Differentiating Some Types of Medication Used in the Treatment and Relief of Pain

Medical Treatment Techniques through the use of medication is not a cure for your pain,but can often be a very important component in the treatment process and is often used in conjunction with other techniques to aid in pain relief. Examples of some of other techniques these may include examples such as occupational therapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, physiotherapy, counseling (to learn relaxation techniques), and a host of several other possibilities. rnIf after consultation with a medical practitioner, a decision is made that part of the treatment process plan for your pain relief includes the use of medication, there are many types that are available. It should be noted that medical treatment techniques through the use of medication is not a cure for your pain, but can often be a very important component for helping to control the pain you are experiencing. What type of medication your doctor recommends will depend upon a number of factors such as you’re medical history, your families medical history, age, the frequency and degree of pain you are suffering from, your pain tolerance, degree of side effects of medication, in addition to many other factors your doctor will look at prior to making this decision. Medicinal treatment can be also be divided up into categories which include Non – Prescription Medications and Prescription Medications. Non – Prescription Medications allow medications to be bought over the counter. Examples include medication like Tylenol which contains acetaminophen, ASA (examples like Aspirin, Entrophen and Novasen), and ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil). ASA is used to relieve pain, fever, and inflammation for various conditions including lower back and neck pain, burns, menstrual pain, toothaches, headaches, and migraines, Tylenol can help provide relief from headaches and minor pain but does not reduce swelling. Ibuprofen is often used for relieve of inflammatory conditions including tendonitis, bursitis, and arthritis. Pain relief medications that operate through controlling symptoms are often Prescription Medications including anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS which stand for Non- Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) and Painkillers (analgesics). There are some NSAIDS that do not require a prescription like mentioned previously (ASA and ibuprofen). However other NSAIDS for pain relief require a prescription like Ultradol, Voltaren, Imitrex (used for migraine headaches), and Celebrex (Celecoxib). The latter is used for acute pain relief, such as for pain following a procedure or straining a muscle, stiffness, swelling and for the treatment of different types of arthritis symptoms. Celebrex is considered somewhat safer on the stomach compared with some of the other NSAIDS. If the pain the patient is experiencing is not cause by inflammation then use of NSAIDS are not going to be effective for pain relief. The other alternative physicians often turn to are the use of Painkillers used for specific conditions. There are many choices out there. Ultram (Tramadol) is an opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain that is chronic. It has a wide range of applications including treatment for Fibromyalgia and Restless Legs Syndrome. Individuals who recently have had tattoos sometimes are prescribed a cream like Tattoo Numb which contains the active ingredient pain killer Lidocaine in it. Codeine is used for a wide range of conditions like dental pain (arising from toothaches and gums), back pain, severe headaches and pain associated after surgery. Soma (Carisoprodol) another type of painkiller is used for pain relief where individuals have painful musculoskeletal conditions that occur in people who are experiencing severe back pain. Another example of a prescription type of drug is Sumatriptan which helps to relieve headaches, pain and other symptoms of migraines. Although it is very effective in relieving migraine headaches, it does not prevent or reduce the number of headaches. In summary, there are numerous people in pain who seek pain relief guidance from medical professionals for medical conditions that they are experiencing. There are many medicinal options available. Since everyone responds differently to different types of medicinal treatment, your doctor will take into consideration number of variables before deciding on what medication(s) will have the best chance of reducing the pain symptoms you are experiencing. It is often a trial and error process (under the guidance of a health professional), that has to occur before the goal of pain relief is achieved. Nevertheless the utilization of medication can play a very important role in controlling and reducing pain and because there are so many different mediation options available, that you shouldn’t have to go through will strategies to take in order to gain some control over your pain. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease and should not be considered as a substitute for medical advice from your primary care physician.