Chronic Pain : Chronic pain is a progressive disease state of the nervous system caused by the overloading of the body's natural pain control systems. The disease is accompanied by changes in the chemical and anatomical makeup of the spinal cord. Chronic pain is a malignancy. When it goes untreated it increases in intensity and spreads to areas of the body previously unaffected, damaging the sufferer's health and functioning. Doctors ignore your chronic pain for reasons that have nothing to do with the seriousness of your condition. Untreated chronic pain will damage your health and cause you to develop multiple health problems. Inactivity due to ongoing pain will lead to increased incidence of hypertension, heart disease, breathing disorders, cancer, and diabetes. If the disease is untreated in its most serious form, untreated chronic pain leads to suicide.

Pain Information : Acute pain is the body's alarm system. It signals that something is wrong. It signals that you are in danger of injury or that the injured part needs to be protected and rested. Chronic pain serves no useful purpose and may cause disability and distress to sufferers and their families. Estimates of the number of people with chronic pain vary from 8% to 45% depending on severity and whether medical help is sought. Chronic pain is more common in women and in the elderly. Many types of chronic pain have been identified. However some people with chronic pain do not have a diagnosis from their doctor. The Pain Relief Foundation funds research into the causes and treatment of chronic pain. If you have a pain problem, which needs treatment you should contact your own doctor who can refer you to a pain clinic in your area. This site is for information only and cannot be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor. The Pain Relief Foundation is not able to offer individual medical advice.

Analgesics OTC : Many pain medications are available over-the-counter (without a prescription, or OTC) in the U.S. for short-term relief of joint pain, muscle aches, headache, menstrual cramps, and fever. These OTC analgesics are generally well tolerated and safe when used properly. But side effects do occur and in some instances can be serious. Today, we will ask Dr. William Shiel how to use these analgesics properly in order to minimize risks and side effects. We will also ask him to compare traditional pain relievers with the newer pain relievers, the selective COX-2 inhibitors. There are two major classes of pain relievers available in this country without prescription; they are acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

How is pain treated : The goal of pain management is to improve function, enabling individuals to work, attend school, or participate in other day-to-day activities. Patients and their physicians have a number of options for the treatment of pain; some are more effective than others. Sometimes, relaxation and the use of imagery as a distraction provide relief. These methods can be powerful and effective, according to those who advocate their use. Whatever the treatment regime, it is important to remember that pain is treatable. The following treatments are among the most common. Acetaminophen is the basic ingredient found in Tylenol and its many generic equivalents. It is sold over the counter, in a prescription-strength preparation, and in combination with codeine. Analgesic refers to the class of drugs that includes most painkillers, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. The word analgesic is derived from ancient Greek and means to reduce or stop pain. Nonprescription or over-the-counter pain relievers are generally used for mild to moderate pain. Prescription pain relievers, sold through a pharmacy under the direction of a physician, are used for more moderate to severe pain. Anticonvulsants are used for the treatment of seizure disorders but are also sometimes prescribed for the treatment of pain. Carbamazepine in particular is used to treat a number of painful conditions, including trigeminal neuralgia. Another antiepileptic drug, gabapentin, is being studied for its pain-relieving properties, especially as a treatment for neuropathic pain. Antidepressants are sometimes used for the treatment of pain and, along with neuroleptics and lithium, belong to a category of drugs called psychotropic drugs. In addition, anti-anxiety drugs called benzodiazepines also act as muscle relaxants and are sometimes used as pain relievers. Physicians usually try to treat the condition with analgesics before prescribing these drugs. Antimigraine drugs include the triptans- sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), and zolmitriptan (Zomig)-and are used specifically for migraine headaches. They can have serious side effects in some people and therefore, as with all prescription medicines, should be used only under a doctor's care. Biofeedback is used for the treatment of many common pain problems, most notably headache and back pain. Using a special electronic machine, the patient is trained to become aware of, to follow, and to gain control over certain bodily functions, including muscle tension, heart rate, and skin temperature. The individual can then learn to effect a change in his or her responses to pain, for example, by using relaxation techniques. Biofeedback is often used in combination with other treatment methods, generally without side effects. Similarly, the use of relaxation techniques in the treatment of pain can increase the patient's feeling of well-being. Capsaicin is a chemical found in chili peppers that is also a primary ingredient in pain-relieving creams. Chemonucleolysis is a treatment in which an enzyme, chymopapain, is injected directly into a herniated lumbar disc in an effort to dissolve material around the disc, thus reducing pressure and pain. The procedure's use is extremely limited, in part because some patients may have a life-threatening allergic reaction to chymopapain. Chiropractic refers to hand manipulation of the spine, usually for relief of back pain, and is a treatment option that continues to grow in popularity among many people who simply seek relief from back disorders. It has never been without controversy, however. Chiropractic's usefulness as a treatment for back pain is, for the most part, restricted to a select group of individuals with uncomplicated acute low back pain who may derive relief from the massage component of the therapy.