How do I relieve arthritis pain?

First-line pain relief includes paracetamol, topical NSAID gels and heat/cold packs. Exercise reduces pain more than most drugs long-term. If pain persists, your GP can consider oral NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections or, for inflammatory arthritis, DMARDs.

Last updated 2026-07-01. This is general information, not a substitute for personalised medical advice.