How to Treat Musculoskeletal Pain Without Surgery

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methods

1Relieving Pain Naturally

2Using Home Treatments

3Using Medical Treatments

4Understanding Muscle Pain

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There are times when you may have musculoskeletal pain, which is pain to the muscles, nerves, joints, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues, to the point where it hurts to move. There may also be times when the aching and soreness become so severe that you have to limit what you can do or what you want to do. There are many causes of this kind of pain, but if you are experiencing muscle pain more often than not, there are ways to relieve your musculoskeletal pain.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Relieving Pain Naturally

1. 
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   Take it easy. When you first notice any musculoskeletal pain, you should take it easy and rest your sore muscles. This means abstaining from exercise, strenuous activity, or any other activity that will overwork your muscles.

   • Make sure you take a few days off from this kind of activity, only starting it again once the pain in your muscles has stopped.
   • This doesn't mean you can't walk or do light work, since moving the sore muscles a little bit may actually help.
2. 
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   Try ice for acute injuries. When your muscle pain first starts, you can put ice on the area to help reduce the pain. Ice packs help reduce inflammation and any possible swelling to the muscles. This method is generally recommended for acute injuries.

   • Make an icepack by putting ice in a bag or towel and holding it against the aching muscle. Make sure you don't put the ice directly against your skin because it can cause damage to your skin. Also ensure you only keep it on for about 15 to 20 minutes.
   • You can also use a bag of frozen vegetables or fruit if you don't have any ice.
   • Ice may make muscle spasms or cramps worse, so if you experience them, make sure you stop using ice then.
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3. 
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   Use heat for chronic pain. If your muscles have been hurting for a few days, you might want to try heat to alleviate the pain. This method is helpful for chronic pain and should only be used on musculoskeletal pain about 24 to 48 hours after the pain starts.

   • You can apply heat by soaking a rag in almost boiling water, using a heating pad, or buying self-heating patches.
   • Make sure you don't keep the heat on your muscles for too long. It can cause burning or irritation to your skin.
   • If your muscles or joints are swollen, the heat may make the inflammation worse. Keep in mind that heat can make inflammation feel worse and cold can make muscle spasms or cramps worse.
   • You can also alternate between cold and heat packs. However, if the heat makes it worse, stick to ice packs.
4. 
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   Go to the chiropractor. If you get approval from your main doctor, you may find it helpful to go see a chiropractor. Your chiropractor will make adjustments to the bones and joints all over your body to help relieve your musculoskeletal pain. Your doctor will let you know if this is a viable option for you.

   • There have been recent studies that indicate the usefulness for chiropractic methods for these conditions.
   • Your doctor may also recommend physical therapy, therapeutic massage, or specific exercises or stretches to relieve pain and improve mobility in the affected areas.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Home Treatments

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   Make Epsom salt baths. If your muscles are hurting all over, you can use an Epsom salt bath to help relieve your pain. These baths help because the minerals in the Epsom salt, such as magnesium, are absorbed through the skin while soaking. Magnesium is extremely instrumental in the health of muscles. To make this bath, add 1 to 2 cups (240-480 g) of Epsom salts to a tub of very warm or comfortably hot bath water.

   • If you have pain in a large or non-soakable area, you can make a bath with Epsom salt. Soak your skin as long as you want.
2. 
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   Use essential oils. You can also add various essential oils to the mix to help the muscle pain. You can add these to Epsom salt baths or into massage oils. These can be used to soak your muscles. Add 8 to 10 drops directly to your bath water. You can also add 12 to 15 drops of essential oils to a 2  fl oz (59 mL) coconut or almond oil base, then massage the mixture into your muscles. You can use them 3 to 4 times a day. These oils include:

   • Lavender
   • Bergamot
   • Peppermint
   • Marjoram
   • Ginger
   • Pine
   • Eucalyptus
3. 
   3
   Try over-the-counter topical treatments. There are some over-the-counter topical treatments that contain natural ingredients or herbs that can help with musculoskeletal pain. These will help reduce pain and other pain-related symptoms upon application to the skin. These products include:

   • Those with capsaisin, derived from the chili pepper, which helps reduce the amount pain neurotransmitters and can help muscles and joints. Either of the 2 concentrations, 0.025% and 0.075%, can be used 3 to 4 times a day.
   • Those with Arnica montana, a plant used for centuries to relieve pain, which can be used topically 3 to 4 times a day but not on broken skin.
   • Those with menthol, camphor, and combinations of other herbs, which act as anti-inflammatory agents and possible pain relief, dependent on the cause of your pain.
4. 
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   Take anti-inflammatory and pain-relief supplements. There are some supplements that may be helpful for pain relief that will also help with inflammation. You should always follow manufacturer's instructions when taking supplements. Always tell your doctor when you start taking supplements. These supplements include:

