Johnston Pain Management offers treatment options designed to prevent and contain joint pain in some of the following ways:
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), might relieve acute joint pain. Take these medications only as directed by your doctor.
Narcotics - Drugs containing opioids, such as oxycodone or hydrocodone, may be used for a short time with close supervision by your doctor.
Antidepressants - Low doses of certain types of antidepressants — particularly tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline — have been shown to relieve some types of joint back pain independent of their effect on depression.
Steroid injections - Your doctor might inject corticosteroid medications near the nerve roots, into the small facet joints in the bones of the cervical spine or into the muscles in your joint to help with pain. Numbing medications, such as lidocaine, also can be injected to relieve your joint pain and relieve pain for months.
