Ways to Find Relief from Muscle Pain

Finding the best way to get muscular pain relief starts with a correct diagnosis identifying why the muscle hurts. That means determining exactly which muscle is the problem and how it happened.

There are any number of possibilities. Muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendinitis, bursitis, gout, several kinds of arthritis, sciatica, nerve pain and so on – any of these conditions can feel like musclular pain. So until you know the exact cause, you can only guess how to get muscle pain relief.

Here are some typical options for relief to try once you know what you’re dealing with.

Over the Counter Pain Relievers

You can usually group muscle pain causes into two general categories:

• injury as a result of overuse, inappropriate use, or repetitive motion, and
• injury resulting from participation in competitive athletics, accidents or some other form of trauma.

In either case, your doctor will probably recommend any one of a number of medications. Non-prescription types would probably include one of the following.

Acetaminophen There are a number of better-known brand names for this one, including Tylenol and Aspirin Free Excedrin.

Acetaminophen relieves soreness and pain because it’s active in the parts of the brain that process “pain messages” from elsewhere in the body.

NSAIDs “NSAIDs” stands for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Ibuprofen is in this category. NSAIDs relieve muscular pain by reducing inflammation. Popular brand names include Motrin, Aleve and Orudis KT.

NSAIDs also come in a prescription formula which is somewhat stronger.

Topical corticosteroids Well known brands areCortaid and Cortizone. These also relieve pain from certain forms of arthritis pain in addition to relieving muscle discomfort. Generally, they’re available in cream, lotion or spray forms that are placed directly on the skin. Top brand names include Aspercreme, Ben-Gay, Icy Hot and Capzasin-P.

Prescription Pain Relievers

Once again, your physician may recommend a prescription muscle pain reliever if your pain is severe enough.

Prescription corticosteroids are another option

These may come pill or injection form. Corticosteroids in cases where there’s swelling, redness, and allergic reactions. But you have to be careful with these because they can cause strong side effects like headaches, upset stomach, sleeping problems and mood changes.

How About Exercise and Physical Therapy?

Muscles that need to be repaired and strengthened can usually benefit from physical therapy and exercise. Physical therapists work with their patients on how to build muscle strength and improve range of motion.

They can also offer recommendations on ergonomic devices that make everyday chores safer or easier for your muscles to perform. Such ergonomic devices might  include kitchen knives or desk chairs that are less likely to cause pain or discomfort when you use them.

Exercise helps reduce your risk of re-injuring yourself because it not only strengthens weakened muscles, but also increases flexibility and range of motion.

Massage

Many people love a massage – even if they don’t have muscular pain. There’s no doubt a massage improves circulation, soothes sore muscles and helps you relax.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has many advocates who are convinced of it’s benefit in helping relive many different types of pain. Even now, no one seems quite sure why this ancient tradition works – but for many people, it truly does. There’s some speculation that placing needles in certain points of the body releases substances that give the patient a sense of well-being and freedom from pain. Other doctors remain skeptical and believe the benfits are mainly psychological: if you think it works, then it will work.

Chiropractic

Sometimes you get muscular pain from bad posture. Or you develop habitual movements (like an irregular gait) that cause your bones and muscles to work against each other. Chiropractors help their patients identify and correct these. A chiropractor can also help you if you’ve been born with an improper spinal alignment that can cause pain in muscles and joints.

Muscular Pain Relief – Home Remedies

If you have muscle pain that doesn’t require a doctor’s attention, you can try some time-honored home remedies.

It’s long been known that an ice pack can reduce inflammation from a muscle injury or condition. You don’t need to use one of those commercial ice packs from your pharmacy – some ice cubes in a plastic bag is all you need. Even a big bag of frozen peas will do the trick. Your local pharmacy can undoubtedly provide you with a line of wraps and braces that can be helpful.

But once again, it’s important to identify the cause of your muscular pain in order to select the best relief option.