Pain Management Medication

Living with pain is something we don't have to do anymore. We have endless options at our disposal, something to suit almost anyone's pain level. There are so many pain relief methods available that deciding between them can be . . . well . . . painful. With a little guidance and background information, you can find what will work best for you.

Different Kinds of Pain Relief

Aspirin has proven over the years to be endlessly valuable. It's always been a very effective pain reliever but has recently been recognized for its blood thinning abilities. This is fantastic news for people with heart disease. Aspirin can be very tough on the stomach, though, irritating the walls of the stomach and sometimes creating as much pain as it should be relieving.

COX-2 inhibitors are relatively young pain relief medicines and have largely been prescribed to arthritis patients. These medicines, which include Celebrex and Bextra, don't have the same gastrointestinal side effects of aspirin and the like. There have been recent negative developments in the effects of COX-2 inhibitors. One particular brand, Vioxx, was recalled by the manufacturer because lab tests suggested that it increased the risk of heart attack and stroke. This has cast some doubt on the safety of COX-2 inhibitors.

Some people look for pain management medication in the form of herbal supplements and herbal medicines. There are holistic creams, like emu oil, that when rubbed onto the affected area, relieve pain. Pain relief teas are available that are filled with herbs to help you relax, like chamomile, and to relieve pain, like willow bark. Supplements, like glucosamine and chondroitin, can relieve pain and swelling.