Treatments for the Management of Pain

Medications for managing pain - Due to rapid medical advances, a wide variety of medications and treatments are available for acute, chronic and cancer pain. Patients may be prescribed medications before receiving other forms of therapy. The pain medicine doctor may conclude that a diversified treatment plan may be right for you. The therapy plan will be medically tailored to your specific needs.

Anti-inflammatory drugs - Aspirin (Anacin®, Bayer®,) coated or buffered aspirin (Ascriptin®, Bufferin®) and aspirin with acetaminophen (Excedrin) may be used to reduce swelling and irritation as well as to relieve pain. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs known as NSAIDs ("N-Sayeds") such as ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) and naproxen (A cue ®). Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to reduce inflammation, fever and pain. Steroidal drugs are available by prescription only. These are used to treat more serious inflammatory conditions such as chronic arthritis.

Common Pain Relievers - Non-aspirin pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol ®) can relieve headaches and minor pain but do not reduce swelling. They are sometimes used in combination with other treatment to reduce pain.

Some Medication, by itself, may not effectively manage certain kinds of pain. Some medicines are more effective in fighting pain when they are combined with other methods of treatment. Some conditions may respond to physical medicine rather than prescription drugs altogether. Some of the available treatments being used successfully to treat pain include:

Injection Treatments - Local anesthetics (such as Novocain®), with or without cortisone - like medicines may be injected around nerve roots and into muscle joints. This can reduce swellings, irritation, and muscle spasms.

Electrical Stimulation - The most common form of electrical stimulator is Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). This modality is used at 7th Ave Physical Medicine. It is not painful and does not require needles or medicine. TENS can diminish pain by stimulating nerve fibers found deep to the skin.

Acupuncture - Practitioners of Acupuncture undergo specialized training in this specialized technique, which may be used for certain painful conditions. This ancient Chinese practice uses very thin needles at very specific points on the skin to treat disease and pain.

Surgery - Surgical treatment may be recommended when necessary. In rare instances when a patient's pain has not subsided, surgery can be done to give the patient some relief and allow them to resume near-normal daily activities. Usually all other options of treatment are tried before surgery is considered.

Nerve blocks - often a group of nerves called a plexus or ganglion, that causes pain to a specific organ or region of the body can be blocked with the use of local anesthetics.

Physical and aquatic therapy - One of the qualified practitioners may suggest an exercise program tailored for you that will increase your daily functioning and decrease your pain. Other treatments may include whirlpool therapy, ultrasound and deep-muscle massage.