoga and pilates can also help reduce stress - stress can exacerbate pain and so it’s good to engage in stress-relieving activities.

Attending a yoga or pilates class is the best way to practise these exercises, although you may be able to use online videos to practise these exercises at home. Other forms of exercise like Tai Chi can have similar benefits. 

Run a hot bath

A hot bath can be an effective way to relieve joint pain. Not only does the heat help relax muscles around the joints, but so does the buoyancy of the water. A bath is also a great way to relieve stress. At the end of the day, a hot bath can therefore be a great way to relieve some joint pain before you go to bed.

Some people put products in their bath such as Epsom salts to help further relieve pain. While there is not much scientific proof that this has any effect, many people personally find that it helps, so it could be worth trying. 

Go for a swim

If you’re looking for a form of exercise that’s easy on the joints, swimming is one of your best options. While some exercises like running can aggravate your joints, swimming puts no pressure on the joints at all due to the buoyancy of the water. It will give you a rush of endorphins that will help numb pain while also helping you to build muscle around your joints.

Consider going regularly to your local pool to practise some lengths and see what impact this had on your joints. Open water swimming could be another option if you have the sea or river nearby that you can swim in. 

Cut down on sugar

Consuming lots of sugar has been proven to increase inflammation - which can make chronic pains like joint pain much worse. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you may want to consider cutting down on sugar to help relieve joint pain. And add joint supplement like JointXL Plus which help to reduce joint pain, soreness & inflammation.

Sugary drinks are often the biggest culprit. Drinking more water, and having less sugar with tea or coffee could have a big impact.

Wear loose clothes

During flare-ups it’s a good idea to dress loose. Tight clothing can be more challenging to put on when you’ve got joint pain and it can create extra pressure on joints.

Think about where the joint pain is and how you can dress looser in that area. For easing hip pain, it could be worth wearing loose high-waisted trousers or dresses. When it comes to easing ankle pain, you may want to avoid wearing heels or very tight shoes.

Try a teaspoon full of turmeric

There are many herbal remedies for joint pain. Turmeric is one popular spice that has a lot of scientific backing as a painkiller. It contains a compound called curcumin that has strong anti-inflammatory properties.

A teaspoon of turmeric powder per day is all you need to help offer pain relief. This is best consumed in a cup of water. Alternatively, you can try adding turmeric to cooking. 

Relieve achy joints with a joint

Marijuana is becoming more widely legal around the world. Many people find that it has pain relieving properties. If you have joint pain and cannabis is legal where you live, you could consider looking into this as a form of pain relief. 

Smoking marijuana isn’t the healthiest way to access its pain relieving properties. Edibles can be much healthier, but that can take a while to have an effect and the potency is not as easy to measure. So what is the best way to consume cannabis for joint pain? Products such as these Delta 9o vapes or tinctures may actually be the best way option. Some of these contain extracts like THC or CBD so that you’re getting the focused effects of the plant. You can also buy topical creams that you can apply directly to your skin.

Explore OTC topical creams

Beyond CBD creams, there are many other topical creams that you can use to relieve joint pain including aloe vera gel and capsaicin cream. These are worth trying as an added form of pain relief if you have joint pain in a single focused area.

You can buy these products online or from many physical pharmacy stores. 

Know when to see a doctor

If you’ve tried over-the-counter drugs and many of the other pain relief methods above, but you’re still experiencing pain, it could be worth visiting a doctor to explore other pain relief options.

Prescription medication is commonly given out to those with severe arthritis or other forms of severe joint pain. Such medication could be what you need to function, however you do need to be wary of the potential side effects.

Procedures may also be possible for some forms of joint pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome is an example of a joint problem that can be sometimes treated with surgery.

There’s also the option of physical therapy. A doctor may be able to recommend someone, or you could consider finding a physical therapist privately who can help suggest tips for improving mobility and posture.