5 Things to Do to Get Relief From Pain and Inflammation

If you are experiencing pain and inflammation, it is because of an influx of white blood cells to an injured or diseased part of your body. Your immune system is attempting to fight off bacteria, viruses, and other foreign organisms. However, in the case of autoimmune diseases–like arthritis–this reaction to fight off foreign invaders is an error, rather like firefighters responding to a false fire alarm but still dowsing a building with water or foam despite the absence of flames. When this happens, when your immune system reacts to normal tissue as if it is abnormal, then this misguided protective response causes tissue damage.

Inflammation usually results in skin redness and a sensation of warmth, as well as joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. Redness and warmth occur because the white blood cells release chemicals into the bloodstream to increase the blood flow to the area the immune system is trying to protect. Swelling is caused by the chemicals causing a leak of fluid in the tissues, while pain is a result of the stimulation of nerves.  However, not all symptoms may be present. Additionally, some inflammatory symptoms may resemble the symptoms of flu; for instance, you may experience fever, chills, fatigue, and headaches, and also the loss of appetite and muscle stiffness.

Here are five suggestions for getting relief from pain and inflammation by either mitigating it or eliminating it completely.

1. Visit a spine center: If your regular doctor is baffled by the source of your pain and inflammation, then consider talking to a spine surgeon as your health issues may be due to an undetected problem with your spine. If this is found to be the case, then your personalized treatment plan could range from nonsurgical treatment to revision surgery.

2. Try herbal medication:  Five popular herbal medications to reduce joint pain and inflammation are Bromelain, which is an enzyme found in pineapple; Turmeric, which is a root; Devil’s Claw, which is an herb that has a claw shape; and White Willow Bark, which comes from the bark of white willow and contains salicin, a chemical similar to the acetylsalicylic acid in aspirin.

3. Apply topical medication: There are many natural remedies in a cream or gel form that can be rubbed on the painful area to provide relief. Use Capsaicin for issues related to shingles or neuropathy.  For arthritis, you can try Zyflamend or InflaThera, and for osteoarthritis try Aquamin. If your pain and swelling are due to a sport’s injury or post-surgery swelling, then you’ll find Arnica helpful.

4. See if oral medication helps: Oral medication is divided into steroidal drugs and non-steroidal drugs. While you will have to see a doctor to get steroidal drugs, you can get non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) as an over-the-counter (OTC) medication. Aspirin, for example, is an NSAID drug. This type of medication can treat pain, fever, and inflammation, reducing headaches, toothaches, and muscle aches. It also helps with athletic injuries and arthritis.

5. Ask your doctor about IV medication for inflammation: Ketoralac is a group of drugs (for e.g. Toradol IV/IM)  that are classified as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ketorolac reduces the hormones that trigger pain and inflammation in the body. It is usually used to treat severe pain and results last for about five days or less.

Persist in Finding a Solution

When you are in pain, it’s hard to think clearly about anything or to act proactively. However, don’t slip into a state of learned helplessness; you should never give up until you find a solution. In one strange case, a man cured himself of chronic pain by jumping off a rocky outcrop into freezing water, then swimming desperately until he found a place to climb out again. Doctors are baffled by how a cure was affected with some theories suggesting that it was the shock or the sudden increase in mobility as he thrashed around trying to service.

However, this drastic treatment is not recommended because of the high risk. So, one of the best, most sensible things you can do when you have moderate to severe pain is to get medical advice. You should do this even if herbal and topical treatments have been effective because you want to rule out any underlying health conditions that might be causing your pain and inflammation.