Pain Medications
- What Is Pain?
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
- Acetaminophen
- Acetaminophen Combinations
- Narcotics
- Abuse, Addiction, and Withdrawal
- Pain Medications to Avoid
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- References
- Authors and Editors
What Is Pain?
Pain is an unpleasant sensation. Pain can be sharp or dull, burning or numbing, minor or major, acute or chronic. It can be a minor inconvenience or completely disabling.
Both the area of the injury and how the brain deals with signals from the area of pain affect the sensation. Generally, medications try either to stop the transmission of pain from the site of injury or to affect the brain directly.
The effects of pain medication are different for different people. Also, the tolerance of pain varies greatly from one person to another.
For this reason, one medication will not be right for everyone with the same injury. For example, some people are quite happy with an over-the-counter medication for an ankle sprain, while others will need a more powerful prescription pain reliever. The right pain medication depends on the person experiencing the pain, not on the condition that is causing the pain.
Next: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs »
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Chronic Pain/Back Pain
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Toothache Overview
Toothache or tooth pain is caused when the nerve root of a tooth is irritated. Dental (tooth) infection, decay, injury, or loss of a tooth are the most common causes of dental pain. Pain may also occur after an extraction (tooth is pulled out). Pain sometimes originates from other areas and radiates to the jaw, thus appearing to be tooth pain. The most common areas include the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint or TMJ), ear pain, and even occasional heart problems.
- Bacteria growing inside your mouth can contribute to gum disease, plaque, and dental decay. These problems can become painful. The cause and prevention of dental disease has been well investigated.
- You can prevent the majority of dental problems through flossing, brushing with fluoride toothpaste, and having your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year. The dentist may apply sealants and fluoride, which are especially important in children. /...
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Therapeutic Injections for Pain Management »
This article focuses on the use of therapeutic injections to treat acute and chronic pain syndromes.
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