Joint Pain Remedies – Traditional Remedies
Arthritis, bursitis, gout, the flu, Lyme disease, mumps, Rheumatic fever, and other infectious diseases can all cause varying degrees of joint pain. Traditional joint pain remedies such as over the counter or prescription strength NSAIDs or prescription corticosteroids generally provide adequate relief. In terms of most infectious diseases, over the counter joint pain remedies are sufficient. For ongoing conditions such as arthritis, gout, or bursitis prescription joint pain remedies may be required due to the increasing severity of the pain these conditions cause. Your doctor will determine and recommend the best course for addressing your particular pain.
Traditional joint pain remedies like NSAIDs, whether over the counter or prescription, are not without side effects. Prolonged use of NSAIDs as joint pain remedies can cause gastrointestinal and renal problems. Those problems can range in severity from minor stomach upset to full blown renal failure, depending on the dosage and frequency with which these joint pain remedies are used. The most common side effects stay on the minor end of the spectrum, although patients should be aware of the possibility of severe side effects. These should be balanced against the expected benefits for patients will long term, degenerative conditions such as gout and arthritis.
Other traditional joint pain remedies such as corticosteroids use steroid hormones to regulate how the body responds to stressors such as inflammation. A common corticosteroid used in joint pain remedies is cortisone. Cortisone has been used to treat a variety of ailments from allergic reactions to joint pain from injuries or arthritis. However, as with many traditional joint pain remedies, there are side effects to using corticosteroids. Weight gain, hypertension, and Cushing’s syndrome are but a few of the possible side effects. Since corticosteroids affect the levels of cortisol in the bloodstream, weight gain is a very common side effect.
While traditional joint pain remedies do have an increase risk of side effects, some of which can be severe, the benefits of these treatments is well documented. Patients often report significant relief from arthritic, gout, and infectious disease-related joint pain while taking traditional joint pain remedies. As with any course of treatment, traditional joint pain remedies and other treatment options should be discussed with a medical professional or healthcare provider to ensure the benefits are worth the risk. In advanced cases of rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, for example, the use of traditional joint pain remedies can make the difference in whether a patient can continue to function.
