Generally speaking, pain can be divided into two broad categories. The acute one usually lasts a few seconds to a maximum of about two weeks and indicates that the body is suffering from an injury or infection. Chronic pain, on the other hand, lasts longer and can continue even after the original trauma has resolved. There are several ways to relieve pain, including medications, natural remedies, and lifestyle changes. Be aware that it is not always possible to keep it under control, even if you follow all the recommendations described in this article. The important thing is to create a reasonable expectation in pain management.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using Natural Remedies and Alternative Medicines
Step 1. Apply heat
This is a good solution for those particularly tight or stiff body parts.
- Fill the hot water bottle with boiling water and wrap it in a cloth; do not place it directly on the skin, otherwise you could run the risk of accidentally getting burned.
- The heat increases blood circulation to the area.
- This is a particularly useful remedy for muscle pain or tension, back stiffness or menstrual cramps.
Step 2. Relieve pain by applying a cold pack
This numbs the affected area thus reducing the pain sensation and swelling.
- You can use an ice pack or a pack of frozen peas. Make sure you wrap it in a cloth so the ice doesn't touch your skin directly.
- Keep it on the sore site for ten minutes, then wait for the skin to return to normal temperature to avoid the risk of chilblains. You can apply it again later throughout the day.
- This remedy is useful for hot, swollen or inflamed joints, bruises or other minor injuries.
Step 3. Try natural herbal remedies
While they aren't rigorously tested treatments, some people claim they are helpful. If you are pregnant, you should not follow these methods without first consulting your gynecologist.
- Ginger helps reduce inflammation.
- Feverfew helps soothe headaches, stomach pains and tooth pain. Pregnant women cannot take this plant.
- Turmeric reduces inflammation, helps manage arthritis and relieves heartburn; however, it should not be consumed if you have gallbladder problems.
- Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) soothes arthritis pains and back pain. However, it is contraindicated for those suffering from gallstones, stomach ulcers or intestinal ulcers. Even pregnant women cannot consume it.
Step 4. Undergo acupuncture sessions
This therapy consists of inserting fine needles into certain points on the body. To this day it is not fully known how it can relieve pain, but it is able to stimulate the body to release endorphins, natural pain-relieving chemicals.
- In recent years, many clinics specializing in pain relief have been offering acupuncture services. Go to a center that has a good reputation. Ask your doctor to recommend a qualified one.
- Needles must be sterile, single use, stored in sealed and very thin packages. You should only feel a small prick when they are inserted into the skin, where they are held for up to 20 minutes.
- You will likely have to undergo several sessions to get the maximum effects.
- This procedure is effective for reducing headache symptoms, menstrual cramps, back pain, osteoarthritis, facial pain, and some digestive problems.
Step 5. Get pain under control with biofeedback
During the session, the therapist connects your body to sensors to understand how it reacts physiologically. You can then use this information to commit to making physical changes in your body.
- Patients learn to recognize contracting muscles and relieve pain by relaxing them.
- Biofeedback can provide information about muscle tension, body temperature, sweating in response to certain stimuli, and heart rate.
- Consult a qualified therapist who is licensed to do this work or who works under the guidance of a physician. If you decide to buy a device to use at home, beware of those who make false promises, as it could be a scam.
Step 6. Try functional electrical stimulation
With this technique, a computer sends small electrical impulses throughout the body through electrodes that cause muscle contractions. The benefits include:
- Greater range of motion;
- Decreased muscle spasms;
- Increased strength;
- Less loss of bone density;
- Improvement of blood circulation.
Method 2 of 3: Using Drugs
Step 1. Try topical pain relievers
You can spread them directly on the painful areas. There are different medicines with different active ingredients.
- Capsaicin (Zostrix). It is a substance that comes from hot peppers and prevents the nerves from sending pain signals.
- Salicylates (Aspercreme, Bengay). They contain the same active ingredient as aspirin and help relieve pain and inflammation.
- Counter-irritants. They are drugs that contain menthol or camphor which offers a sensation of heat or cold.
- These medicines are often used to reduce joint pain.
- Always read the label and follow the directions on the package. Consult your doctor before using them on babies or if you are pregnant.
- Watch for signs of allergic reactions, such as hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Step 2. Reduce inflammation with over-the-counter medications
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) prevent the body from secreting the chemicals responsible for inflammation. The most common are:
- Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin, Vivin C). Do not give this drug to children and young people under 19;
- Ketoprofen (Oki);
- Ibuprofen (Brufen, Advil);
- Naproxen sodium (Momendol, Aleve).
