Pain Relief Blog
Pain Relief: How To Find a Solution
Pain often brings discomfort, affecting how you feel. It’s also linked to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. The severity of pain you experience also reflects your general health.
Acute pain usually occurs suddenly, within days or even weeks, and goes away in a few weeks. However, chronic pain remains consistent.
Pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is chronic if it persists for more than three months.
Pain relief methods include prescriptions, home-based treatments, invasive procedures such as surgery, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and others.
The experience of pain varies from one individual to another. And you may need to see a doctor about treating the problem behind your chronic pain.
Types of Pain You Need To Know
Pain can either be neuropathic or nociceptive.
The response of your nervous system to protect your body results in nociceptive pain. It can occur after a muscular sprain, forcing you to rest and take time to heal. The same kind of pain can make you withdraw your hands from a hot baking pan to prevent burns.
The causes of neuropathic pain remain unknown. It can occur due to misread signals between your brain and the spinal cord or your nerves. Nerve damage can also cause pain. The brain is wired to interpret faulty nerve signals as pain.
Neuropathic pain includes:
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Postherpetic neuralgia
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Your doctor needs to determine the cause of the pain in your body to offer effective pain relief.
Signs You Need to Visit a Doctor for Pain Relief
You should see a doctor if your pain:
- Stops you from sleeping or relaxing
- Persists for two to three weeks
- Prevents you from taking part in everyday activities or exercising
- Causes you anxiety, stress, or even depression
- Does not go away after trying a few treatments
Most treatments may offer you relief from pain and its physical and emotional effects.
How To Find a Solution for Pain Relief
Buy OTC Medications
You don’t need a doctor’s prescription to buy over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). NSAIDs block COX-1 and 2 to relieve pain due to inflammation.
Ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen (Aleve) are some common NSAIDs you can buy for pain relief from:
- Arthritis
- Backache
- Menstrual pain
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Minor injuries such as sprains
Follow dosage recommendations on the drug package to prevent overdose and side effects of using the medication. These may include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Kidney injury
- Ulcers of the stomach
Get Prescription Medication
You need a doctor’s prescription to get stronger pain relievers such as diclofenac NSAIDs. Celecoxib (Celebrex), a selective inhibitor of COX-2, is a prescription medication for treating pain due to inflammation.
Oxycodone and hydrocodone, stronger opioid medications associated with the illicit opium drug, treat pain due to a serious injury or surgery. The drugs have a euphoric effect for pain relief.
Opioids, however, can prove addictive. They give a pleasurable feeling that some people may want to experience all the time. This results in drug tolerance and the need for an increased dosage to attain similar effects.
Take caution when using prescription drugs with addictive effects.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids suppress the immune system to reduce its inflammatory response and offer pain relief. Steroid prescriptions treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis due to inflammation. Some medications of this kind include:
- Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
- Hydrocortisone (Cortef)
- Prednisone (Deltasone)
- Prednisolone (Prelone)
The side effects of steroid medications include:
- Sleeping difficulties
- Weight gain
- High blood sugar
- Osteoporosis
- Fluid retention
- Higher risk for infections
- Mood changes
Take low corticosteroid drug dosages within the shortest time possible to prevent its side effects.
Opioids
While opioids may be effective, they can be addictive. If misused, the drugs can cause an overdose, serious side effects, or even death. Side effects include:
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Impaired judgment
- Drowsiness
- Low birth weight, loss of pregnancy, or babies with withdrawal or dependency symptoms
- Substance use disorder
- Constipation
- Increased for infections
Some common opioid products include:
- Fentanyl (Duragesic)
- Buprenorphine (Butrans, Buprenex)
- Oxycodone (OxyContin)
- Tramadol (Ultram)
- Hydromorphone (Exalgo ER)
Only use these meds as prescribed by a licensed medical professional for limited durations only and with great care!
Treat Depression With Antidepressants
Antidepressants treat depression and offer relief from chronic pain due to nerve damage, migraine, or other conditions. They act on neurotransmitters and increase chemical activity in your spinal cord or brain.
Some antidepressant prescriptions for pain include:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as paroxetine and fluoxetine, tricyclic antidepressants such as nortriptyline and imipramine, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as venlafaxine and duloxetine.
The side effects of antidepressants include
- Dry mouth
- Sleeping difficulty
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Nausea
Treat Seizures With Anticonvulsants
Anti-seizure drugs can offer relief from nerve pain. Shingles, diabetes, over-sensitized nerves like fibromyalgia, and other conditions that damage nerves can send excess signals due to an overreaction.
They block unusual pain signals passing between the brain and the spinal cord or damaged nerves. Some effects of using the drugs may include:
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide
Other Pain Relief Approaches
Other solutions for pain relief include Cannabidiol (CBD), cold and heat compress (for minor pain), exercise (improves physical function and eases pain), and physical therapy. The therapeutic power of music, yoga, and therapeutic massage also offers relief from pain.
Chronic pain is a common health problem. Interventions such as exercise and yoga can ease pain and improve your quality of life without the side effects of using medication.
Safe Chronic Pain Relief With DCcure
DCcure offers a clinically proven, safe, non-invasive solution for chronic pain without adverse side effects. It should be applied as directed in its instructional literature and always consult a licensed medical professional regarding any health concerns.
While DCcure can be used by most people 18 years of age and older, it should not be used by persons who have an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator, are pregnant, being treated for any form of cancer, to mask or relieve undiagnosed pain.
Activate your body’s natural healing powers with DCcure – Order yours today!
Important: This content should not be used to interpret or diagnosis any symptoms or conditions that may be experienced. It is recommended that you see a licensed medical professional if you believe these, or any other symptoms or conditions exist. DCcure is intended to relieve pain associated with muscle strains, pulls, tears, tension, spasms, and overuse; repetitive motion injuries; poor posture; prolonged sitting and weak core muscles and should not be applied when other disease states or conditions exist.