Pain Treatment Options

Most pain can be relieved with proper pain management. There are a growing number of resources and treatments available to help people effectively manage pain and reclaim their lives. When pain is sufficiently controlled, stress is reduced and the body heals faster. Those who take an active role in their pain management tend to experience less pain and more enjoyment of life.9

MEDICATIONS FOR PAIN CONTROL (PHARMACOTHERAPY)

Medications play an important role in the treatment of pain, and there are a variety of options available. A few, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, can be purchased in a pharmacy or supermarket without a prescription, but other pain relievers are available with a prescription from your healthcare provider. Some medications used to treat pain are not usually thought of as pain medicines, but they have been shown to relieve specific types of pain.

There are three major classes of medications for pain control:3

  • NON-OPIOIDS
  • OPIOIDS
  • ADJUVANT ANALGESICS

NON-OPIOIDS: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen comprise this class of medications. NSAIDs are effective against mild-to-moderate pain, reduce fever and inflammation, and are important for the management of both acute and chronic pain. There are many different drugs in this family of pain relievers. Acetaminophen can be used to relieve mild-to-moderate pain and treat fever, but it does not reduce inflammation.3

OPIOIDS: An essential option for treating moderate-to-severe pain associated with surgery or trauma and for pain related to cancer. Opioids can be important for the management of persistent pain unrelated to cancer. These medicines block pain messages in the body, but they also affect the way we feel about our pain and help us better tolerate it. Our body produces natural opioids (endorphins) as part of its survival response to danger and injury. Because the medications of this class work in the same way as endorphins, they work very well in blocking pain.3

ADJUVANT ANALGESICS: The many medications originally used to treat conditions other than pain, but now also used to help relieve specific pain problems; examples include some antidepressants and anticonvulsants.3

PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENTS FOR PAIN RELIEF

Research shows that pain can affect your emotions and behavior and interfere with your ability to concentrate, manage everyday tasks, and cope with stress3 .

Some people may fear that their psychological pain treatment means that their pain is not physical, or feel they are being labeled as having a mental illness rather than a physical problem. Don't let these fears interfere with your willingness to try a variety of potentially safe and effective treatments. Consider these a gift to yourself — an investment in your peace of mind and quality of life.

Your healthcare provider may recommend that you consult a behavioral health professional. This could be a social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist, or a therapist with special training in chronic pain.

Working with a skilled therapist who understands chronic pain may help you recognize the "unhealthy" stressors in your life and guide you through making necessary life changes.

Trained professionals can teach useful skills and provide needed emotional support and guidance. If necessary, he or she can help you develop new strategies for coping with your pain. For chronic pain patients, working with a counselor with experience in pain management is preferable.3

For more information, please download the American Pain Foundation's PDF guide "Treatment Options: A Guide for People Living with Pain."

COMPLEMENTARY PAIN TREATMENTS

Many pain patients enjoy the benefits of complementary pain treatments including:

  • Exercise: Find an activity or exercise program that you like and make it part of your daily routine. It might be yoga, walking or water aerobics. Talk with your pain practitioner for guidance about how to introduce any of these into your pain management regimen.
  • Nutrition: Maintaining an ideal body weight supports health and well-being and reduces excess burden on painful conditions, including back and knee pain, arthritis and diabetes. Eliminating nicotine and minimizing alcohol use are also beneficial.

Other complementary treatments take a holistic approach to care — treating the mind, body and spirit, includes Acupuncture, Yoga or Massage. Consult with your healthcare provider to find out how they can be included in your pain management plan and before beginning these therapies.3

 

*By clicking on the link(s) on this page you will leave the Endo.com website and move to an external website(s) independently operated and not managed by Endo Pharmaceuticals. Because Endo Pharmaceuticals does not control the content of the website(s) you are about to visit, and due to its constantly changing nature, we cannot be responsible for its content, accuracy, practices, or standards.