Table of contents:
- Choose painkillers as needed
- 1. Nociceptive pain
- 2. Neuropathic pain
- 3. Migraine pain
- 4. Chronic inflammatory pain
- 5. Pain due to cancer
You may be familiar with several types of over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, did you know that these two types of drugs cannot treat all types of pain? For more severe pain, you will need a different pain reliever medication. Likewise if you want to deal with chronic pain.
Choose painkillers as needed
In order for the pain to go away quickly, you need to match the type of pain with the appropriate pain medication. The reason is, not all pain is the same, pain relievers will depend on the intensity of the pain you feel. Well, the pain itself is divided into several groups.
1. Nociceptive pain
Nociceptive pain is pain caused by damage or injury to body tissues, for example when you have a headache or sprains. Usually this type of pain is mild pain and can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.
These drugs work by inhibiting the sending of pain signals to the brain and reducing inflammation and fever in the body. However, if the pain is caused by a serious injury such as a fracture, you will need stronger pain relievers such as morphine.
2. Neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to the nerves. Therefore, painkillers that are specific to inflammation and nociceptive pain are not effective at treating this type of pain.
The types of drugs used to treat neuropathic pain usually come from the class of antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and gabapentine. These drugs work by increasing the body's ability to deal with pain. One of them is by blocking pain signals from the receptors to the nervous system in the spine.
3. Migraine pain
Migraine pain is a type of pain that occurs on one side of the head and can last from several hours to days. Most migraine sufferers often experience nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light and sound.
Paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin, and ergotamine are examples of painkillers used to treat migraine pain. These medications work by narrowing the blood vessels and preventing them from dilating again. However, you need to consult your doctor first because some types of migraine medicines should not be taken every day.
4. Chronic inflammatory pain
Chronic inflammatory pain is generally the result of inflammatory joint disease, including osteoarthritis. Paracetamol is usually given as a first-line treatment for arthritis pain. If the pain gets worse, the doctor can give you other drugs such as naproxen.
Naproxen can reduce inflammation and swelling effectively by reducing the production of prostaglandin hormones. Prostaglandin hormones are hormones that play a role in the inflammatory process, so suppressing the amount will prevent inflammation from continuing.
Even so, long-term use of this type of drug is not recommended because it can cause ulcers (sores) in the stomach.
5. Pain due to cancer
Cancer sufferers can experience pain due to tumor pressure on organs, bones, or nerve tissue. Because this type of pain is chronic and severe, cancer sufferers usually need to take a combination of painkillers consisting of paracetamol and morphine.
Morphine binds to pain receptors on nerves and alters the reception of pain signals in the brain so that pain can be reduced. It should be noted that this drug is included in the narcotic class and is one of the strongest types of painkillers. Therefore, its use must be prescribed by a doctor and only specifically for dealing with severe pain.
Even if you are taking painkillers that are classified as mild and over-the-counter, still pay attention to the dosage and length of use. The reason is, the long-term consumption of pain relievers can also cause various side effects that are detrimental to the body.
