Joint pain relief as well as its treatment options varies as per the cause of the joint pain. Since joint ache is an outcome of an underlying condition, thus treating that condition will be able to offer long-term relief.

At present there is no known cure for conditions such as Osteoarthritis as well as Rheumatoid Arthritis. Hence any kind of medical treatment for these conditions is basically aimed at reducing joint ache, improving joint mobility as well as quality of life. Besides, the treatment is aimed at restricting functional impairment, while limiting any toxic side effects of the therapy. But most of the drug treatments are aimed at relief of symptoms. They do not actually offer a cure.

The commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are meant to produce prompt joint pain relief and are considered relatively quite safe.

The COX-2 inhibitors are a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs which have the ability to selectively block the COX-2 enzyme. This prevents the production of chemical messengers which are responsible for the pain as well as swelling in case of arthritis. For joint pain relief, steroids may be required occasionally. These can be either taken orally in low doses, or even injected into the affected joint. They are basically prescribed for rapid relief of joint ache, swelling as well as inflammation around the affected joints.

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate are the natural supplements for joint ache which are used in patients with osteoarthritis. These are dietary supplements which tend to ease symptoms in people suffering from moderate to severe joint pain. Not only this, these substances can also help in restoring cartilage. As compared to the commonly prescribed NSAIDs, these natural supplements are not associated with any kind of side effects. But any kind of drug treatment should always be monitored by a physician and has to be tailored in accordance to individual needs.