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Chronic Pain MedicineChronic pain medicine is rarely the whole answer for pain management, but it is often an important part of a larger solution. Chronic pain medications are a complicated subject, but let's at least try to summarize enough information to make informed decisions. Analgesics
Analgesics are medicines that most of us think of when someone says "pain killers." They may or may not reduce inflammation. A brief list of analgesics include common medications like acetaminophen, but also opioids like oxycodone, morphine and hydrocodone. Tramadol is a non-narcotic chronic pain medicine.Many of these medicines contain codeine, which causes nausea for a lot of people. All the opioids have the potential for addiction, and can cause a level of drowsiness that some people find too much to allow them to go on with their day-to-day activities. That doesn't mean you shouldn't take them, but make an educated decision about the pros, the cons, and the alternatives. More on Narcotic Pain MedicationsNarcotic pain relievers work differently than other types of pain medicines. They don't decrease the inflammation that occurs with conditions like arthritis. Narcotic drugs work directly on pain receptors on nerve cells to relieve pain. These are particularly strong medications, and carry with them the potential for becoming dependent on them. Here is more information on narcotic medication for chronic pain.Anti-Inflammatory Pain MedicationsAnti-inflammatories combine reducing inflammation or swelling withcontrolling pain. While every situation is different, anti-inflammatory medications tend to work best as chronic pain medication for conditions like arthritis, where inflammation is an important component.Anti-inflammatories include aspirin, ibuprofen,as well as newer medicines like Celebrex, and steroidal agents such as prednisone. Several of these medicines are available over the counter. They may help if you overdo it with too much physical work and have worsened pain as a result, or if your pain is mild to moderate. Click here for more information on anti-inflammatory chronic pain medicine. Sleep Medications for Chronic PainSometimes a medicine that helps with pain will provide enough relief to allow you to get a good night's sleep. If not, there are a number of medicines that can help more specifically with sleep.These include what are called hypnotic medicines such as Lunesta (TM), as well as newer medicines such as Ambien (TM).Ambien (TM) can be habit forming, and can also cause insomnia to be worse for a while when you stop taking it. I have had a number of clients tell me they don't feel the sleep theyget with sleep medicines is of as "high a quality" as their best sleep.That having been said, I also have many clients who have taken Ambien for (TM) for sleep for a long period of time with not significant adverse effects. Some of the medicines discussed below for the treatment of anxiety may also help with sleep. As you'll see, each of them has some degree of potential for drowsiness and/or dependence. Anti-Seizure MedicinesAnti-convulsants, drugs developed to treat seizures, can be effective in treating fibromyalgia pain? Two medications in particular, Neurontin(TM)and Lyrica (TM) seem to help many people with fibromyalgia pain, as well as neuropathic pain. This seems to be a more and more common approach for clients I work with, and the reports to this point have been generally favorable. Click here for more information on the use of Lyrica as a chronic pain medicine.Avoid Over-Reliance on Pain MedicationA recent study on use of oral narcotics for treating chronic pain seems to suggest that most patients will experience at least one adverse event, or side effect. Common side effects from taking narcotic pain medication include dry mouth, nausea, drowsiness and constipation. The study also showed that a strong minority of people have to discontinue treatment with chronic pain medicine because they can't tolerate the side effects.This is one reason it's important for you to develop a balanced pain management program. Combine both alternative methods and medication if need be. Then if you have to discontinue a pain medicine, you don't have all your eggs in one basket. Difficulty Obtaining Pain MedicationThe medical profession is just starting to realize that pain is not being aggressively treated. People who need pain medication are often not able to get it.There are several reasons for this, and understanding them might help you deal more effectively with your doctor or other health care professional. Patient Fears Chronic pain patients are often reluctant to take a chronic pain medicine, feeling they should just try to "buckle down and deal with it." A study from 2003 found that: *92% of people believe pain is a fact of life *82% feel it would be too easy to become dependent on pain medication *72% believe medication will stop being effective with ongoing use, and *46% avoid taking pain medication until the pain is unbearable. In addition to these underlying attitudes, many people fear the unwarranted social stigma that can come from taking pain medication. Concerns of Healthcare Professionals Healthcare professionals sometimes have a limited background in treating chronic pain. When you don't know a lot about something, you tend to let your prejudices take over. So if your doctor is overly worried about addiction to pain medicines, he or she may be over conservative in prescribing. Click here for a more realistic view of possible addiction to pain medicine, including
how to differentiate between tolerance, dependence and addiction.
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