Everything You Need to Know About Pain Relief Basics

An ice pack or hot compress is an easy way to relieve minor pain. The question is: Which one should you use? Cold therapy narrows blood vessels. This reduces ... HealthlineHealthConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectShopSubscribePainReliefBasicsMedicallyreviewedbyEloiseTheisen,RN,MSN,AGPCNP-BC—WrittenbyRachelNall,MSN,CRNA—UpdatedonJune4,2021PaintypesSignsandsymptomsOTCdrugsPrescriptiondrugsCorticosteroidsOpioidsAntidepressantsAnticonvulsantsCBDColdandheatExercisePhysicaltherapyYogaMusicTherapeuticmassageOutlookPainandpainmanagementPainismorethanjustafeelingofdiscomfort.Itcanaffectthewayyoufeeloverall.Itmayalsoleadtomentalhealthconditions,likedepressionandanxiety.Theamountofpainyouexperiencecantellyourdoctoralotaboutyouroverallhealth.Acutepainhappenssuddenly,usuallyinamatterofdaysorweeks.Ittendstoresolvewithinafewweeks.Chronicpainisongoing.AccordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC),painisconsideredtobechronicwhenitlastsbeyond3months.Pain-reliefmethodsrangefromat-hometreatmentsandprescriptionstoover-the-counter(OTC)medicationsandinvasiveprocedures,likesurgery.Painreliefdoesn’tusuallyhappenovernight,butitcan.Eachperson’spainexperienceisuniquetothem.Totreatthesourceofchronicpain,youmayneedtovisityourdoctor.Usethiseasyscaletohelpyoudescribeyourpainsoyoucangetthereliefyouneed.Whattypesofpainexist?Therearetwomaintypesofpain:nociceptiveandneuropathic.Nociceptivepainisanervoussystemresponsethathelpsprotectyourbody.Itmakesyoupullyourhandbackfromahotstove,soyoudon’tgetburned.Painfromasprainedankleforcesyoutorestandgivetheinjurytimetoheal.Neuropathicpainisdifferent,becauseithasnoknownbenefits.Itmaybearesultofmisreadsignalsbetweenyournervesandbrainorspinalcord.Oritcouldbebecauseofnervedamage.Yourbraininterpretsfaultysignalsfromthenervesaspain.Examplesofneuropathicpaininclude:postherpeticneuralgiadiabeticneuropathycarpaltunnelsyndromeTogeteffectivepainrelief,youfirstneedtofindthesourceofthepain.Learnwhatcausesthemostcommontypeofpain.Whataresignsyouneedtoseeadoctorforpain?Makeanappointmentwithyourdoctorifyourpain:hasn’tgoneawayafter2–3weeksiscausingyoustress,anxiety,ordepressionpreventsyoufromrelaxingorsleepingstopsyoufromexercisingorparticipatinginyournormalactivitieshasn’timprovedwithanyofthetreatmentsyou’vetriedLivingwithchronicpaincanbeemotionallyandphysicallychallenging.Manytypesoftreatmentscanhelpyoufindrelief.OTCmedicationsOTCpainrelievers,likeacetaminophen(Tylenol)andnonsteroidalanti-inflammatorydrugs(NSAIDs),areavailabletobuywithoutadoctor’sprescription.NSAIDsblocksubstancescalledCOX-1andCOX-2.Theyrelievepainrelatedtoinflammation.Thesedrugsarehelpfulforconditions,like:headachebackachemuscleachesarthritismenstrualpainsprainsandotherminorinjuriesCommonNSAIDsinclude:aspirinibuprofen(Advil,Motrin)naproxen(Aleve)Takeonlytheamountofpainrelieverrecommendedonthepackage.Usingtoomuchofthesedrugscanincreaseyourchanceforsideeffects.Sideeffectscaninclude:kidneyinjuryexcessivebleedingstomachulcersLearnmoreaboutNSAIDs,theirsideeffects,andhowtheywork.PrescriptiondrugsYoucan’tbuysomestrongerpainrelieversOTC.CertainNSAIDs,suchasdiclofenac(Voltaren),areonlyavailablewithaprescriptionfromyourdoctor.TheselectiveCOX-2inhibitor,celecoxib(Celebrex),isalsoeffectivefortreatinginflammation-relatedpain.It’savailableonlywithadoctor’sprescription.Strongeropioiddrugs,likehydrocodoneandoxycodone,treatseverepain,likefromsurgeryoraseriousinjury.Thesemedicationsarerelatedtotheillicitdrugopium.Theytendtoproduceaeuphoriceffectwhiletheyrelievepain.Opioidscanberisky—they’