What medicine should I take for joint pain caused by using air conditioning?
Disease description:
I experience joint pain as soon as I turn on the air conditioner, especially in my knees and shoulders, and the pain can be quite uncomfortable. I usually also avoid staying in air-conditioned rooms for too long. I'm wondering what might be causing this? Are there any medications that can help relieve this type of joint pain triggered by using the air conditioner?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Joint pain caused by air conditioning is usually due to prolonged exposure to a low-temperature environment, which causes blood vessels around the muscles and joints to constrict, resulting in reduced blood circulation and subsequent pain. In such cases, joint pain is typically not caused by an underlying disease but rather by environmental factors.
In terms of treatment, adjusting the air conditioning temperature, avoiding direct exposure to cold airflow, and maintaining a suitable indoor temperature are necessary. Meanwhile, the following measures can help alleviate the pain:
1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These medications effectively reduce inflammatory responses in the joints and surrounding tissues, and relieve symptoms such as localized swelling and pain. Commonly used drugs include ibuprofen capsules and indomethacin capsules, which can inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, thereby exerting analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
2. Antibiotics: If joint pain is caused by infection due to bacterial invasion, antibiotics are necessary. For example, amoxicillin capsules and cefaclor capsules can help control infection and reduce pain.
3. Muscle relaxants: Joint pain caused by muscle tension or spasms may benefit from muscle relaxant medications such as eperisone hydrochloride tablets or tizanidine hydrochloride tablets.
4. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations: TCM formulations such as Liuwei Qufeng Capsules and Fengshi Goutong Tablets, which have functions of dispelling wind and dampness and reducing swelling and pain, can also be considered as adjunctive treatment options.
