Fibromyalgia Resource Center

Finding the best option for muscular pain relief begins with identifying the pain cause. That means determining exactly which muscle has been injured or damaged and how it happened.

It may not always be obvious. Muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendinitis, bursitis, gout, a couple of possible kinds of arthritis, sciatica, nerve pain and so on - all of these ailments can feel like musclular pain. So until you can pin down the exact cause, you can only guess how to get muscle pain relief.

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

Using Over the Counter Pain Relievers

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

• injury or wear and tear due to overuse, inappropriate use, or repetitive motion, and
• damage caused by an injury during competitive athletics, accidents or some other form of trauma.

Either way, your doctor will probably recommend some kind of medication. Non-prescription types might include one of those listed below.

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

Acetaminophen relieves muscle pain and soreness 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.

You can also ask your doctor to prescribe a stronger form of NSAIDS if your pain is severe.

Topical corticosteroids Better known brands includeCortaid and Cortizone. Not only do these help relieve muscle pain, but they reduce the discomfort from some forms of arthritis. Generally, they can be found in creams, lotions or sprays that are placed directly on the skin. Four of the better known brands are Aspercreme, Ben-Gay, Icy Hot and Capzasin-P.

Pain Relief from Prescriptions

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

Prescription corticosteroids are another option

They’re available in pill or injection form. Corticosteroids in cases involving swelling, redness, and allergic reactions. These require some care though because they sometimes cause side effects, including mood changes, irregular sleep, headaches and stomach problems.

Physical Therapy and Exercise

Physical therapy is designed to help repair and strengthen body parts that have been injured or weakened by disease. Physical therapists work with their patients on how to build muscle strength and increase range of motion.

They can also give you tips about ergonomic devices that make everyday chores safer or easier for your muscles to perform. Examples light be ergonomic chairs or kitchen knives that work more efficiently and cause less pain when you use them.

Exercise can help relieve certain kinds of pain by strengthening your muscles and improving your range of motion, which reduces your risk of re-injury.

Massage

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

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has many advocates who believe it can help relieve muscular pain. Even though no one has definitively determined why acupuncture is effective, there seems to be little doubt that it can benefit some people. 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’re convinced that it works, then it will work.

Chiropractic

Sometimes you get muscle 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 trigger pain in muscles and joints.

Some Possibilities  for Muscle Pain Relief at Home

Those with relatively minor muscle pain can try a number of home remedies that are generally effective.

For instance, an ice pack can help 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 work. Your local pharmacy will no doubt carry a variety of wraps and braces that can be helpful.

But once again, it all starts with knowing the cause of your muscular pain in order to select the proper relief option.