Aching and painful joints are usually caused by strains, but can be more of an inflammatory problem such as tendonitis or arthritis. Inflammation and pain are the body’s natural response to any injury or irritation, communicating to the body that the healing process must commence. You can have any number aches and pains in certain joints such as the knees, elbows, shoulder and even your back vertebrae. It is alway best to get a proper diagnosis from a doctor, but there are a number of things you can do on your own to cure pains in your joints.

The first thing you need to do is rest. You should refrain from doing anything physical for a few days. During this time, take ibuprofen or naproxen to control the initial swelling, inflammation and pain. Continue taking either anti-inflammatory medication until your joint has healed. Meanwhile, withing the first 48 hours or so, apply ice to your joint for 15 to 20 minutes. The ice needs to be compressed directly against your pain source. If possible, elevate your joint above your heart as this can decrease the inflammation as well. After a few days, start using heat on your joint. Heat increases the flow of blood to the joint, which carries oxygen and nutrients that are needed for healing. A heating pad is convenient for treating the back vertebrae, knee or larger joints. You may want to submerge smaller joints such as the fingers or toes in very warm water.

You should also consider massaging your joint for 5-10 minutes several times per day. You can either massage the joint yourself or have someone do it for you. Massaging your joint helps relax the nerves which can help alleviate pain. Massage also promotes blood flow to your joint. Furthermore, various stretching and resistance (with weights) exercises can also increase the flow of blood to your joints. Stretching exercises also increase the flexibility in your joint. Stretching also loosens tight muscles which can lead to joint pain. Resistance exercises are designed to build strength in your joints. It is always best to exercise muscles and tendons near the joint as well those that close to the joint. For example, building strength in the abdomen, buttocks or legs can help alleviate pain in lower back vertebrae. There are a number of articles online that offer information about rehabilitation exercises for specific joints.

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