1. Stay Conservative if Your Pain Is Mild
Mild and even moderate pain can often be successfully controlled by over-the-counter pain relievers. In most cases of pain, these are the first types of drugs that people try. Minor cuts, bruises, headaches and general aches and pains are all good candidates for treatment with over-the-counter pain relievers. Aspirin, buffered aspirin, ibuprofen and acetominaphen are the most commonly used OTC pain relievers and are easily found in both brand name and generic varieties.
2. Take Your Pain Medication to the Next Level
If conservative treatment isn't controlling your pain, you'll need to see a doctor. Your doctor will most likely start you out on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). NSAID drugs are a little bit stronger than your average over-the-counter medication and will also relieve any inflammation that is present. The drawback of NSAIDs is that they can irritate your stomach, so you always need to take them with food. If you have an ulcer or other stomach problem, however, your doctor may bypass NSAIDs for you altogether and jump right to the next level of pain treatment.
3. Sample the Strong Stuff
Opioids are the next level of pain relief. If your pain is really bad and it hasn't been adequately controlled by other methods, opioids are the next option. These are powerful pain relievers, but they are also very addictive, so doctors usually save them for the toughest cases. They are also the first line of drugs used to control pain right after most surgeries. Opioids tend to make you sleepy, so there'll be no driving or operating heavy machinery when you're on them. Your doctor will likely try to get you off the opioids as soon as possible, in order to avoid the possibility of addiction. You probably won't get many refills on your prescription and as soon as your pain is controlled, your doctor will try you on something else.
4. Treat Nerve Pain the Right Way
Nerve pain is different from other types of pain that have an obvious cause. When pain originates in the nerves, it can be hard to pinpoint and reach the specific nerves affected. Antidepressant and anti-convulsant drugs are both used to treat this type of pain. Sometimes these drugs are prescribed in combination with opioids and sometimes you'll get them on their own, depending on the severity of your condition.