   • Bromelain
   • White willow bark
   • Wobenzym, which is a combination of anti-inflammatory enzymes that should be taken between meals
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Medical Treatments

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   See your doctor for severe or persistent pain. A little musculoskeletal pain now and then is usually nothing to worry about, especially if you’ve recently been exerting yourself. However, in some situations it’s best to see a doctor to find out what’s causing the problem. Call your doctor if:

   • Your pain lasts for more than 3 days.
   • Your pain is severe and you don’t know what might be causing it.
   • The pain is in an area where you have poor circulation or restricted blood flow.
   • You see signs of an infection in the affected area, such as redness, swelling, tenderness, or warmth.
   • You’ve been bitten by a tick or you have a bug bite with a rash around it.
   • The pain started when you began taking a new medication or adjusted your dose.
2. 2
   Get emergency care for pain with shortness of breath or other severe symptoms. Musculoskeletal pain along with certain other symptoms can indicate a serious medical problem. Go to the emergency room or call emergency services if you have severe muscle or joint pain along with:

   • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
   • Muscle weakness or an inability to move part of your body
   • Vomiting
   • A high fever
   • A stiff neck
   • Sudden weight gain, swelling, or infrequent urination
   • Sudden swelling, obvious deformity, or intense pain in a joint
3. 
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   Ask your doctor about using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). You can use NSAIDs and other over-the-counter pain killers to manage many types of musculoskeletal pain. Ask your doctor if you can safely take NSAIDs, and let them know if you have any other medical conditions or are currently taking other medications or supplements.

   • These medications include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and aspirin.
   • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can relieve pain, but it doesn’t have anti-inflammatory properties.
   • Your doctor may recommend that you avoid using NSAIDs if you have certain health conditions, such as pregnancy, a bleeding disorder, or heart disease.
4. 
   4
   Take prescription medication if your doctor recommends it. If you have more serious musculoskeletal pain, your doctor may prescribe you stronger pain relief medications. These may include:

   • Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
   • Opioids, such as morphine, fentanyl, and oxycodone
   • Antidepressants, including SSRIs, such as citalopram (Celexa) or fluoxetine (Prozac), or SNRIs, such as venlafaxine (Effexor) or duloxetine (Cymbalta)
   • Anticonvulsants, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), gabapentin (Neurontin), and pregabalin (Lyrica)
   • Muscle relaxants, such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) or Carisoprodol (Soma)
   • Injections of anti-inflammatory medications or pain relievers in the affected area
5. 5
   Talk to your doctor before trying natural remedies. Natural treatments such as dietary supplements, herbs, and essential oils may be helpful in relieving musculoskeletal pain. However, some of these treatments can interact or interfere with other medications or supplements, or cause side effects or allergic reactions. Before trying any supplement or natural treatment, talk to your doctor about whether it’s safe and healthy for you.

   • Let your doctor know if you have any health conditions or are currently using any other medications or supplements.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Understanding Muscle Pain

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   Learn about musculoskeletal pain. Musculoskeletal pain can sometimes be called myalgia or myopathic pain. This pain often involves more than one muscle and also typically involve tendons, joints, ligaments, and other muscle tissues, such as fascia. However, it may just feel like an overall muscle ache, since all of these tissues are interlinked.

   • Ligaments are the tough tissues that connect bone to bone and bone to cartilage.
   • Tendons are the tissues that attach muscles to bones or to organs, such as the eye.
   • Fascia are the almost transparent, very thin tissues that cover muscles or organs.
2. 
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   Recognize the causes of muscle pain. There are many causes of muscle pain. There are some causes that are common and frequently occurring, such as tension, over-stretching, overuse, or injury. However, muscle pain may also be a symptom of some infections, such as the flu or other medical issues, including systemic disorders such as thyroid disease, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

   • Muscle pain may also be a reaction to prescription medications, such as statins that help lower cholesterol.
   • It can also be caused by imbalances in the minerals in your tissues and blood.
3. 3
   Look out for the common symptoms of musculoskeletal pain. The type and location of the pain you experience will depend on factors like the cause of your pain, whether your condition is acute (temporary) or chronic, and your individual body. In addition to aches and stiffness in all or part of your body, you might also experience:

   • Pain that gets worse when you move
   • A burning sensation in your muscles
   • Fatigue
   • Difficulty sleeping
   • Muscle spasms or twitches
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