Pain Management

Many different treatments can ease pain. Medicines are the most common treatment. But to feel better, you also can try other things, such as reducing your stress level or changing how you think.

You also can try physical therapy, relaxation, Reference acupuncture Opens New Window, and other ways to feel better. Talk with your doctor about what mix of treatments might work best for you.

Your treatment depends on several things, including:

• How Reference bad your pain is Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window (based on what you tell your doctor).
• How long you've had pain.
• The type of pain you have. For example, you might take different medicine for joint pain than you would for nerve pain.
• Other health problems you may have.

If you have pain for a long time, your treatment may change over time.

Medicines to treat pain

Several types of medicines can be used to treat pain. Most of these medicines can treat more than one kind of pain. So you may need to try a couple of medicines to see which works best for you. Your doctor will work with you to find the right types and dosage of medicine. You may take more than one kind of medicine at the same time.

All medicines have side effects. For more information, see the Reference Side Effects of Pain Medicines section of this topic.

Learn more about:

• Reference Which questions to ask about your medicines.
• Reference How to take medicines as prescribed.

Other treatments

You may want to try other ways to help you relax and ease pain. These may include:

• Reference Acupuncture. Very thin needles are put into the skin at certain places on your body to relieve pain.
• Reference Biofeedback. You may use this to help control muscle tension, heart rate, and other reactions to pain.
• Reference Heat or cold. These can help arthritis. You also can use heat or cold for sore muscles and other aches.
• Reference Hypnosis. This may help you focus your mind on something other than your pain.
• Reference Massage. This can reduce muscle tension.
• Reference Meditation. This may help you focus your mind on something other than your pain. It also can reduce stress.
• Reference Physical therapy. This treatment can improve how you move and your overall fitness.
• Reference Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) Opens New Window. A mild electrical current is used to relieve pain.
• Reference Reference Yoga. This may increase your strength and how well you move. It also can reduce stress.

For more information, see the topic Reference Complementary Medicine.

Opens New Window Complementary Medicine: Should I Use Complementary Medicine? Opens New Window

Reducing stress

Stress can make pain worse. It can tighten your muscles, which can cause headaches and pain in your neck, shoulders, and back.

Try these methods to reduce stress and pain:

• Reference Reference Doing progressive muscle relaxation
• Reference Reference Managing your time
• Reference Reference Reducing stress by being assertive
• Reference Reference Breathing exercises for relaxation
• Reference Reference Doing guided imagery to relax
• Reference Reference Doing meditation
• Reference Reference Practicing yoga to relax

For more information, see the topic Reference Stress Management.

Changing how you think

How you think can affect how you feel. You may be able to reduce your pain by having positive thoughts. You can change what you say to yourself about your pain. To help your outlook, try the methods described in these topics:

• Reference Reference Stop Negative Thoughts: Getting Started
• Reference Reference Anxiety: Stop Negative Thoughts
• Reference Reference Depression: Stop Negative Thoughts

For more information, see the topic Reference Positive Thinking With Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.

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This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.