4 Topical Treatments For Arthritis Pain

You may take pain medication for arthritis, but you need to address break-through pain, or you simply want to avoid systemic medications. Topical treatments are excellent for spot-treating a few arthritic joints.

CBD Cream

CBD products are popular because some people find they help various ailments due to the relaxing and anti-inflammatory properties. Since CBD is available in topical form, it is ideal for reducing pain in a single area. Another way CBD creams are used is in conjunction with other CBD products. Some people use tinctures or vaping as a way to knock back most of their arthritic pain quickly and simply apply the cream between systemic doses. As with other CBD products, creams come in various strengths, so you should try the highest concentration available. For example, you could use 3500mg of CBD cream.

Capsaicin

Capsaicin is what makes peppers spicy, so it seems like it would be counterproductive to use for arthritis. The advantage of capsaicin is the warmth it provides. Much like other creams on the market that provide both heat and cold when applied, capsaicin provides the heat aspect. Heat therapy in any form is usually soothing for arthritis, whereas cold temperatures can make the joint ache. You must be careful using capsaicin cream because using the product in large quantities or too often can start to irritate the skin. Ideally, you will alternate capsaicin with other topical treatments and not use the product on irritated or broken skin.

NSAIDs

Oral NSAIDs are commonly used in arthritis, but there can be significant risks associated with their use. One of the main concerns is gastrointestinal upset or in extreme cases, bleeding. Long-term use of high doses may also affect the kidneys. Recently, Voltaren gel was approved in an OTC version. This gel is a popular prescription NSAID, diclofenac, but in a topical form. Using a topical NSAID can reduce some of the risks associated with these medications while gaining the benefits. NSAIDs are widely regarded as the most accessible anti-inflammatory medications, so using them in topical form should provide significant relief from arthritis.

Lidocaine

Lidocaine is not used for any anti-inflammatory effects, but it has the capacity to temporarily numb the area. The effects of lidocaine can depend on the specific joint where it is used. For example, using lidocaine on fingers might be more effective since these joints are closer to the skin's surface. Since lidocaine works differently than other topical or oral medications, it is useful to use in combination with anti-inflammatory treatments. This treatment should be used with care since frequent use can make you feel itchy.

Tackling arthritis pain often requires using multiple approaches. Integrating topical treatments into your pain management strategy can help you target pain at the source.