Pain Management
What Is Pain Management?
Pain management refers to the efforts made to allow those people living with chronic pain to feel less pain while still maintaining an active and productive life. In most cases this involves a combination of medications and physical or occupational therapy.
What are The Symptoms of Chronic Pain?
A person is said to have chronic pain if they live with pain on a daily basis and there is no long term, permanent solution available. The symptoms are dependent on the area of the body that the pain is located in but may include:
- Constant pain in varying intensities
- Pain that is not constant but flares up on a regular and frequent basis
- Changes in lifestyle, work life or activity due to the pain
- Loss of income due to pain
- Loss of interest in activities, friends or family due to pain.
What Are the Causes of Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain may be caused by internal or external factors. Some causes include:
- Injury, particularly those that do not heal properly
- Cancerous or other tumors
- Bone or joint deterioration
- Blood flow problems
- Dysfunction of the nervous system
- Other Illness or Disease
Can Any Complications Arise If Left Untreated?
Whether or not there are complications due to untreated chronic pain depends on the causes of the pain and how disabling it is. If the pain is due to disease or illness, without treatment the problem is likely to get worse with the pain getting worse and other complications arising.
Even if the severity of the pain does not get worse, chronic pain that is not treated can cause negative lifestyle changes, loss of income, isolation and depression.
What Medications Treat Pain Management?
There are several types of over-the-counter medications (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, and Naproxen) and prescription (Codeine, Fetanyl, Percocet, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone and Morphine) options to help someone manage their pain. The one used/prescribed will be based on the type and severity of the pain.
References:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21514-pain-management
https://www.mayoclinic.org/chronic-pain-medication-decisions/art-20360371
Common medications may include