Pain Relief Without Pills

Many athletes use over-the-counter topical pain relievers to treat muscle aches and pains. If you are suffering from muscle and lower back pain, even arthritis pain, there are pill-free options for you. Sometimes our "healthy lifestyle" of exercising and sports can cause us muscle strain and discomfort. Sore and achy muscles and joints may be caused by arthritis, backaches, sprains, strains and bruises. More than half of Americans live with chronic or recurrent pain, with large numbers saying it interferes with their activities, mood and enjoyment of life -- initiating a vast search for relief, from medication to bed rest, yoga or over the counter alternatives. Back and knee pain are most common forms of recurrent pain. Pain is much more frequent among older adults.

Question: What's the Best Pain Reliever for You? Answer:

• Pills
  • Prescription for example Fioricet, Tramadol, Ultram, Soma and Imitrex
  • Over the counter
    • NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin), naproxen sodium (Aleve), and ketoprofen (Orudis KT).
    • Acetaminophen (Tylenol and Panadol).

Topical pain medications

Question: What safe and effective topical ingredients help combat muscle aches and pains? Answer: Lidocaine - a local anesthetic, when applied to the skin produces pain relief by blocking the signals at the nerve endings in the skin. Glucosamine - is a compound found naturally in the body, made from glucose and the amino acid glutamine. Since the body's natural glucosamine is used to make and repair joint cartilage, taking glucosamine is thought to help repair damaged cartilage. Capsaicin - is an ingredient in many topical skin preparations used to used to relieve pain. Capsaicin works by decreasing a certain natural substance in your body (substance P) that helps pass pain signals to the brain. Question: Is there a Topical pain medication that has generated consumer confidence? Answer:

• Topical pain medications are those that are applied directly to the skin. They come in a variety of forms including creams, gels lotions and patches.