How to Manage Pain #9
Continuing our blog series on “Pain”. Submitted by guest author, Kevin Samuels, Outreach Coordinator, Flowers Health: https://jflowershealth.com/
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Pain treatment primarily focuses on treating the underlying medical condition responsible for pain. Luckily, several treatment options are available. However, many disorders that cause chronic pain have no cure.
Chronic pain has both physical and psychological dimensions. A comprehensive treatment plan addresses both physical and psychological factors that contribute to pain. For this, different health professionals may work together to design a plan tailored according to individual needs. A combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and behavioral therapies is perhaps the best approach.
Chronic pain treatment aims to:
— Improve mobility as much as possible
— Maintain quality of life with the lowest possible dose of medication
— Reduce the risk of pain-related psychiatric problems such as depression and anxiety
Pain Relievers:
— Non-Opioids. or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are the primary treatment for chronic mild to moderate pain. Some examples of NSAIDs are naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin. NSAIDs work by blocking the production of substances that cause pain and swelling.
— Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is similar to NSAIDs, but it works differently. It may block the production of inflammatory chemicals in the brain.
Opioids: Opioids or narcotics are powerful pain relievers. They are used to treat moderate to severe pain. Narcotics act by blocking pain signals from reaching the brain. Opioid use has surged during the last few decades. In 2015, doctors prescribed three times as much opioid medication for chronic pain as they did in 1999. These drugs are highly addictive, and abuse is common. Most doctors prescribe narcotics when non-opioid pain relievers fail to provide desired benefits. Examples include buprenorphine, fentanyl patch, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, and tramadol.
- Proper Testing for Chronic Pain #12 - May 22, 2023
- A Mix of Pain Treatments, part # 11 - May 15, 2023
- Alternative Pain Management, Part #10 - May 8, 2023
- How to Manage Pain #9 - May 1, 2023
- Testing for Pain, part 8 - April 24, 2023
- How to Diagnose Pain, part 7 - April 18, 2023
- Seniors and Chronic Pain, #6 - April 13, 2023
- Conditions of Chronic Pain, part 5 - March 27, 2023
- Causes of Chronic Pain #4 - March 21, 2023
- What Makes Pain Chronic? (part 3) - March 13, 2023
John D. Miller is the founder/owner of Home Care Partners, LLC, a Massachusetts business providing private duty, personalized in-home assistance and companion care services to those needing help in daily activities and household functions.
Phone: (781) 378-2164
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://homecarepartnersma.com
