Types Of Pain And Treatment Options

We’ve all been through pain in our lives. Even though it is one of the most prevalent ailments for people seeking medical care, it is also the most misunderstood and poorly handled. One explanation for this is that one person’s experience of a traumatic incident might be vastly different from another’s. In this post, we’ll look at the most prevalent forms of pain and how to treat them. Here are the types of pain and their treatment options.

Acute

It occurs unexpectedly and only lasts a brief time (i.e., minutes, hours, a couple of days, occasionally a month or two). Fractures, automobile accidents, falls, burns or scrapes, dental operations, surgery, labor, and delivery are all typical causes. Treatment- nonopioids, mild opioids, opioids, nonpharmacological therapies (cold or bioelectric therapy), and pharmacological treatments.

Soft tissues

Damage or inflammation of the muscles, tissues, or ligaments causes this sort of pain or discomfort. Treatment- Nonopioids, corticosteroids, and nonpharmacological therapies, such as ice, physiotherapy, ultrasonography, and nonpharmacological treatments.

Bone 

During activity and relaxation, one or more bones become tender, uncomfortable, or painful. Cancer, a fracture (broken bone), infection, leukemia, mineral deficiency, sickle cell anemia, or osteoporosis are all disorders or diseases that alter the structure or function of bone. Treatment- Bisphosphonates, nutritional supplements, surgery, and opioids.

Chronic

Chronic pain lasts longer than six months and occurs daily. Although the pain started as severe, it has lasted long after the primary injury or incident has healed or passed. Chronic pain may harm a person’s quality of life, making it difficult to return to work or engage in physical exercise. Treatment- antidepressants, capsaicin cream, nonopioids, mild opioids, opioids, bioelectric therapy, and radiation therapy.

Breakthrough 

Breakthrough pain is a sudden, brief, and severe increase in pain in patients who are already taking drugs to treat chronic pain caused by illnesses like arthritis, cancer, or fibromyalgia. The pain is typically intense, yet it is usually in the same region as chronic pain. Treatments- nonpharmacological therapy such as acupuncture or relaxation methods, as well as short-acting opioids

Nerve

Injury or irritation causes nerve pain to the nerves. The most prevalent descriptions are sharp, shooting, scorching, or stabbing pain, also known as neuralgia or neuropathic pain. Others have described it as an electric shock, and it’s frequently worse at night. People with neuropathic pain are sensitive to touch or cold, and they might suffer pain even from stimuli that aren’t ordinarily harmful. Treatment- nonpharmacological therapies, cognitive-behavioral therapy, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, capsaicin cream.

Phantom

Phantom pain is pain that appears to originate from a component that no longer exists. It’s prevalent in people who’ve had a limb amputated, but it’s not the same as phantom limb feeling, which is often painless. Treatment- antidepressants, anticonvulsants, ketamine, acupuncture, nonopioids, repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation, non-pharmacological therapy (rTMS).

Referred 

Referred pain comes from one location but results from an injury or inflammation in another tissue or organ. Consistent discomfort in the upper stomach area that spreads to the back is a common symptom of pancreatic injury or inflammation. Treatment- nonopioids, cold/warm compresses, massage, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation nonpharmacological therapies (TENS).