Any athlete knows that sooner or later, pain happens. Whether it’s from an injury or repetitive motion. Pain is just part of the process. The pain needs to be temporary or the athlete may be done for good. So, a remedy must be found to offer relief. Let’s look at some of the best choices for joint pain remedies.

NSAIDs

The medicine aisles are filled with hundreds of bottles of pain medications. The best choices for joint pain would be Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). These help to reduce joint pain and swelling by blocking the enzyme cyclooxygenase. This enzyme creates prostaglandins which cause swelling and inflammation. The best choices are ibuprofen and aspirin.

NSAIDs can cause gastric stress and stomach irritation. This can also cause inflammation or further inflammation of stomach ulcers. As always follow label directions. Do not take for more days than recommended. These are the best choices for short term pain. Any long term recommendations must be made by a doctor.

RICE

This is an acronym for; Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This should be used in the case that the joint appears swollen. These four steps are crucial to the recovery process. This process is ideal for injuries that have swelling. Each step is explained below:

• Rest – It is important to rest the injured area to prevent further injury. Rest is to help limit moving the area and speeding recovery.
• Ice – Get an icepack and a towel. Ice the area for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. Place the towel between the area and the ice to prevent frostbite. Ice is to help limit swelling and inflammation.
• Compression – Wrap the area with an elastic bandage. Be sure it is snug and not restricting. Compression helps to limit swelling. Some swelling will occur regardless.
• Elevation – Elevate the area above the heart. This helps aid in recovery by reducing swelling.

RICE is perfect for recurring pain. These steps can help reduce inflammation. This is great for the early stage of managing joint pain.

Supplements

The medicine aisles may also be filled with these remedies. Focus on the ones that have scientific proof for effectiveness. Not all joint pain remedies work to heal the pain. Some offer topical agents that offering a cooling or warming effect. This works for short term pain, but does little for long term healing.

The best supplement choices for joint pain healing:

• Biova Flex
• Chondroitin sulfate
• Glucosamine sulfate
• Calcium
• Un-denatured Collagen
• Vitamin D3
• Omega-3
• Cat’s Claw
• SAMe

These ingredients all have a specific focus on improving joint mobility and flexibility. Most work towards increasing the lubrication of joints.

Joint pain can be stressful. Do not try everything at once to eliminate pain. Try each remedy to see which has the best effect on your body. RICE is great for immediate pain. NSAIDs are a great choice for shorter term pain management. Supplements do offer a longer term solution and offer more benefits than relieving joint pain.

If you are experiencing frequent joint pain and need a solution, look into Athletes Joint Restore. It is specifically geared towards athletes with clinically proven ingredients that have been proven 2x more effective than glucosamine + chondroitin It has helped relieve pain for many people suffering from sore joints!