reveryaddictive.Theycreateapleasurablefeelingthatsomepeoplewanttoreplicateoverandoveragain,allwhilecausingtoleranceandneedforhigherdosestoachievethesameeffect.Afewotherprescriptiondrugsarealsoknownfortheiraddictiveness.Theyshouldbeusedwithcautionaswell.Herearethemostaddictiveprescriptiondrugsonthemarket.CorticosteroidsCorticosteroidsworkbysuppressing,andthusreducing,theimmunesystem’sinflammatoryresponse.Byreducinginflammation,thesedrugsalsorelievepain.Doctorsprescribesteroidstotreatinflammatoryconditions,likeinflammatoryarthritis.Examplesofsteroiddrugsinclude:hydrocortisone(Cortef)methylprednisolone(Medrol)prednisolone(Prelone)prednisone(Deltasone)Corticosteroidscancausesideeffectslike:weightgainosteoporosisdifficultysleepingmoodchangesfluidretentionhighbloodsugarincreasedriskforinfectionsTakingthelowestpossibledosefortheshortestperiodoftimecanhelppreventsideeffects.Bewaryofthesepotentialdruginteractionswhenyoutakeacorticosteroiddrug,likecortisone.OpioidsAspreviouslymentioned,opioidsarepowerfulpainrelievers.Somearemadefromthepoppyplant.Othersareproducedinalaboratory.Thosearecalledsyntheticopioids.Youcantakeopioidstorelieveacutepain,likeaftersurgery.Oryoucantakethemlongtermtomanagechronicpain.Thesedrugscomeinimmediate-releaseandextended-releaseformulas.Sometimesthey’recombinedwithanotherpainreliever,likeacetaminophen.You’llfindopioidsinproducts,like:buprenorphine(Buprenex,Butrans)fentanyl(Duragesic)hydrocodone-acetaminophen(Vicodin)hydromorphone(ExalgoER)meperidine(Demerol)oxycodone(OxyContin)oxymorphone(Opana)tramadol(Ultram)Althoughopioidsmaybehighlyeffective,they’realsoveryaddictive.Misusecanleadtoserioussideeffects,overdose,orpossiblydeath.Opioidscancausesideeffectsandothereffects,like:confusionnauseadrowsinessconstipationimpairedjudgmentoverdose,whichcanbelifethreateningslowerbreathingthatmaycausehypoxia,whichcouldresultinbraindamage,coma,ordeathsubstanceusedisorderincreasedriskofcontractinginfectiousdiseasesifyousharedruginjectionequipmentpregnancyloss,lowbirthweight,orababythathasdependenceandwithdrawalsymptomsatbirth(ifusedduringpregnancy)Followyourdoctor’sdirectionscarefullywhentakingthesemedications.Learnwhatotherprecautionstotakewhenusingopioids.AntidepressantsAntidepressantsweredesignedtotreatdepression,buttheycanalsohelpwithchronicpainfromcertainconditions,likemigraineandnervedamage.Doctorsstilldon’tknowexactlyhowthesedrugsworktorelievepain.Theymightreducepainsignalsbyactingonandincreasingactivityofchemicalmessengers(calledneurotransmitters)inthebrainandspinalcord.Doctorsprescribeafewdifferentantidepressantclassestotreatpain:tricyclicantidepressants,suchasimipramine(Tofranil),nortriptyline(Pamelor),anddesipramine(Norpramin)selectiveserotoninreuptakeinhibitors(SSRIs),suchasfluoxetine(Prozac)andparoxetine(Paxil)serotonin-norepinephrinereuptakeinhibitors(SNRIs),suchasduloxetine(Cymbalta)andvenlafaxine(EffexorXR)Antidepressantscancausesideeffects,like:drowsinessdifficultysleepingnauseadrymouthdizzinessconstipationReportanysideeffectstoyourdoctor.Iftheycontinue,yourdoctorcanadjustthedoseorswitchyoutoanotherantidepressant.AnticonvulsantsDrugsthattreatseizuresalsododoubledutybyrelievingnervepain.Nervesdamagedbyconditions,likediabetesorshingles,andnervesthatareoversensitized,likeinfibromyalgia,overreactandsendtoomanypainsignals.Doctorsdon’tknowexactlyhowanticonvulsantsworkagainstpain.Theybelievethesedrugshelpblockabnormalpainsignalsbetweenthedamagednervesandthebrainandspinalcord.Examplesofantiseizuredrugsthattreatpainare:carbamazepine(Tegretol)gabapentin(Neurontin)phenytoin(Dilantin)pregabalin(Lyrica)Someofthesedrugscausesideeffects,like:nauseaandvomitingdrowsinessheadachedizzinessconfusionAntiseizuredrugsmightalsoincreasetheriskofsuicidalthoughtsandsuicide.Yourdoctorwillmonitoryouforsideeffectswhileyoutakethesemedications.Cannabidiol(CBD)Peoplehavebeenusingcannabistomanagepainforthousandsofyears.Researchershavefoundthatcertaincompoundsincannabismayberesponsibleforthesepain-relievingeffects.Thisincludestheplantchemicalcannabidiol(CBD).CBDisnon-impairingandnon-euphoric—inotherwords,itdoesn’tgetyou“high.”CBDmaybeanoptiontoconsiderifyou’reinterestedinthepotentialpain-relievingeffectsofcannabis.ResearchinpeoplewithpainfrommalignantdiseasessuggeststhatCBDworksbyalteringtheactivityofendocannabinoidreceptorsinthebrainandbody,potentiallyreducinginflammationandpain.OnestudyfoundthatinjectingCBDinratsreducedtheirpainresponsetoanincision.AnotherstudygaveratsCBDbymouthandfoundtheanimalshadsignificantlylesspainandinflammationinthesciaticnerve.Sofar,humanresearchhasfocusedonthepotentialpain-relievingeffectsoftakingCBDtogetherwithtetrahydrocannabinol(THC),whichisthemainpsychoactivecomponentofcannabis.AreviewofstudiesinhumansfoundthattakinganasalspraythatcontainedCBDandTHCinaone-to-oneratiomayhelpmanagechronicneuropathicpain.TheevidenceonthepotentialbenefitsofCBDisstillemerging,soscientistsneedtocontinuetoexploreitspotentialeffectivenessindifferentapplications,includingforpainmanagement.SideeffectsofCBDmayinclude:fatiguechangesinappetiteandweightdiarrheapotentialinteractionswithsomemedicationsIfyou’reconsideringtryingCBD,talkwithyourdoctoraboutyouroptionsandsafety,particularlyifyou’retakinganymedications.AlsomakesureyouknowtherulesandpotentialrestrictionsthatmayapplytoCBDwhereyoulive.ColdandheatAnicepackorhotcompressisaneasywaytorelieveminorpain.Thequestionis:Whichoneshouldyouuse?Coldtherapynarrowsbloodvessels.Thisreducesinflammationandswellingandnumbspain.Itworksbestrightafteraninjuryorduringaflare-upofapainfulcondition,likegoutyarthritis.Heattherapyworksbyincreasingbloodflowtotheinjuredarea.Thisrelaxestightmuscles.Itcomesintwoforms:dryheatfromaheatingpadorpack,ormoistheatfromawarmwetwashclothorbath.Useheatforpainthat’slastingmorethanafewweeks.Applyheatorcoldforabout15minutesatatime,severaltimesperday.Usecautionifyouhavediabetesoranotherconditionthataffectsyourcirculationorabilitytofeelpain.Hereareafewotherreasonstoavoidhotorcoldtherapy.ExerciseWhenyou’reinpain,youmightbetemptedtotakeiteasyuntilthesorenessgoesaway.That’swhydoctorsusedtorecommendrestforpeopleexperiencingpain.Yetnewerresearchsuggestsotherwise.A2017reviewofstudiessuggestsexerciseisaneffectivewaytoeasepain.Itmayalsoimprovephysicalfunctionandqualityoflife.Moreover,exercisecausesonlyafewsideeffects,asidefrommusclesoreness.Researchersnotethatmanyofthestudiesonexerciseforchronicpainarepoorquality,buttheysaytheoverallresearchsuggestsphysicalactivitycanreducetheseverityofpain.Aerobicexercisealsopromotesweightloss.Thiscouldtakesomestrainoffpainfuljointsifyouhaveosteoarthritis.Resistancetrainingmighthelpyourbodyhealinjuredspinaldiscs.Hereareafewoftheotherwaysexercisecanhelpyoufeelbetter.PhysicaltherapyPhysicaltherapy(PT)combinesexercisewithhands-onmanipulationandeducation.ExpertspreferPToverprescriptionpainpills.Thisisbecauseitcanreducepainwithoutmedicationsideeffectsandthepotentialforaddiction.Aphysicaltherapistwillworkwithyoutoimproveyourstrengthandflexibility,soyoucanmovemoreeasily.PTsessionscanalsohelprelaxtightmusclesandimproveyourtolerancetopain.Someofthepainfulconditionsphysicaltherapycanhelpwithare:arthritisfibromyalgiapostsurgicalpainnervepainYogaYogacombinesposeswithdeepbreathingandmeditation.It’sbeenpracticedforthousandsofyears.Butonlyrecentlyhaveresearchersbeguntodiscoveryoga’sfullpotentialasahealthintervention.Inadditiontoimprovingstrength,balance,andflexibility,yogaimprovesposture.Betterposturecanbringrelieffrommanyoftheachesandpainslinkedtomuscletension.Yogacanalsorelievepainandimprovefunctioninpeoplewithchronicconditionslikearthritis,backpain,andfibromyalgia.Howexactlyithelpswithpainisn’tclear.Itmayworkbytriggeringthereleaseofnaturalpain-relievingchemicalscalledendorphinsorbypromotingastateofrelaxation.Yogacomesinmanystylesandintensities.Explorethedifferentpracticestoseewhichoneisthebestfitforyou.MusicMusichasthepowertomoveyouandtransportyoubackintime.Listeningtomusiccouldalsohelprelievepain—inpartbyreducingstressandhelpingyoucopemoreeffectivelywithdiscomfort.Inonesmallstudyofpeoplewithpaincausedbynervedamage,listeningtoclassical(Turkish)musicreducedpainscores.Thelongerparticipantslistened,themoretheirpainreceded.A2018reviewofmorethan90studiesfoundthatlisteningtomusiceasesanxietyandpainbefore,during,andaftersurgery.Listeningtomusiceverydaycouldhelppeoplewithchronicpainconditions,likefibromyalgiaorarthritis,feelmorecomfortableandlessanxious.TherapeuticmassageDuringamassage,atherapistusesrubbingandpressuretoloosenuptightmusclesandtendonsandhelpyourelax.Thepracticecouldhelpeaseachesbyblockingpainsignalsandrelievingstress.Massagegenerallyalsosoothestightmusclesbyimprovingbloodflowtothem.Anotherupsidetomassageisitslackofsideeffects.Therearevirtuallynorisks,unlessyouhave:skinrashcertaintypesofcardiovasculardiseaseinfectionJustcheckwithyourdoctorfirstifyouhaveanychronicconditionsthatmightmaketheexperienceuncomfortableorlessrecommended.Ifso,yourmassagetherapistcanmodifytheirtechnique.Massagetherapistsusevaryingamountsofpressure,fromlighttouchtodeepmusclemassagetechniques.Whichoneyouchoosedependsonyourtoleranceandpersonalpreference.LearnaboutsomeofthemostcommontypesofmassageusedintheUnitedStates.OutlookforpainreliefChronicpainisamajorhealthissue.AccordingtotheCDC,it’soneofthemostcommonreasonswhyadultsseeadoctorintheUnitedStates,andupto40percentofAmericanslivewithchronicpain.Althoughsomepain-relievingdrugscanbeaddictive,thereareanumberofnonaddictivemedicationsavailable.Workwithyourdoctortofindthebestoneforyou.There’salsoarangeofalternativetherapiesavailabletoeasechronicpain.Interventions,likeexercise,massage,andyoga,canimprovequalityoflifewithoutcausingharmfulsideeffectsintheprocess.LastmedicallyreviewedonJune4,202118sourcescollapsedHealthlinehasstrictsourcingguidelinesandreliesonpeer-reviewedstudies,academicresearchinstitutions,andmedicalassociations.Weavoidusingtertiaryreferences.Youcanlearnmoreabouthowweensureourcontentisaccurateandcurrentbyreadingoureditorialpolicy.BoyajiS,etal.(2020).Theroleofcannabidiol(CBD)inchronicpainmanagement:Anassessmentofcurrentevidence.link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11916-020-0835-4CostaB,etal.(2007).Thenon-psychoactivecannabisconstituentcannabidiolisanorallyeffectivetherapeuticagentinratchronicinflammatoryandneuropathicpain.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S001429990601257X?via%3DihubDahlhamerJ,etal.(2018).Prevalenceofchronicpainandhigh-impactchronicpainamongadults—UnitedStates,2016.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6736a2.htmDarkovska-SerafimovskaM,etal.(2018).Pharmacotherapeuticconsiderationsforuseofcannabinoidstorelievepaininpatientswithmalignantdiseases.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5922297/DowellD,etal.(2016).CDCguidelineforprescribingopioidsforchronicpain—UnitedStates,2016.