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If you are suffering from pain almost every day, you are not alone. Almost 50 million people in the United States have chronic pain, and many don’t receive the treatment they need.
First –you must tell your doctor if you have pain. Then you can work together to treat it. As you build your treatment plan together, you need to frequently tell your doctor what works and what does not, so you can work together to choose the best treatment for you.
Acetaminophen is a good first choice for most people with pain. It can help with many types of pain, and is very safe at recommended doses. You and your doctor should know how much you are taking every day, including acetaminophen that is part of your prescription pain medicines, and other over-the-counter medicines including those used to treat a cold or to help with sleep.
You should never take more than 4,000mg of acetaminophen each day (e.g. 4 grams; 3 grams if you are over age 65). This is about 12 tablets of 325mg, or 8 tablets of 500mg. Talk to your doctor before taking acetaminophen if you have any liver disease or if you drink any alcohol. Acetaminophen is very affordable and available over the counter.
Many doctors will start with acetaminophen, then add other medications if it is not working well enough alone.
NSAID medications can be very good at reducing your pain, but you and your doctor should determine if these drugs are right for you. Many NSAIDs should not be taken by patients with:
For people who are able to take NSAIDs, many types are affordable and available over-the-counter, (such as ibuprofen [e.g. Motrin or Advil], or naproxen [e.g. Aleve]). Talk to your doctor before starting a NSAID to help pick the right one for you.
If you are taking both a NSAID and an aspirin (for your heart) you should not take them at the same time or you should talk to your doctor about how to schedule your medications so that they work the best.
There are many kinds of opiate drugs, some of which include morphine, codeine, and fentanyl. These are very strong pain relievers, and they cause many side effects. Side effects may include constipation, stomach upset, and confusion or sleepiness. Some people may have more serious side effects, such as falls or other accidents. These drugs can also be addictive.
Some of these drugs only last a few hours, while others last longer; some can be given by mouth, or by a patch on the skin. Your doctor can decide which type is best for your type of pain. You should follow-up closely with your doctor if you need an opiate medication.
Medications used to treat other conditions, such as seizures and depression might help you if you have certain types of pain such as fibromyalgia or neuropathic pain. For some patients, creams and patches that can be put onto the skin at the site of the pain are helpful. Sometimes, your doctor may recommend an injection of a medication into a joint (such as your knee or hip)to help relieve the pain for a few weeks. Some of these medications are expensive, so you and your doctor should think about the cost before deciding which is right for you.
There may also be other options, such as exercise and other physical therapies, depending on the type of pain you have. Sometimes the best way to relieve the pain is to have surgery, such as knee or hip replacement. Your doctor can talk to you more about these options.
Be sure to talk to your doctor about your pain, so you can get the treatment you need. Make sure you talk about the effect of the treatment on your pain and do not forget to discuss any side effects you are having.
To learn more about your pain, or to find resources available in your area, go to: www.painfoundation.org.