From childhood through adulthood, we all feel pain. Pain is an uncomfortable sensation that tells you that something may not be right or helps you avoid something that could hurt you.
Untreated or undertreated pain can have harmful emotional and physical consequences, such as an increased heart rate, limited mobility, and prolonged stress.
In order to learn more about pain, we consulted with Melissa Mastromarino, a clinical pharmacist at CenterWell Pharmacy™, to talk about the different kinds of pain and what the most common treatments.
Now, let’s read Melissa:
Different kinds of pain.
In the first instance, let’s address the types and levels of pain. There are 2 main types of pain: acute and chronic.³ Acute pain goes away once your body heals after an injury or illness, and can last anywhere from a few hours to 3 months.⁴ Chronic pain lasts for months or years after recovering from an injury or illness and can come and go.
Everyone feels pain differently, but generally speaking, there are 3 levels of pain: mild, moderate, and severe.⁶
- Mild pain is felt but usually does not affect daily activities.
- Moderate pain may interfere with daily activities but, for the most part, these can still be performed.
- Acute pain prevents you from performing daily activities and influences how you think and sleep.
Treating pain without medication
Depending on your condition or injury, 1 or more of the following options may be effective pain relief if you do not want to take any medication.
Treatment of mild to moderate pain
Mild to moderate pain can be treated with prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) non-opioid pain relievers in addition to the above non-drug options.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is an OTC medication that can be used to treat mild to moderate non-inflammatory pain, such as headaches.
- Aspirin (Bayer®), ibuprofen (Motrin®), and naproxen (Aleve®) are OTC nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can be used to treat mild to moderate pain with an inflammatory component, such as tendonitis or muscle strain.
- Prescription NSAIDs such as muscle relaxants and topical analgesics (medication applied to the skin) can also be used to treat mild to moderate pain.
- Prescription muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine may be used to treat muscle spasms.
Treatment of acute pain
Acute pain is limiting and can be treated with opioid analgesics such as codeine, morphine or hydrocodone. Opioids are often prescribed on a temporary basis for the treatment of acute pain after injury or surgery, but may also be used for chronic conditions such as cancer or rheumatoid arthritis.⁷
Opioid medications are highly addictive, so it is important to take them as directed by your healthcare provider.⁸ If you are prescribed an opioid medication, you should coordinate with your care team to set realistic goals for your pain relief.
Seeking Relief
Pain can be a difficult topic to talk about because only you feel it. If you feel any pain, discuss it with your healthcare provider.
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Have a pain log so you can talk about how often it comes up.
- Talk to your provider, tell him or her where you have it, and be specific.
- Share what kind of pain you have, for example, sharp, throbbing, or very painful.
- Describe your pain level on a scale of 1 to 10 (mild to severe).
Talking to your healthcare provider about your pain is a critical first step in finding relief.
Disclosure: This material is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or used to replace a consultation with a licensed medical professional. You should talk to your doctor to determine what is right for you according to Intelligent Living.