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| Effective Pain Management Options |
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For thousands of years now, scientists and physicians have sought to learn more about the root causes of pain and develop treatments and medications to help relieve the effects of pain in the human body. For most of human history, those efforts have yielded only rudimentary results, and most people have had to suffer through life with minimal relief from their chronic pain. Almost unnoticed by the majority of people in the world, today's scientists and physicians have developed new and credible treatments to supplement and in some instances replace the medications and treatments of the past. In most cases of chronic pain, these new treatment methodologies - often combined with traditional medications - are proving increasingly effective in the battle against pain.
The most common and familiar pain remedies are the traditional pain relievers - most of which can be purchased over-the-counter wherever medications are sold. Aspirin-free pain relievers containing drugs like acetaminophen have proven useful in the treatment of common headaches and other minor pain. They do not reduce swelling, however, and are thus complemented by anti-inflammatory medications that can also help to reduce the pain even more. Steroidal medications like cortisol and prednisone - both available by prescription only - are available for ailments like arthritis.
Opiate based medications like morphine are generally turned to when the pain in question is of the acute variety. In addition, anti-depressant and anti-seizure medications are also growing in popularity for the relieving of certain types of pain, especially at bedtime and in cases where the pain is caused by damaged nerves.
Medication, however, is often insufficient to adequately relieve chronic and severe pain. Fortunately, new advances in pain treatment have resulted in the discovery of new treatments that can be used in conjunction with medication to provide greater relief. In some cases, these treatments even take the place of medications.
Injection treatments like cortisone or Novocain, when injected into muscles, joints, and the nerve roots, have proven invaluable in reducing swelling, spasms, and other nerve irregularities that result in increased pain. Local anesthetics can be used to block the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain and subsequent injections to numb the nerves can increase the effect.
Physical therapy - in and out of the water - has developed to a point where it is now very effective in reducing pain and increasing your ability to function with the pain that remains. As part of these physical therapy programs, most therapists include deep-muscle massage and whirlpool therapy as well. Also used in combination with other therapies is the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (also known as TENS) treatment. It relies on conducting electrical current to the affected area of the body to stimulate the nerve fibers under the skin and provide pain relief.
In addition to these forms of treatment, pain therapy can also involve the use of acupuncture and other non-traditional forms of treatment, as well as psychological counseling for pain management, and even surgery to address defective nerves. The good news is that your doctor and pain treatment team have a variety of tools available to them to help you manage your chronic pain.
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