Sore, stiff, and tired joints can make you feel old before your time. Joint pain is caused by several conditions, such as arthritis, sprains, and gout, so make sure you are following your doctor’s instructions. When you can’t move freely and painlessly, it’s difficult to enjoy life and do as you please. Relief is just a few tips away. Try an OTC pain reliever. If you have swelling and moderate to severe pain, you can use over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen. Milder cases of joint pain, or those without swelling, can be treated with acetaminophen. Some have found ongoing relief from the natural supplements glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin, taken together for best results. However, depending on your situation, your doctor may opt to prescribe a muscle relaxer, a Cox-2 inhibitor, or a stronger opioid for pain. Apply pain relief from a tube. Topical creams often provide soothing and / or cooling relief from joint pain. You’ll find plenty of ointments, creams, and balms at your local drugstore. Chat with the pharmacist to see what he or she recommends. One ingredient we’ve continually read good reviews on is capsaicin, found in cayenne pepper. It appears to stop the transmission of pain signals along the nerves.Go old school with your remedies. Try icing or heating the joint, wrapping it in an ACE bandage, or resting and elevating it. If you choose to rest it, don’t let it sit for too long, or you risk it becoming so stiff that it won’t move. Watch what you eat. While this may not apply to you, we have heard that eating dairy, wheat, and foods from the nightshade family (potatoes and eggplant) can worsen joint pain. If you suspect this might be true for you, keep a food diary and note when pain occurs. Eat more of vitamins C, D, and K, and up your intake of Omega-3 fatty acids. These foods relieve inflammation and help relieve pain. Move the right way. Often we hurt because we’re putting too much strain on a joint or using it incorrectly. Talk to your doctor or to a physical therapist about body mechanics and moving your joints properly. Straining the joints can lead to extreme pain and even cartilage damage or loss. Joints need to move to stay supple. If you have pain, you’re not moving them enough to keep them in good shape. These ideas will hopefully help you to lessen the pain so you can move your body and keep it limber.