General Joint Pain

Joint pain can be the result of specific conditions, or it may only be caused by overuse, without a specific injury or ailment. Common conditions that cause joint pain include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Aside from these issues, joint pain can occur with no specific cause.

There are several reasons for joint pain that we’ll cover.

Old injuries can be the cause of a lot of pain and discomfort. If a joint was injured when you were younger, it can certainly be a source of pain over time, especially with aging. Tendons (connect muscles to bones) and ligaments (connect bone to bone) are also pain generators around joints as well. Old injuries to the joint and or surrounding tendons and ligaments have a tendency to make themselves heard again, despite healing many years ago.
Overuse - Let’s face it; everyone tends to overdo it every so often (some of us more than others…!) Pain and discomfort are normal “side effects” from too much activity - in the body as well as the joints. Strenuous bouts of exercise can create inflammation which in turn creates pain. While it’s a normal occurrence, it doesn’t mean that pain is something that should always be the result of activity.
Dehydration can lead to joint pain. The inside of joints contain cartilage, a sponge-like, shock-absorbing structure. Cartilage doesn’t have a direct blood supply, so it’s dependent on the joint fluid (synovial fluid) to hydrate and nourish it. In instances of dehydration, even bodily fluid compartments (such as those within the joints) may become dehydrated and unable to remove certain compounds that concentrate, and in turn irritate the cartilage - causing joint pain.
Muscle imbalances are responsible for a lot of joint pain! Of all the different muscles and tendons that attach to joints, if one group is stronger or spasmed, it can stress the joint and cause pain. This type of joint pain may start suddenly and quickly become intolerable. Getting evaluated by a knowledgeable physical therapist can help uncover any muscle imbalances.
Footwear - What is worn will influence not only the feet and ankles, but the knees, hips, pelvis and spine can all be affected by the type of footwear that’s worn during activity, and throughout the day. Be sure to invest in the proper activity-specific footwear and orthotics. It can take a few tries to get it right, but this is also a very common cause of joint pain.
Food sensitivities can cause pain and inflammation in the joints. "Seronegative" arthritis means that a person's blood tests came back negative for specific diagnostic markers for rheumatoid arthritis. In these instances, it's worthwhile to look for other causes of inflammatory joint pain, such as food sensitivities. You can test for food sensitivities at home using this simple test kit.

We don’t recommend taking ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) because they actually keep the joints from repairing themselves and have other potentially dangerous side effects as well.

Here are some of the best natural anti-inflammatory medicines, without the side effects of NSAIDs.

Joint formula provides added protection for the joints from its anti-inflammatory effects, and it provides glucosamine sulfate to promote cartilage regeneration. If you have any kind of joint problems going on, you should be taking Joint formula.
Omega-3 fats are great natural remedies for joint pain because of their ability to control inflammation without the side effects, and their numerous other positive benefits for the brain, heart and skin.
Curcumin is known as one of the most powerful natural anti-inflammatories. Derived from the herb Turmeric, we recommend that anyone dealing with joint pain of any kind use curcumin as part of their regimen.
Ligament Restore helps strengthen connective tissues including cartilage, tendons, and ligaments that have been damaged by injuries in the past.
Phytoprofen is great for the aches and pains of arthritis. It contains several natural pain relievers, and won't rot your gut and liver like ibuprofen and acetaminophen will.