Muscle And Joint Pain
Pain in muscles and joints are common and seldom need to be treated by a doctor.
What to look for
- Stiffness and pain especially with movement
Causes
- Strain due to overexertion
- Injury
- Inflammation
- Wear and tear
Treatment at home for muscle pain
- Massage affected part and keep it warm
- Rest
- Take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
Treatment at home for joint pain
- Rest the sore joint
- Take painkillers as for muscle pain
Strains and sprains - R.I.C.E
- Rest the injured part
- Ice wrapped in a cloth - or a bag of frozen peas - can be used to reduce the swelling. But do not apply for longer than 15 minutes at a time
- Compress the injury gently with a bandage
- Elevate the injured part
When to see your doctor
- If the pain in the joint or muscle does not improve after three days
- If the joint looks deformed
- If there is swelling
- If mobility is badly affected