Treating Pain: A Guide To Effective Pain Relief Treatments For Common Conditions

Treating Pain: A Guide To Effective Pain Relief Treatments For Common Conditions

Pain can be very unpleasant. Whether acute or chronic, pain can greatly affect our quality of life and can limit our ability to work, socialise, and perform daily tasks. While pain is a natural response from the body to injury or illness, it is not something that we have to live with. With proper treatment, pain can be managed to the point where we can regain our mobility, productivity, and overall well-being. In this article, we will explore the different types of pain, the most common causes of pain, and the most effective treatment options for various different conditions.

What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is a type of pain that persists for an extended period of time, typically longer than three months. It can result from a variety of conditions or injuries and can affect any part of the body. Chronic pain can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life, leading to physical and emotional distress, feelings of social isolation, and in some cases even disability. The treatment of chronic pain will vary from person to person. It often involves a multimodal approach that includes medication, physical therapy, counselling, and lifestyle changes.

What is acute pain?

Acute pain is a type of pain that comes on suddenly. It is a normal response to tissue damage or injury and serves as a warning signal to the body that something is wrong. Usually, it is short-lived and will typically resolve when the underlying cause of the pain is treated or healed. In most cases, acute pain will go away on its own. However, it can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription pain medications.

What are the most common pain conditions that people experience globally?

The most common pain conditions that affect the most people globally will vary depending on a number of different factors. It is hard to pinpoint the exact condition that is most common as there are many different forms of pain that are caused by different conditions. Here are some of the most common conditions that affect a large number of people all over the world:

• Back pain
• Headaches
• Arthritis
• Neuropathic pain
• Dental pain
• Menstrual pain

Here is a handy table that lists these types of pain as well as a description of what the pain is.

Type of Pain	Description
Back pain	Pain in the back can be caused by multiple factors including posture, muscle strain or injury.
Headaches	The most common types of headaches are tension headaches and migraines.
Arthritis	A condition that causes joint pain and stiffness.
Neuropathic pain	Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to the nerves.
Dental Pain	The most common forms of dental pain include toothaches and pain felt after dental work.
Menstrual Pain	Pain experienced by women due to menstrual cramps and other factors associated with the menstrual cycle.

 

What treatments are best for certain conditions?

What is the most effective back pain treatment?

The most effective back pain treatment will vary for the particular condition it is treating. Some conditions will not require medication and can either be left to heal over time, or treated with over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen. For chronic back pain, stronger painkillers such as codeine or co-codamol may be needed if the pain is more severe.

Are lower back pain treatments different from other back pain treatments?

Lower back pain treatments can be similar to treatments for other types of back pain. The lower back is a common area for the pain to occur. This pain can be caused by a variety of factors such as poor posture, muscle strains or sprains, herniated discs, and degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis. Lower back pain treatment will vary depending on the particular condition and severity of the pain.

What is the most effective heel pain treatment?

Heel pain can be caused by a number of conditions including plantar fasciitis which is an infection of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue running along the bottom of the foot. Typically, this condition will be effectively treated by stretching exercises and over-the-counter pain relievers.  

What is the most effective knee pain treatment?

Knee pain can be commonly caused by conditions such as arthritis, injuries and other conditions that are associated with factors such as age or weight. Knee pain is commonly treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs. Well-known NSAIDs include ibuprofen and aspirin. For chronic knee pain, stronger painkillers such as dihydrocodeine may be best.

What is the most effective neck pain treatment?

For acute neck pain caused by issues with muscle strains or poor posture, NSAIDs will usually treat the pain effectively. However, some neck pain can be chronic, such as pain caused by injuries and whiplash. This pain can be treated effectively using prescription-only pain relief medications. 

What is the most effective sciatica pain treatment?

Sciatica is a condition caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is the longest nerve in the body and runs from the lower back down through the legs. Sciatica can vary in severity and can cause chronic pain. This pain will be best treated by prescription-only medications such as co-codamol. 

What is the most effective shoulder pain treatment?

The most effective treatment for shoulder pain will vary depending on the cause of the pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers may be effective for some shoulder pain, but in some cases, prescription medications may be needed. 

What is the most effective groin pain treatment?

