PAINFUL JOINTS KEEPING YOU AWAY FROM EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES?

Our joints are very important; they connect bones to provide support and help us move. When there is any damage to the joints, it can be painful and cause problems with everyday movements. Knee pain is the most common, followed by hip and shoulder pain but all parts of your body can be affected and as you get older painful joints become more common. Osteoarthritis is another common type of inflammatory disease that can cause painful joints.

Painful joints can be caused by many different conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sprains, gout, bursitis, etc. Some of these conditions can be treated with self-care while others require further investigation. You should make an appointment with your doctor if there is swelling, redness, or tenderness and warmth in the joint. See your doctor immediately if your joint pain is caused by an injury and there is severed pain, swelling or if you are not able to use the joint at all.

There are may treatment options in addition so self care. Physiotherapy, ice, rest, and over the counter medications are common treatments. But did you know that a specialty compounding pharmacy, is able to compound a topical cream containing pain-reducing ingredients?

Optimal treatment may involve the use of medications that possess pain-relieving properties, including some antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antiarrhythmics, anesthetics, antiviral agents, dextromethorphan and ketamine. By combining various agents which utilize different mechanisms to alter the sensation of pain, physicians have found that smaller concentrations of each medication can be used.

 Topical transdermal creams can be made to provide high local concentrations at the site of the pain (e.g., NSAIDs for joint pain), for trigger point application (e.g., combinations of medications for neuropathic pain), or in a base that will simply allow absorption into the body. Often side effects associated with oral medications can be reduced or avoided  because we are bypassing the stomach and GI tract,

Our specialized compounding pharmacists work with you and your doctor to custom formulate a cream that is right for you and your pain. Contact one of our stores for more information.