Anything that interferes with life is a symptom, and pain is a symptom that is difficult to ignore. Many use NSAIDs for pain management because it is difficult to function in daily life if you are experiencing pain.

Homeopathy can help with pain, but finding the correct remedy is challenging. One must consider the sensations and location of the pain and the modalities (what makes it worse or better). It’s not as simple as taking ibuprofen to stop the pain. There is a little work involved, and it is difficult to consider all these factors when you are in pain. However, homeopathy does work well if the correct remedy is selected.

Below is a short guide to some remedies that can help acutely with acute joint pain. (Pain that is associated with an illness or injury).

Rhus tox 30c
Rhus tox 30c is the first remedy to consider for joint pain. It is known as the creaky gate remedy because someone who needs this remedy experiences pain worse with the first motion but better with continued motion.

• Keynotes
• Better from WARM applications
• Better from CONTINUED motion.
• Worse rising in the morning (stiffness and pain)
• Worse long sitting

According to Morrison (1998), with Rhus tox 30c, joint pain worsens at night in bed, in damp and cold weather, or worse before storms.

Bryonia 30c
If the pain is worse from any motion but does not improve with continuous motion, consider Bryonia 30c. Other indications for Bryonia include pain aggravated by the cold and better from heat.

Keynotes

• Worse from slight motion

Ruta 30c
Ruta 30c has an affinity for connective tissues. Someone who needs Ruta may feel extreme stiffness in the muscles and tendons (Morison, 1998)

Keynotes

• Weakness and stiffness prevent raising from a chair (Morrison, 1998)
• Injury to tendons
• Bruised or sore pain with stiffness

Arnica 30c
Arnica is a great remedy for pain associated with damage to soft tissue. Many think of Arnica for any pain, but it is not the first remedy to consider for joint pain. Arnica may be helpful if someone has a bruised or sore feeling or swelling after an injury.

Keynotes

• Bruised Sensation
• Everything feels too hard
• “Sends the doctor away” (Morrison, 1998)

Degenerative Arthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis
These are chronic conditions requiring a consultation with a homeopath. Before consulting with a homeopath, observe and record sensations and modalities associated with the pain. These observations will help a homeopath match your symptoms to a remedy.

Concomitants
What other symptoms do you experience with the main complaint? (Example: knee pain with neck pain).

Location
Where is the pain; be specific.
If it is back pain, what region of the back?
If it is joint pain, is one side worse than the other? Does the pain travel? If yes, in what direction?

Aetiology
When did it start? Was there an injury or emotional trauma that happened around the same time? Make a quick timeline and write the dates; it may be helpful to the homeopath.

Modalities
What makes the pain worse or better?
Do warm or cold applications alleviate the pain?
Is the pain worse at any time of the day?
(Morning, night, when you wake up, when you lie down in bed, etc.).
Is the pain worse going up an incline or stairs?
If it is joint pain, does the weather affect it?

Sensations
What does it feel like? Examples of sensations are burning, aching, shooting, cramping, etc. Fill in the blank, it feels like _ .

A homeopath will obtain this information during a consultation, but it is good to know what observations to record beforehand. Most people are not accustomed to being asked what the pain feels like and may be surprised by the question. Someone may truly be unaware of what aggravates or alleviates the pain. That information is not needed for most other type of pain management, but it is valuable information for a homeopath.

I don’t recommend using homeopathic remedies for chronic issues without consulting with a homeopath. If you want to get to the root cause of the pain and help your body heal, homeopathy is an excellent choice. However, the totality of the symptoms, (the whole picture), must be considered for each individual case. Always defer to your doctor when making medical decisions.

If you are experiencing chronic pain, consider a chronic care consultation with me today.

Reference
Morrison, R. (1998). Desktop Companion To Physical Pathology. Hahnemann Clinic Publishing.