The treatment of limb pain depends on the respective cause. Especially if there is a serious underlying disease, such as a polyneuropathy or a serious infection, the treatment absolutely belongs in the hands of a doctor. This prescribes in a neuritis, for example, anti-inflammatory drugs or prescribes a plexus blockade, in which the affected nerve is locally anesthetized.
Rest can relieve limb pain
However, if you are “just” suffering from a nagging cold or PMS, there are many ways you can actively contribute to your recovery. You probably won’t feel like exerting yourself physically because of the aches and pains – and that’s exactly what your body’s leaden extremities are designed to do: go easy on yourself, get some sleep, and let your immune system do some work.
Medications for aching limbs
The active ingredients acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and ibuprofen (inhibit the production of prostaglandins) have both analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, which are helpful when you have a cold. If you also have a fever, paracetamol is useful; it relieves pain and reduces fever. However, you should not take all three medications for more than three days at a time without a doctor’s prescription. If the symptoms do not improve during this time, you should consult your family doctor.
Home remedies for aching limbs
Depending on whether you feel more of a need for cold or warmth, you can do yourself good with baths, wraps or tea. A warm bath can work wonders for aching limbs, the warmth alone relieves the discomfort.
Optionally, you can add various additives to the bath water to enhance the effect. For example, boil 400 grams of birch leaves, 500 grams of nettle leaves or 500 grams of spruce needles for 10 minutes in two liters of water; strain the decoction (pour it through a sieve or cloth) and add it to the warm bath water. A bath time of 15 minutes is sufficient – the active ingredients of the medicinal plants improve blood circulation and thus relieve pain in the joints. You can get the ingredients in any pharmacy.
Chicken broth helps against pain in the limbs
Also, drink plenty of hot liquid. Try, for example, lime blossom, willow bark or ginger tea, which has an analgesic and antispasmodic effect. You can buy ready-made mixtures at a pharmacy or drugstore. Or buy 50 grams each of lime blossom, elderberry and willow bark. Mix the three plants and add 2 teaspoons to half a liter of boiling water. Let the mixture steep for 10 minutes, strain and drink the tea throughout the day.
Another well-known and proven home remedy for colds and aching limbs is also homemade chicken broth – if you don’t want to make it yourself, ask a good friend to do it: she will certainly do it and will receive a voucher for chicken soup from you if she ever gets sick.
Some people are also helped by a cold wrap for cold or flu-related aches and pains in their limbs; they don’t feel the need for warmth, but the feeling of burning up. Dip a towel in cold water at about 20 °C (this corresponds to the temperature of water from the tap), wring it out well and wrap it around the knee or calf, for example, depending on the discomfort. Over it comes a dry towel.
Wraps are best applied lying down and should stay in place for about 10 to 15 minutes. The cool wrap warms up and leads to better blood circulation, which relieves the pain.
Help from homeopathy
Homeopathy also knows remedies for aching limbs. For rheumatism and cold-related aching limbs, for example, Eupatorium perfoliatum, a homeopathic remedy made from waterhemp, helps. For gout, arthritis, rheumatism, and sciatica, Bryonia, a homeopathic made from bryony, can be soothing.
Rhus toxicodendron, a remedy made from various species of sumac, can help with aching limbs caused by influenza. Especially in chronic diseases, homeopathic treatment is also lengthy and should be done by a professional.
