Categories: Health

7 Signs You Need Painkillers How To Tell When You Are In Pain

OVERVIEW:

The following article is regarding the sign and symptoms of pain and inflammation. Different medicines to treat pain will be discussed in detail. Special emphasis will be on the fact that what is the borderline when one has to opt for analgesics for pain.

DEFINITION OF PAIN:

Pain is a feeling of an un-pleasant experience that can be sensory or emotional depending upon the actual or potential tissue damage.

TYPES OF PAIN:s

Pain can be of different types based on their origin and other characteristics. One can divide pain into the following four main types:

Inflammatory pain:

origin of such a type of pain is by an inappropriate immunological response of the body to any noxious stimulus.

Nociceptor pain:

this type of pain occurs after any type of tissue injury.

Neuropathic pain:

origin of this type of pain is from the nerves or neuronal component of the body such as sciatica pain.

Functional pain:

this is the type of pain whose origin is unknown but sensations of pain are there.

Psychogenic pain:

this is the kind of pain that is linked to the psychological factors.

Depending on the duration of persistence of pain. There are two types of pain:

Acute pain:

acute pain is the pain that remains for short durations such as headache.

Chronic pain:

chronic pains are long lived pains that takes longer to subside such as back ache etc.

ASSESSMENT OF PAIN:

One can do pain assessment by considering the following characteristics:

Location
Radiation
Mode of onset
Aggravating factors
Relieving factors
Intensity
Temporal pattern
Character of pain

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF PAIN:

The sign and symptoms that can tell that one is in pain are as follows:

Non-verbal indicators of pain can be summed up as follows:

Tense body language
Restless and irritability
Feeling low
Strained facial expressions
Shortness of breath
Tearfulness
Limited mobility
Moaning or groaning
Turning and tossing

MANAGEMENT OF PAIN:

Management of pain can be quite tricky in deciding when to see a doctor, pain threshold level is also different for different individuals. Generally any pain that is new and persistent should be discussed with the doctors. Following points should be kept in mind in deciding when to see a doctor:

Constant pain
Any pain that aggravates with time rather than subsiding
Any pain that causes fever and dramatic weight loss
Pain that interferes with daily activities such as sleeping and eating
A new type of pain that is never experienced before
Any un-explained type of pain

PHARMACOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF PAIN:

Pharmacological management of pain is treated via using analgesic medicines.

TYPES OF PAIN KILLERS:

Pain killers are those medicines that are also known as analgesics. They reduce pain by either blocking the production of pain mediators or by altering the pain perception by the brain.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PAIN KILLERS:

Anti- inflammatory pain killers are those that reduces pain, inflammation, fever and also prevents clotting of blood. Examples are diclofenac sodium and aspirin.

OPIOID ANALGESICS:

Opioid analgesics are those that acts on the opioid receptors and suppression of diarrhea and brings about morphine like effects. primarily used for pai however they can also be used for suppression of cough, alcohol withdrawal symptoms

TRAMADOL:

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic that is available with the trade name of Ultram. Patients buy tramadol to treat moderately to moderately severe type of pain.

RECOMMENDED DOSAGE AND SCHEDULING OF PAIN KILLERS:

USUAL ADULT DOSE:

Individuals who are 17 years or older Tramadol 50mg to 100 mg orally taken every 4 to 6 hour is recommended. If rapid analgesic onset is not required then a loading dose of 25 milligram once a day is taken then an increment of 25 milligram is done every third day to reach a maximum dosage of 25 milligrams four times a day. Maximum 400 milligram can be taken in a single day.

ADULT DOSE FOR CHRONIC PAINS:

Extended- release preparations are taken for chronic pain management and 100 milligram per day is the recommended dose for 18 years or older individuals. An increment of 100 milligram every 5 days can be done till the effective dose is reached with minimal side effects. Maximum dose per day is 300 milligrams.