Pain Management: Effective Ways to Relieve Pain

Believe it or not one of the most common complaints at a doctor’s office is pain. Be it pain from a twisted ankle, stomach flu or a heart attack – pain is the most frequent symptom seen. Although each type of pain is unique and treated according to what’s causing it, there are some general rules of thumb when it comes to pain management.

Types of Pain

A detailed history of the site, character, duration, onset, relieving and aggravating factors will reveal the kind of pain you’re experiencing. Broadly speaking, pain can be:

1. Neuropathic pain
2. Nociceptive Pain

Nociceptive pain includes conditions that directly traumatize a tissue or structure such as a cut, broken bone or a heart attack. Neuropathic pain, on the other hand, directly damages nerves such as in diabetic neuropathy or herpes zoster shingles.

Methods of Pain Relief

Generally, there can be medical, interventional, psychological or chiropractic methods of pain relief. Depending upon your condition you might benefit from:

· Over-the-counter painkillers such as NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) and acetaminophen (Tylenol)
· Physical therapy and changing posture or decreasing/increasing activity
· Psychological reassurance and counselling from professionals and loved ones
· Specific treatment of the underlying condition

For effective pain relief, it’s important to get in touch with a medical specialist for a consultation.