Neuropathic Pain Management
Chronic pain is an enduring condition which develops if there's consistent tissue injury, progressive degeneration, or other marked signs which can persist for months or even years. Common conditions that can cause chronic pain are: Arthritis of the knee. Failed back surgery. Migraines. Neuropathic pain from a slipped disk.
For chronic pain management, a variety of medications may be prescribed by a physician. These may be in the form of over-the-counter pain medication or prescription-strength pain medications. Some patients may also need to be treated with narcotic pain killers or muscle relaxers to control their painful symptoms. It's important for chronic pain sufferers and their families to know the side effects and drug interactions of these pain medications, as well as how to safely handle and store pain medications. Also, in some cases, patients may need to adjust their daily dose of medications to achieve optimum pain relief without increasing the risk of addiction.
As a result of many chronic pain conditions, opioid pain relievers are often prescribed by physicians. opioids are powerful drugs which are used to curb pain by regulating chemicals in the brain such as the pleasure and stress chemicals, which in turn, dull the brain's messages. However, opioids do have side effects and many doctors and patients alike recommend avoiding them when possible. For example, long-term use of hydrocodone, a common narcotic pain reliever, can result in severe constipation and stomach ulcers. Long-term use of long-acting analgesics such as morphine has also been associated with respiratory depression and decreased sex drive among certain age groups of men.