- They are all effective in reducing pain due to osteoarthritis, muscle aches, back pain, dental problems, gout, menstrual cramps, joint pain caused by fever or headache.
- Always follow the instructions described on the leaflet. If you are pregnant, you should not take them without first consulting your doctor and always pay attention to signs of allergic reactions.
- See your doctor if you are taking other medications that may interact.
Step 3. See your doctor if you have an infection or injury that you can't treat at home
He may prescribe treatment to heal and medications to reduce pain.
- Get medical attention if you have a physical injury, such as a sprain, bone fracture, or deep cut. The doctor will be able to bandage it, apply a brace, or suture the wound so that it heals properly. They may also prescribe stronger pain relievers if they deem it necessary for your specific case.
- Seek medical attention if you have a severe infection. You may be suffering from severe respiratory infections, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, ear or eye infections, sexually transmitted diseases, severe belly pain which could indicate an abdominal infection, and so on. In these cases, your doctor will prescribe powerful antibiotics. As soon as the drugs start killing the bacteria, you will start to feel better.
Step 4. Review the different drug therapies with your doctor
If none of these work, your doctor may consider powerful pain relievers, such as morphine or codeine.
These are addictive drugs; use them only as prescribed
Step 5. Fight joint pain with cortisone injections
These medicines are usually injected directly into the painful area; they are based on corticosteroids and local anesthetic.
- They are effective for problems such as gout, arthritis, lupus, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and others.
- Since the injections potentially damage joint cartilage, they can be given a maximum of three to four times a year.
Step 6. Discuss with your doctor whether or not to take antidepressants for pain relief
Why they are effective is still completely unknown, but they appear to be able to increase chemicals in the spinal cord that reduce the pain signal.
- It takes a few weeks before you notice any improvement.
- These medicines are useful for arthritis, nerve damage, pain caused by spinal injuries and strokes, headaches, back and pelvic pain.
- The antidepressants that are most often prescribed to manage pain are tricyclics.
Method 3 of 3: Reduce Pain with Lifestyle Changes
Step 1. Rest
When you remain still, the body can focus more energy on the healing process. You need to give your body time to recover by getting adequate sleep every night. Try to rest at least eight hours continuously.
- Avoid doing strenuous physical activity, such as running, when your body needs to recover from an illness.
- Avoid emotionally stressful situations as well. The physical changes that occur in your body when you are stressed slow down the healing process.
Step 2. Get physical therapy
If your doctor thinks it can help, they will recommend that you see a specialist who can treat your condition. With physiotherapy you can do exercises that help you:
- Strengthen weakened muscles;
- Increase range of motion;
- Healing from an injury.
- It is a particularly effective therapy for musculoskeletal, neuromuscular and cardiopulmonary problems.
Step 3. Manage emotions with relaxation techniques
Pain can lead to anxiety, stress, depression and anger, all of which can cause physical changes, such as muscle tension. You should use techniques to relax, including:
- Progressive muscle relaxation. Mentally go through the whole body, one muscle group at a time, contracting and relaxing it slowly;
- Visualization. Focus on the image of a relaxing place;
- Deep breathing;
- Meditation;
- Yoga;
- Tai Chi;
- Massage;
- Hypnosis.
Step 4. Talk to a therapist
He will be able to help you understand emotions and manage them.
If you tend to somatize stress, for example, you manifest muscle tension that causes pain, sessions at the psychologist can help you recognize these dynamics and prevent them
Step 5. Try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
It is an evidence-based practice that helps people overcome difficulties or manage pain they cannot avoid. Studies have found that this therapy is useful for ailments such as chronic back pain. The therapist can help you:
- Identify the cause of the pain
- Become aware of your beliefs about the situation;
- Recognize the ways thoughts can be harmful;
- Encourage yourself to take on different, proactive mental patterns to make better choices in life.
Warnings
- Always read the instructions on the packaging of over-the-counter drugs and follow them strictly.
- Consult your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, or supplements, especially if you are pregnant. You must also contact him if you want to administer the drugs to the children.
- If you are already on drug therapy, ask your doctor if you can take other medications, including over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, or supplements, as they may interact with your current medication.
- Do not drink alcohol during drug therapy.
- Ask your doctor if medications affect your ability to drive.
- Some medicines have negative side effects if they are taken for a long time. Do not take them for longer than indicated on the package, without first talking to your doctor.
