Musculoskeletal pain: How do you relieve sore muscle pain and joint pain?

Things we can do to reduce Sore muscle pain and joint pain

Different problems with the bones, muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons in the body can cause pain. One or more areas of your body may ache or burn. Or they may feel tired, stiff, or sore. Injuries are the most common cause of pain

The medical term for this type of pain is musculoskeletal pain. It can have many different causes.

Everybody experiences pain differently. Aching joints and sore muscles are a part of life, but there are things we can do to keep pain from slowing us down. Understanding the different types of pain, as well as what causes pain, will help inform the best way to relieve it.

Types of  Pain

Pain is believed to be made up of two complementary aspects: one is a localized sensation in a specific body part; the other is an unpleasant feeling that accompanies actions taken to alleviate the experience.

It starts with specific pain receptors, which are nerve endings that only respond to physical damage or the potential for damage. That stimulus travels to the spinal cord by a nociceptor, which acts as a pain relay. From there, signals are sent to your brain, which helps you process and react to the pain.¹

It’s also important to recognize the difference between acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is caused by a specific injury or illness, and diminishes with healing. With chronic pain, if it’s associated with disease or injury, it can sometimes outlast the healing cycle and have no clear end.

Acute pain is usually addressed by easing the underlying cause and interrupting the nociceptive signals. Treatment for chronic pain requires a multidisciplinary approach involving multiple therapeutic methods.² If you are experiencing ongoing pain, speak to your healthcare professional.

Muscle pain (known as myalgia)

is often less intense than bone pain but can be very unpleasant. For example, a muscle spasm or cramp (a sustained painful muscle contraction) in the calf is an intense pain that is commonly called a charley horse. Pain can occur when a muscle is affected by an injury, loss of blood flow to the muscle, infection, or a tumor. Polymyalgia rheumatica is a disorder that causes severe pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, upper and lower back, and hips.

Tendon and ligament pain is often less intense than bone pain. It is often described as “sharp” and is worse when the affected tendon or ligament is stretched or moved and is usually relieved by rest. Common causes of tendon pain include tendinitis, tenosynovitis, lateral epicondylitis or medial epicondylitis, and tendon injuries. The most common cause of ligament pain is injury (sprains).

Joint pain (called arthralgia)

may or may not be related to joint inflammation (called arthritis). Arthritis may cause swelling as well as pain. A wide variety of disorders can cause arthritis, including

• Inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis)
• Osteoarthritis
• Infectious arthritis
• Gout and related disorders
• Autoimmune disorders (such as systemic lupus erythematosus)
• Vasculitic disorders (such as immunoglobulin A–associated vasculitis)
• Osteonecrosis
• Injuries affecting the part of a bone inside a joint

Arthritic pain

can be new (acute, for example, when caused by infections, injuries, or gout), or longstanding (chronic, for example, when caused by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis). Pain resulting from arthritis is typically worse when the joint is moved but usually is present even when the joint is not being moved. Sometimes pain originating in structures near the joint, such as ligaments, tendons, and bursae, seems to be coming from the joint.

Some musculoskeletal disorders cause pain by compressing nerves. These conditions include the tunnel syndromes (for example, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, and tarsal tunnel syndrome). The pain tends to radiate along the path supplied by the nerve and may be burning. It is usually accompanied by tingling, numbness, or both.

Sometimes, pain that seems to be musculoskeletal is actually caused by a disorder in another organ system. For instance, shoulder pain may be caused by a disorder affecting the lungs, spleen, or gallbladder. Back pain may be caused by a kidney stone, abdominal aortic aneurysm, inflammation of the pancreas, or, in women, pelvic disorders. Arm pain may be caused by a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Some Common Causes Of Pain

From stubbing your toe on a coffee table to straining your back lifting a heavy object, everyday pain happens.  Because there’s muscle tissue in nearly all parts of the body, this type of pain can be felt practically anywhere. However, there’s no single cause for muscle aches and pains.Here is a look at some of the most common causes of everyday pain.

Injury

Bumps And Bruises

You get bruises when small blood vessels near the skin’s surface are broken by impact or injury. The blood leaks and creates that familiar black-and-blue bruise. After a couple of days the blood is usually reabsorbed and the mark disappears. As we get older, however, our skin becomes thinner and loses some of the protective layer that helps cushion blood vessels and prevent bruising.

Sprain

You get a sprain when ligaments — which connect bones to bones — are stretched or torn. You could feel pain, notice swelling or bruising, or experience limited mobility.⁴ Treat minor sprains with rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Severe sprains sometimes require surgery to repair torn ligaments. See a doctor if you can’t move or bear weight, experience excessive pain, or feel numbness in the injured area.⁴

Strain

Strain describes an injury to a muscle or to the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone. Similar to a sprain, you can help prevent a strain with regular stretching as well as strengthening exercises.

Muscle Soreness

Physical activity like exercise can put stress on your muscles that cause soreness. Professional athletes spend countless hours training to become the best. But if your training program is less than professional grade, you’ll want to take it slow, warm up thoroughly, and ease into your longer workouts.

Other ways to avoid muscle soreness include:

Stretch after you work or play
Remain active; sometimes it helps to train through discomfort
Use ice to reduce swelling and inflammation
Use heat to ease muscle strain
Take a day or two off if it feels worse

Arthritis And Joint Pain

Arthritis pain affects millions of people in the US – nearly one in four adults. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis in the knee and hip.

Physical activity can help reduce arthritis pain, and greatly enhance the arthritis sufferer’s quality of life. Walking, biking, and swimming are all effective ways to ease arthritis pain. Regular exercise has other benefits as well, including reduced anxiety and improvements in both mood and physical function.

