Joint Pain and Ankle Sprains

Joint pain is a top complaint heard by doctors. We have over 140 different joints that allow us to perform the thousands of motions each day, and during each movement, your joints cartilage must be present and healthy for smooth, pain-free movement. More slippery than ice, cartilage makes it possible for the ends of your bones to slide smoothly and easily across each other.

Cartilage can be damaged by sudden trauma or a gradual build-up of many tiny injuries. If the cartilage surface becomes ragged and pockmarked, movement may become painful and it may lead to osteoarthritis.

As the joint degenerates, the joint lining or synovium often becomes inflamed. It tries to solve the problem by producing more synovial fluid; the slick, watery substance that lubricates and nourishes the cartilage. But the fluid ends up flooding the joint space causing swelling and perhaps more pain. All you know is that your knee or elbow really hurts, its swollen, its hard to bend, and you don’t want to use it or put weight on it.

First of all, if you are injured, see your doctor. After that, make sure you are completely recovered and rehabilitated before you actively use that particular joint again. For pain, I’d rather recommend a supplement or topical alternative than a drug. The most common drugs used, NSAIDS (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) such as over-the-counter ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and others, can lead to kidney disease, ulcers, heart attacks or strokes. NSAIDS and other anti-inflammatory treatments don’t help with the healing and may actually impair it. There are several safe, natural alternatives to find relief.

For simple strains and sprains that you can still walk on, try the R.I.C.E. approach.

R: Rest your injured body part to allow damaged tissues to heal.

I: Ice the injured area as soon as you can to help reduce inflammation and swelling.

C: Compress the injured area with a restrictive device to prevent swelling.

E: Elevate the injured area to help prevent swelling.