Groin pain can be caused by a number of different factors. Groin strains are a common cause of groin pain. Strains can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers and plenty of rest. Another cause of groin pain is hernias. Hernias may need surgery, and prescription-only pain relievers such as solpadol may be needed. 

What is the most effective stomach pain treatment?

Stomach pain can be caused by a number of different factors. Typically, most of the causes of stomach pain can be treated by using over-the-counter pain medications as they typically cause acute pain rather than chronic pain. 

What is the most effective wrist pain treatment?

The most effective form of pain treatment for wrist pain will vary depending on the cause of the pain. Pain caused by conditions such as tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome can be effectively managed by using over-the-counter medications. If you have broken or sprained your wrist you may need to use prescription pain relief in the short term.

What is the most effective ankle pain treatment?

Ankle pain is typically caused by factors such as sprains, tendinitis or arthritis. Pain from tendonitis and arthritis can be acute and managed by over-the-counter medications; however, chronic pain associated with these conditions may be treated more effectively in the short term by medications such as dihydrocodeine. 

What is the most effective ear pain treatment?

Ear pain is commonly caused by infections or conditions such as a swimmer’s ear or earwax blockages. Typically, the pain caused by these conditions will be effectively treated by using over-the-counter medications.

What is the most effective elbow pain treatment?

The most common causes of elbow pain include arthritis, tennis/golfers elbow and bursitis. Bursitis is a condition caused by the inflammation of bursa sacs that cushions the joint of the elbow. The pain caused by these conditions are typically chronic but not severe and can be managed by over-the-counter medications.

What is the most effective hip pain treatment?

Hip pain and the best treatment for it will depend on the underlying condition it is caused by. Hip pain is often caused by arthritis, hip impingement which occurs when the bones of the hip rub against each other, or bursitis. The pain caused by these conditions is usually treatable by over-the-counter medications, however, in some cases, prescription medications may be more suitable.  

What is the most effective joint pain treatment?

Joint pain can be caused by a wide variety of different reasons. Typically, joint pain treatment will vary depending on the particular condition. For minor joint pain you can typically use over-the-counter pain medications to treat this. For more chronic, serious pain you may need to use short-term prescription medications. 

What is the most effective nerve pain treatment?

The most effective treatment for nerve pain will vary depending on the particular condition it is treating. Usually, opioid medications such as codeine will be used to help treat nerve pain. This is because it is typically more severe than other forms of pain. 

What is the most effective neuropathic pain treatment?

The most effective treatment for neuropathic pain will vary from person to person. In general, opioid medications will be used to help relieve pain from neuropathic conditions. 

What is the most effective kidney pain treatment?

Kidney pain can be a sign of many different conditions including infections, inflammation and kidney stones. Depending on the severity of the pain, treatment will vary. Kidney pain can be quite severe and can sometimes only be eased by prescription medications. 

What is the most effective muscle pain treatment?

Typically, muscle pain will be mild to moderate and can be eased by over-the-counter pain relievers. Some muscle pain, however, can be severe and may only be relieved by using stronger, prescription treatments. 

What is the most effective calf pain treatment?

Calf pain is usually caused by pain in the calf muscles caused by injury or inflammation. Usually, this pain can be managed using over-the-counter medications. This pain should also pass with time.

Which pain relief treatments are available at EU Meds?

There are a number of different pain relief treatments that are available to purchase online from EU Meds. We have popular prescription-only medications such as co-codamol, dihydrocodeine and codeine available to purchase, as well as other over-the-counter alternatives such as ibuprofen. 

How do I buy pain relief medication at EU Meds?

It is simple to buy pain relief medication from EU Meds. Simply select the medication you wish to purchase. If you wish to purchase prescription medication then you will need to complete our free online consultation which ensures that the medication is right for you. 

Sources

• Beaumont - Types of Pain
• UCLH - Types of Pain
• Faculty of Pain Medicine - About Pain Patients
• CKS NHS - Prevalence of Chronic Pain
• Autoinflammatory UK - How to Describe Pain
• British Pain Society - What is Pain?
• CPD Online - Types of Pain
• NHS Inform - Chronic Pain
• NHS Lanarkshire - Chronic Pain
• Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust - Living with Pain and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME Service
• Autoinflammatory UK - How to Describe Pain
• Cumbria NHS - Neuropathic Pain