Multiple pain relievers are available, ranging from very mild over-the-counter medications to heavy-duty prescription narcotics. When an injury occurs, the damaged cells release prostaglandin and the nerve endings respond. The brain receives the message and recognizes the pain. Pain relievers interrupt the production of prostaglandin and the pain sensory transmission to the brain.
Back Pain
Back pain is wide-ranging in form, from a dull ache to a sharp, stabbing pain that makes it difficult to move. Conditions that increase the risk for experiencing back pain include poor physical fitness, being elderly, obesity, lifting, heredity and smoking, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Many types of pain relievers are available to treat back pain. Over-the-counter medications include analgesics such as acetaminophen and aspirin, topical analgesics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. Narcotic pain medications such as codeine, propoxyphene, hydrocodone or oxycodone may be prescribed for severe episodes of back pain.
Cancer Pain
The amount and type of pain experienced with cancer depends on the location, size and type of cancer. In addition, cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are potential causes of pain, explains MayoClinic.com.
Options for pain control caused by cancer include nonopioids such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen for mild to moderate pain. Opioids, a prescription drug such as codeine, fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine, hydroporphone, oxymorphone and methadone may be prescribed for moderate to severe pain, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Arthritis
The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, or the breakdown of joint cartilage, and rheumatoid arthritis, which is inflammation of the joint lining and other body tissues, reports Drugs.com. The amount of pain associated with arthritis depends on the extent of damage caused by the disease.
Over-the-counter pain relievers for arthritis pain include acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Prolonged use or exceeding the recommended dosage for over-the-counter medications for pain relief carry an increased risk of liver damage, heart attack and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Prescription pain relievers for arthritis pain include celecoxib, methotrexate, etanercept, adalimumab and infliximab.
Headache
Three types of headaches include tension, which may start at the back of the head and spread forward with a dull or squeezing pain; migraine, a severe pounding, throbbing or pulsating pain often accompanied with nausea or an aura; and cluster headaches, which are extremely painful, reports MedlinePlus. Potential causes for headaches include tumors, stroke, brain infection and brain aneurysm.
Tension headaches may respond to acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin, and some migraine headaches may respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. Prescription drugs for migraines include isometheptene and sumatriptan.
