Knee Pain

Knee pain can be a symptom of many different conditions. It can often be treated at home and you should start to feel better in a few days. If symptoms persist, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice.

Knee pain after an injury could be caused by a sprain. This could cause the injured area to become swollen or bruised. You may also experience muscle spasms or cramping. If you are unsure, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Knee pain with no obvious injury may be a sign of arthritis. This is more common in older people and symptoms can include pain, stiffness and mild swelling. If you think you have arthritis, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist. ⁴

Wrist Pain

There are many causes of wrist pain and usually symptoms can be eased at home. If the pain doesn’t improve or you have any concerns, ask your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice.

Wrist pain may be caused by a sprain. The symptoms of a sprained wrist include pain, swelling, bruising and difficulty moving the joint. You may also find it hard to grip anything using the effected hand. Sprains can usually be treated by resting the joint, applying an ice pack for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours, wrapping a bandage around the injury to add support, or keeping the joint elevated. A pharmacist can help you decide on the best treatment. This may include pain killers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. ²

Hip Pain

Hip pain can sometimes be caused by arthritis. Symptoms include pain that radiates down the inside of the leg, occasional knee pain, ‘locking’ feeling of the hip joint, difficulty walking and more.

Rheumatoid arthritis often affects both hip joints at the same time, but it can also involve singular joints. If you think you have arthritis, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice. Your doctor might advise you to start physical therapy to help improve your range of motion. They may also recommend medication or treatments such as heat and ice therapy. ⁵

Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can sometimes be eased at home by staying active and gently moving your shoulder, resting your arm on a cushion, and using pain relief like paracetamol and ibuprofen. Shoulder pain usually gets better after 2 weeks. If you have shoulder pain, you may wish to speak to your doctor or pharmacist who can give you medical advice.

Shoulder pain is sometimes caused by arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. Patients with Rheumatoid arthritis usually experience ‘flare-ups’ where symptoms become worse for a period of time. ³

Back Pain

Back pain is very common and usually improves within a few weeks or sometimes months. If you are suffering from back pain, you may wish to speak to a doctor or pharmacist you can give you medical advice.

The NHS recommend staying ‘as active as possible to try and continue your daily activities.. as resting for long periods if likely to make pain worse’. A pharmacist might recommend you take anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen. Remember to check the medicine is safe for you to use.

If you are worried about back pain and struggling to cope, or the pain stops you from doing your day-to-day activities, you should see your GP. ⁶

Foot and Ankle Pain

Ankle pain is often caused by exercising too much or wearing uncomfortable shoes – especially if they are too tight. If you are worried about your ankle pain, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist who can give you medical advice. You should also talk to your GP if you are experiencing ankle pain and have diabetes. Foot problems can sometimes be more serious if you have diabetes.

Your ankle pain may be caused by a sprained ankle if the pain started after intense or repetitive exercise. Symptoms of a sprained ankle include pain, swelling and bruising. ⁷