Ideas for pain management

Icy hot and tiger balm work for my knees. There are some braces that might help.

I have chronic pain too. Today my neck/shoulder is so bad I can't move my head. I like the elliptical because it is a lot easier on my joints. Swimming and water aerobics are amazing too. I was the only lady in the class under 50, but it was a lot of fun. Stretching and yoga are always good, regular massages help me cope when I can afford them. I like herbal teas too, you can find some in the ethnic section/ethnic markets sometimes like Tila or Passiflora which relax your mind and muscles without making you drowsy. I make sure to get plenty of potassium so my muscles don't cramp, and I take baths with baking soda and lots of epsom salts. The magnesium is also good for aches and muscle pain.

Also, losing weight really did help my pain, when I was skinny my feet were much better. I had to focus on diet for months until I was light enough to do regular exercise. I just increased a little bit steadily and eventually I could run on an elliptical for an hour, no problem. Just be patient with yourself and do your best. You will get there, don't worry.

I hope it helps!

I would suggest swimming would be great. I swim after my gym workout as I find it easier to stretch out in the pool and it gives me a cardio workout. If possible visit the stream room if there is one at your pool and stretch in there too.

BIOFREEZE is awesome

^^^This!

For your joints....Glucosamine

For workouts, lower your impact exercise

Also, you should not take Aleive more than twice a day

I was actually just thinking that swimming would be a good form of exercise for now because it would keep the weight off my feet. Id have to check into gym memberships for that and go in the am after I take my lil one to school.

If you are looking at options, deep water aerobics was designed to help runners recover from knee injuries. I always thought it felt like getting a massage with my workout.

I agree with compression socks and supportive shoes. I stand on my feet all day being a hairstylist/colorist. I think this is the only reason I don't have horribly vericose veins in my legs and that my feet aren't killing me.

MSM helps with joint pain. the emergen-c with msm packets added to water are good

I have chronic pain in my lower back after multiple surgeries. Yes, I do have my muscle relaxers/pain killers but I am working on losing weight to MINIMIZE the use. Currently, after losing 15 lbs it has helped in pain being less but I also have been using Sore No More from Vitamin Cottage. But stretching my lower back, hips also helps after working out. I also use the electric blanket to keep my muscles warm during the night.

Skipping the other responses because I'm in a rush, but take a look at the studies linking vitamin D deficiencies to a whole host of pains -- so much that it's sometimes been diagnosed as fibromyalgia. I have severe back pain due to an injury, and while physical therapy, yoga and anti-inflammatories got me to a certain point, I still hurt too much. Then one of my med team showed me some of the studies, and I started taking 5-8K a day. I still hurt, but I hurt less. I'm not saying it's a magic cure, but every little bit helps -- might be worth a try!

The answer to this question is the same for 99% of people. Drink more water.

NSAIDs will help with inflammation, fish oil will help with joint paint, BCAAs will help with muscle soreness.

I had back surgery 3 years ago and have dealt with a lot of pain before and after from nerve damage. Some things that helped me:

Magnesium. I'm not recommending taking supplements without checking with a doctor but it DOES absorb through the skin. Epsom salt baths are the easiest way to do that. Also you can buy magnesium "oil" which is magnesium chloride and has helped a lot with muscle spasms.

Getting more potassium in your diet.

I get fewer muscle spasms when I avoid or at least reduce caffeine. That may have more to do with nerve damage issues but it's interesting.

Ice and heat alternated (ice pack then heating pad) - or a shower where I switch the temperature from cold to hot repeatedly.

Icy Hot or Ben-Gay or any of those topical creams are helpful.

Just started foam rolling last night and was amazed at how much better I slept. I think I'm gonna love it over time but I just started it. Lots of people on here recommend it, from what I've seen. A tennis ball or lacrosse ball works too for smaller areas, been doing that awhile.

Good shoes that address the way your feet strike the ground. Or, orthotics. There is a thing at Walmart by Dr. Scholl's where you stand on it and it evaluates your feet and recommends an insole. They're about $50. My husband recently got some for flat feet and has been wearing them to work. He has a very active job with a lot of standing/walking, lifting and bending and swears his knee and back pain are 80% better since getting them.

Adequate sleep.

And, as mentioned already, lots of water.

High fructose corn syrup makes my joint pain much worse. I cut it out for a while, then think "what could it hurt", eat or drink something (like soda) and the next couple of days tell me exactly what it could hurt.
Sounds like you are working on the right things... hope you find just the right combination for you!

I recently started drinking tart cherry juice and have notice a huge improvement. Read labels and get the kind that is 100% tart cherry there are some with apple, very few stores carry it so shop around.