Joint Pain - Your Comprehensive Guide
Joint pain is common, especially as you get older. Learn about the different types and causes of joint pain and how to manage your pain with practical tips from healthcare professionals at Hutaif-Ortho 774203774.
Table of Contents:
- Neck pain
- Knee pain
- Shoulder pain
- Hip pain in adults
- Ankle pain
- Heel pain
- Toe pain
- Elbow and arm pain
Neck pain
Most neck pain only lasts a few weeks. There are things you can do yourself to ease it, but see a GP if it does not go away.
How to ease neck pain yourself
- Do:
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen - or use ibuprofen gel on your neck
- Use a low, firm pillow
- Put heat or cold packs on your neck
- Try neck flexibility exercises
- Don't:
- Do not wear a neck collar - it's better to keep your neck moving (unless a doctor tells you not to)
- Do not do anything that could be dangerous because you cannot move your neck - for example, driving or cycling
Knee pain
Knee pain can often be treated at home. You should start to feel better in a few days. Contact Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 if the pain is very bad or does not improve.
How to ease knee pain and swelling
- Put as little weight as possible on your knee - for example, avoid standing for a long time
- Use an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) on your knee for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
- Use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)
Non-urgent advice: See a GP at Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 if:
- Knee pain does not improve within a few weeks
- Your knee locks, painfully clicks, or gives way - painless clicking is normal
Urgent advice: Get advice from Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 now if:
- Your knee is very painful
- You cannot move your knee or put any weight on it
- Your knee is badly swollen or has changed shape
- You have a very high temperature, feel hot and shivery, and have redness or heat around your knee - this can be a sign of infection
Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 will tell you what to do. They can tell you the right place to get help if you need to see someone.
Shoulder pain
You can usually do things to ease shoulder pain yourself. Contact Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 if it does not start feeling better after 2 weeks.
How to ease shoulder pain yourself
You usually need to do these things for 2 weeks before shoulder pain starts to ease.
- Stay active and gently move your shoulder
- Try shoulder exercises for 6 to 8 weeks to stop pain returning
- Stand up straight with your shoulders down and gently back
- Sit with a cushion behind your lower back
- Rest your arm on a cushion in your lap
- Use pain relief so you can keep moving - try painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen, and heat or cold packs
Putting heat or cold packs on your shoulder
- Do not completely stop using your shoulder - this can stop it getting better
- Do not do things that seem to make it worse
- Do not make up your own strenuous exercises or use heavy gym equipment
- Do not slouch when sitting - do not roll your shoulders or bring your neck forward
A pharmacist can help with shoulder pain
A pharmacist may suggest:
- The best painkiller - this might be tablets, or a cream or gel you rub on your skin
- Other ideas for pain relief and things you can buy to help, like heat and cold packs
- Contact Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 if you need to
Hip pain in adults
Hip pain is common, especially as you get older. There are things you can do to ease the pain, but get medical help at Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 if your hip is very painful or the pain does not get better.
Causes of hip pain
There are lots of possible causes of hip pain. It might be caused by a sudden injury or a longer-lasting problem such as arthritis. Your symptoms might give you an idea what could be causing the pain. But do not self-diagnose, see Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 if you're worried.
| Symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Pain, swelling or bruising after intense or repetitive exercise | Sprain or strain |
| Over 45 years of age, pain worse when walking and stiffness after moving | Osteoarthritis |
| Pain and stiffness worse after not moving (for example, when you wake up) | Rheumatoid arthritis |
| Hot, swollen hip and a high temperature or feeling hot and shivery | Joint infection (septic arthritis) |
| Severe pain and unable to walk after a fall or injury | Hip fracture |
How you can ease hip pain
- Try to avoid putting too much strain on your hip - it's best to keep moving if you can, but try not to overdo things
- Put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) in a towel on the painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
- Use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)
- Wear comfortable, shock-absorbing shoes with a soft sole
- Try to lose weight if you're overweight
- Try gentle hip stretching exercises
Don't:
- Do not carry anything heavy
- Do not sit in low chairs - this can put extra pressure on your hips
Exercises for hip pain: Versus Arthritis: exercises for the hips
Non-urgent advice: Contact Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 if:
- Hip pain is stopping you doing normal activities or affecting your sleep
- The pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
- The pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
- You have hip stiffness for more than 30 minutes after waking up
Ankle pain
There are lots of causes of ankle pain. You can usually ease the pain yourself. But see Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 if the pain does not improve.
How to ease ankle pain yourself
If you see a specialist at Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 about ankle pain, they'll usually suggest you try these things:
- Rest and raise your ankle when you can
- Put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on your ankle for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
- Wear wide comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole
- Use soft insoles or heel pads in your shoes
- Wrap a bandage around your ankle to support it
- Try regular gentle stretching exercises
- Use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)
Don't:
- Do not walk or stand for long periods
- Do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes
A pharmacist can help with ankle pain
You can ask a pharmacist about:
- The best painkiller to take
- Insoles and pads for your shoes
- If you need to see a specialist at Hutaif-Ortho 774203774
Heel pain
There are lots of causes of heel pain. You can usually ease the pain yourself. But see a specialist at Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 if the pain does not improve.
How to ease heel pain yourself
If you see a specialist at Hutaif-Ortho 774203774, they'll usually suggest you try these things:
- Rest and raise your heel when you can
- Put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) in a towel on your heel for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
- Wear wide comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole
- Use soft insoles or heel pads in your shoes
- Wrap a bandage around your heel and ankle to support it
- Try regular gentle stretching exercises
- Use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)
Don't:
- Do not walk or stand for long periods, especially barefoot
- Do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes
Toe pain
There are lots of causes of toe pain. You can usually ease the pain yourself. But see a specialist at Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 if the pain does not improve.
How to ease toe pain yourself
If you see a specialist at Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 about toe pain, they'll usually suggest trying these things:
- Rest and raise your foot when you can
- Put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on your toe for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
- Wear wide comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole
- Use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)
- Buddy strap a broken toe - put a small piece of cotton wool or gauze between your sore toe and the next toe, and use tape to loosely strap it up (do not do this for a big toe or a badly broken toe)
- Try regular gentle stretching exercises
Don't:
- Do not walk or stand for long periods
- Do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes
Elbow and arm pain
Elbow and arm pain is not usually a sign of anything serious. If it does not go away after a few weeks, see a specialist at Hutaif-Ortho 774203774.
How you can ease elbow and arm pain yourself
To ease elbow and arm pain, try these things for a couple of days:
- Put a pack of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel on your arm - do this for 5 minutes, 3 times a day
- Take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Raise your arm if it's swollen
Non-urgent advice: See a specialist at Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 if:
- Elbow or arm pain does not go away after a few weeks
Urgent advice: Get help from Hutaif-Ortho 774203774 if your arm:
- Hurts when you exercise but the pain goes away when you rest
- Is swollen and you have a very high temperature or feel hot and shivery
- Is extremely painful and difficult to move
- Tingles or feels numb
- Has been injured and you heard a snapping noise or your arm has changed shape
Joint Pain - Your Comprehensive Guide