Many people suffer from chronic pain brought on by injuries or ailments. This constant, long-term pain can cause both physical and mental distress, and limit the quality of life you can have. It can also cause other additional health problems such as depression, anxiety, or difficulty sleeping. It can make working, walking, and interacting socially difficult. Finding effective treatment options is imperative, and you want to find the right balance between pain relief and your safety. Before trying out any kind of pain treatment, consult your doctor and learn all you can, so you can make safe choices. Here are some potential choices you can consider.
- Cannabis
While it is still a bit controversial, medical cannabis is now being used to treat chronic pain from conditions such as sclerosis, migraines, sleep problems, cancer-related pains, and more. Marijuana contains compounds such as CBD (cannabidiol) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is responsible for the ‘high’ that is often linked with consuming cannabis. CBD, on the other hand, has therapeutic qualities that make it ideal for treating conditions such as anxiety, epilepsy, and depression. While this page has important information from the strain, dose, and administration method, it’s important to speak to a professional before you use marijuana for pain. It’s highly addictive when misused. Marijuana is available in a wide variety of forms and edibles such as candies, cookies, cakes, oils, and buds.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
These drugs work well for mild to moderate pain that can sometimes cause swelling or inflammation. They are commonly prescribed for arthritis and pain from muscle sprains, cramps, strains, and other injuries. They work by inhibiting certain enzymes that are produced when tissue damage occurs. By blocking these different kinds of enzymes, they can reduce pain and inflammation. Some common NSAIDs include ibuprofen, Advil, etc. there are side effects to using these drugs such as nausea or stomach pain, so stick to the recommended dosages.
- Opioids
These drugs are synthetic versions of opium and opium-based drugs such as morphine. They are prescribed for severe pain that results from traumatic injuries, such as broken bones. They work like real opium by mimicking the natural pain-relieving chemicals produced in the brain called endorphins that promote a sense of well-being. They reduce pain signals sent by your nervous system and can also mute other nerve cell functions such as breathing. While they provide excellent pain relief, there is a downside to using them. They are the leading cause of drug-related overdoses, and as such, they are prescribed in their lowest doses and only for a few days.
Managing and treating chronic pain can be hard. While most of these treatments offer relief, there are dangers associated with long term use such as addiction, overdosing, or developing drug tolerance. There more treatment options for chronic pain, so talk to your doctor about your symptoms, and they can help you decide on what medications or alternative treatment combinations will help manage your symptoms.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.