Sacroiliac joint pain Discomfort

The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) plays a crucial role in connecting the spine and pelvis, albeit with minimal mobility. If you’re experiencing SIJ pain, it could be attributed to various factors, including pregnancy, arthritis, leg length disparities, cartilage erosion, traumatic incidents, or a history of pelvic injuries and muscle tension. Unlike sudden injuries, SIJ pain often develops gradually over time.

What to Expect: SIJ dysfunction can manifest through lower back pain, usually on one side, hip discomfort, and difficulty bending over or standing after prolonged sitting. You may find relief when lying down. To diagnose an SIJ issue, your healthcare provider may perform leg and hip maneuvers or recommend X-rays or CT scans. In some cases, an injection may be required for precise pain localization.

Symptom Relief: During the initial days or weeks of treatment, your provider may suggest the following:

1. Rest: Minimize activity that exacerbates pain.
2. Cold Therapy: Apply an ice pack to your lower back or upper buttocks for 20 minutes, 2-3 times daily (avoid direct skin contact).
3. Heat Therapy: Use a heating pad or a pain relief cream with warming effect to relax tight muscles and alleviate soreness.
4. Massage: Gently massage the muscles in the lower back, buttocks, and thigh.
5. Pain Medications: As instructed, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), or acetaminophen (Tylenol). However, consult your provider if you have specific health conditions.

Activity: Limit your physical activity and consider using a sacroiliac belt or lumbar brace for additional support. Engaging in physical therapy is essential for pain relief and strength improvement. Consult your doctor or physical therapist for tailored exercises.

Here’s an example of a lower back exercise:

1. Lie Flat: Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
2. Rotate Knees: Slowly rotate your knees to the right side until you feel discomfort, then return to the left side. Repeat ten times.

Consistency is key to resolving SIJ pain. Adhering to your care plan, including rest, ice, and exercises, will expedite symptom improvement and healing.

Follow-up: If your pain persists longer than expected, your provider may recommend further assessments, such as X-rays, CT scans, or blood tests, to determine the underlying cause.

When to Call the Doctor: Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience:

1. Sudden numbness or tingling in your lower back and hips.
2. Weakness or numbness in your legs.
3. Difficulty controlling your bowel or bladder.
4. A sudden increase in pain or discomfort.
5. Delayed healing.
6. Fever.
7. Increased pain in other joints, eye pain, or discomfort during urination.

Ways To Ease Your Pain

Lifestyle

Take care of yourself: get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet, and get plenty of sleep
Try massage: it’s a proven way to relieve stress and muscle tension
Incorporate acupuncture, herbal treatments, meditation, or music therapy into your wellness routine

Thermal Treatment

Cold can numb pain and help reduce swelling. Keep an ice pack on hand, or use a bag of frozen vegetables. You can also submerge the affected area in ice water.

Heat can be used as a muscle relaxer, which contributes to pain relief. It can also increase blood flow to the injured area, which promotes healing.

Which Lamacoppa Leaf Sciences product can help you?

Lamacoppa Leaf Sciences Solldol CBD cream for Muscle and Joint pain relief has a Natural high thermogenic action, Deep Penetration action. Fast-acting pain reliever Cream with 10% Arnica, 5% Devil’s Claw and 1000 mg CBD.

HIGH CONCENTRATION

Thanks to its composition based on synergistic natural extracts known in phytotherapy such as Cannabidiol, Hemp Oil, Arnica Extract, Devil’s Claw Extract, Hop Extract, Black Currant Extract, it is useful to ensure a quick and lasting sense of relief to muscles and joints. The high concentration of CBD works as a muscle and joint relaxant in synergy with the intensive warming effect and pure extract of Arnica and Devil’s Claw.

IMMEDIATE AND LASTING RELIEF FROM JOINT PAIN AND MUSCLE PAIN

The high concentration of CBD works together with the intensive warming effect and the high concentration of pure extract of Arnica and Devil’s Claw immediately relieving and improving the treated area. Thanks to its soothing cosmetic formula it gives a quick and lasting sense of relief to muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. Ideal to use even before and after physical exercise, it warms up the muscles and accelerates their recovery.

FAST ABSORPTION
Warming effect gel characterized by a light texture and quickly assimilated by the skin. Immediate action and rapid absorption, non-greasy, pleasant lavender scent.

Useful for therapeutic massage in case of:

• Muscle contractures (stiff neck, back pain, etc.)
  • Muscle tears and strains
  • Muscle strains
  • Tendonitis
  • Muscle pains (arthralgias)
  • Tennis Elbow (Epicondylitis)
  • Rotator cuff pain

Recommended in sport activity:

• For preventing sports injuries
  • For increasing muscles temperature (As cool muscles poses a potential risk of injury, muscles temperature should be high before sport activity)
  • Lactic acid reduction to sore muscles after sport activity
  • Muscle cool-down
  • Improved vascularity
  • Tissue oxygenation

The Cannabidiol (CBD) we use is a COSMOS certified raw material.

References

1. NCBI, editors. The Anatomy and Physiology of Pain, NCBI (ncbi.nim.nih.gov), 1987.
2. K P Grichnik, F M Ferrante, editors. The difference between acute and chronic pain, NCBI/National Library of Medicine (pubmed.ncbi.nim.nih.gov)
3. Medical News Today, editors. Easy bruising: What to know about bruising easily.
4. NHS website, editors. Sprains, 5. WebMD content staff. Managing muscle soreness,
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), editors. Joint Pain and Arthritis,
6. Holland Hospital Pain Management, editors. Self-care approaches to treating pain,

8 PubMed Central Evidence-Based Diagnosis and Treatment of the Painful Sacroiliac Joint (pubmed.ncbi.nim.nih.gov)