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/rr/rr6501e1.htm?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fmmwr%2Fvolumes%2F65%2Frr%2Frr6501e1er.htmGenaroK,etal.(2017).Cannabidiolisapotentialtherapeuticfortheaffective-motivationaldimensionofincisionpaininrats.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5478794/GeneenLJ,etal.(2017).Physicalactivityandexerciseforchronicpaininadults:AnoverviewofCochraneReviews.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011279.pub3/fullGuétinS,etal.(2012).Theeffectsofmusicinterventioninthemanagementofchronicpain:Asingle-blind,randomized-controlledtrialjournals.lww.com/clinicalpain/Abstract/2012/05000/The_Effects_of_Music_Intervention_in_the.8.aspxHillKP,etal.(2017).Cannabisandpain:Aclinicalreview.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5549367/IfflandK,etal.(2017).Anupdateonsafetyandsideeffectsofcannabidiol:Areviewofclinicaldataandrelevantanimalstudies.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/KorhanEA,etal.(2014).Theeffectsofmusictherapyonpaininpatientswithneuropathicpain.linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1524904212001749KühlmannAYR,etal.(2018).Meta-analysisevaluatingmusicinterventionsforanxietyandpaininsurgery.academic.oup.com/bjs/article/105/7/773/6123225LinnemannA,etal.(2015).Theeffectsofmusiclisteningonpainandstressinthedailylifeofpatientswithfibromyalgiasyndrome.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00434/fullPrescriptionopioidsDrugFacts.(2021).drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioidsÜberallMA.(2020).AreviewofscientificevidenceforTHC:CBDoromucosalspray(nabiximols)inthemanagementofchronicpain.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7027889/WeltyTE,etal.(2014).Cannabidiol:Promiseandpitfalls.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4189631/Yogaandpain.(n.d.).painhealth.csse.uwa.edu.au/pain-module/yoga/Yogaforpainrelief.(2015).health.harvard.edu/alternative-and-complementary-medicine/yoga-for-pain-reliefFEEDBACK:MedicallyreviewedbyEloiseTheisen,RN,MSN,AGPCNP-BC—WrittenbyRachelNall,MSN,CRNA—UpdatedonJune4,2021ReadthisnextPainScaleMedicallyreviewedbyDeborahWeatherspoon,Ph.D.,MSNApainscaleisatoolthatdoctorsusetohelpassessaperson’spain.Herearethedifferenttypesandhowthey’reused.READMOREGuidetoOver-the-Counter(OTC)Anti-InflammatoriesMedicallyreviewedbyAlanCarter,Pharm.D.Over-the-counteranti-inflammatorydrugshelpreducepain.Learnhowtheywork.Alsodiscoverwhichonesaresafeforchildren,warnings,andother…READMORENociceptivePainMedicallyreviewedbyDeborahWeatherspoon,Ph.D.,MSNNociceptivepainisthemostcommontypeofpain.We'llexplainwhatcausesit,thedifferenttypes,andhowit'streated.READMORETheDefinitiveGuidetoYogaMedicallyreviewedbyDanielBubnis,M.S.,NASM-CPT,NASELevelII-CSSWhetheryou'reabeginneroradvancedyogi,here'sourthoroughguidetoachievingasuccessfulpractice.Getexpertadvice,meditationtips,andmore.READMORETheTop10BenefitsofRegularExerciseWrittenbyArleneSemeco,MS,RDExercisingregularlyhasmanybenefitsforyourbodyandbrain.Thisarticleexploresthetop10benefitsofregularexercise,allbasedonscience.READMOREWithdrawingfromOpiatesandOpioidsYoucanexperiencewithdrawalsymptomsafterminimaluseofopioidsoropiates,andprolongedusecancauseseveresymptoms.READMOREAnti-inflammatoryDrugsMayLeadtoChronicPainAstudyfoundthatwhileanti-inflammatorymedicationssuchasIbuprofenmayrelieveshort-termpain,theycanpotentiallyleadtochronicpain.READMOREArnicaforBruises:DoesItWork?Arnicaisaplantextractusefulforbruises,painrelief,andswelling.Butissafeforeveryone?Learnmoreaboutitsbenefits,drawbacks,anduses.READMORE