Pain
Relief Consultations & Treatments At Pharmacy2U
What is pain?
Minor and temporary pain is a part of
life. Pain serves to warn us when something is wrong, and can be
part of the healing process by making us be careful after we
have been hurt. As we get older things tend to creak and groan a
little, and sometimes a bad back or aching joints can become a
hindrance to daily life.
What are the
different types of pain?
For all of us
the pursuit of an active life can also sometimes result in
injury. It’s great to be active – the benefits of playing sport
and generally being physically active through cycling, walking,
gardening, doing DIY or in any other way are well documented.
However, occasionally things can go wrong, leaving you with
those sprains, strains, aches and pains that often go
hand-in-hand with an active life.
The most common sprain is a sprained
ankle - this is when one or more of the ankle ligaments are
stretched or perhaps ruptured or torn during a sudden impact or
pull on the joint. Repetitive and forceful movements can also
cause sprains. Ligaments in other joints such as the knee,
wrist, elbow or thumb can be similarly sprained.
Strained muscles are caused when the
muscle in question is overstretched or torn to some extent due
to over stretching or being caused to contract too quickly. This
can happen as a result of an accident or intended physical
exertion. The most common is a strained hamstring, but strains
to the calf, thigh and lower back are also common.
How is pain
treated?
Pain can be
treated in a number of ways, and the best approach depends on
what has happened to cause the pain.
The general aches and pains of life
we often experience as we get older - such as a sore back or
aching joints - are best investigated by a doctor if they last a
long time or seem to be getting worse. Minor problems can be
managed by the careful use of pain relief medication (analgesia)
as and when it is needed.
Types of pain
relief medication
Effective pain relief can be
available without a prescription. Paracetamol is an effective
pain reliever and can be used either alone or in combination
with codeine. Ibuprofen (with or without codeine) is effective
for pain and inflammation and is from a class of medicines known
as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). A wide
variety of pain relief products containing these ingredients are
available without a prescription. Click here for further details
and to purchase relief for joint and muscle pain.
In some cases, something a little
stronger may be needed and the Pharmacy2U Online Doctor service
can prescribe higher
strengths of ibuprofen, which are only available on
prescription. The prescription-only NSAIDs Naprosyn
(naproxen) tablets, Celebrex or
the generic version celecoxib are
also available. Co-codamol and codeine can also be prescribed if
the doctor thinks they are right for you.
Arcoxia (etoricoxib) is a
prescription-only NSAID that can also be prescribed for short
periods of time, which is very effective for controlling pain
and inflammation. It has a long duration of action and so needs
only to be taken once a day. It is the Pharmacy2U Online
Doctor’s prescription treatment of choice for sports injuries
and other sprains and strains.
What shoud I be aware of?
Arcoxia and other NSAIDs can be a bit
rough on the stomach. To protect the stomach, NSAIDs can be
taken with omeprazole or Zoton
FasTabs.
There is debate whether or not drugs
that reduce inflammation (ibuprofen, diclofenac and other
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs -NSAIDs) should be taken
in the first 48 hours after an acute injury as they may delay
healing. They are, however, effective in controlling the pain.
Current guidelines are that they should be avoided in that
initial 48-hour period
Precautions to following after minor
injury
When strains and sprains occur, what
do we do? In most cases, these injuries will heal themselves
over time, so the aim of treatment is to keep the short-term
pain to a minimum and minimise the inflammation and swelling to
keep the joint mobile. This avoids the formation of scar tissue,
which can restrict movement in the longer term. "PRICE" therapy
is advised:
Protect
the injured area from further damage by providing support. Ankle
supports or knee braces can be very useful.
Rest
the injured area for 48-72 hours. You may need to use crutches
to get around.
Ice.
Apply ice for 10-30 minutes. More than 30 minutes can damage the
skin. The cold reduces blood flow, which in turn reduces pain
and inflammation.
Compression.
Compress or bandage the injured area to limit any swelling and
movement that could damage it further. You can use a crepe
bandage or a simple elastic bandage. Bandage the area snugly but
not so tightly that it restricts blood flow. Remove the bandage
before you go to sleep.
Elevate.
Raise the affected area to reduce swelling.
In addition, you should avoid "HARM",
an acronym for things you should avoid in the first 72 hours
following an injury:
Heat.
This can increase blood flow and increase swelling and pain.
Alcohol
should be avoided as it can increase bleeding and delay healing.
Running
or other activity that can aggravate the injury should be
avoided.
Massage.
This stimulates blood flow and can increase bleeding and
swelling.
In most cases, strained joints should
be kept moving gently to avoid loss of mobility – this also
promotes healing. Strained muscles are more often better kept
still for the first few days to allow them to heal.
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