• Published on: Sep 23, 2021
  • 4 minute read
  • By: Second Medic Expert

Treating Chronic Pain Medications, Relieve Chronic Pain

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What Is Pain Management?

Pain management is all about easing the suffering caused by chronic, acute, and cancer pain. Pain management takes on many forms because there are so many factors that can cause or contribute to pain.

Pain management is an important aspect of healthcare and should always involve a doctor or other licensed provider. It differs from pain relief in the sense that pain relief does not necessarily refer to an entire spectrum of care whereas pain management does.

Pain management is the use of medication, therapeutic treatments, psychotherapy, or any other means to relieve pain during its various stages.

Pain management may take place in diverse clinical settings, include analgesic combination treatment with opioids and an adjuvant drug. The initial step of prescribing analgesics for acute pain is important because it can affect whether post-surgical patients will be successfully transitioned back to their pre-surgical functional level at discharge. A 2006 survey found that 43% of adults living with daily chronic pain feel neglected by doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

Pain awareness is generated by the vast network of nerves that permeate our bodies. When pain neurons are stimulated, they send signals to the brain which, in turn, will produce an effector response. The objective of pain management is to interrupt or inhibit these impulses before they reach their target.

The use of analgesics (pain-numbing medication) gives immediate relief for many types of pain and also lessens sensitivity so that minor stimuli are not felt as acutely as often or at all. Examples include topical analgesics like calamine lotion or alum; non-narcotic medications like acetaminophen; and narcotic medications like codeine (to be used under medical supervision).

Pain management is a risk management strategy used to combat the growing opioid epidemic. Relying on a single treatment option that only masks the pain puts more people at risk of addiction and makes it harder for them to function in everyday life. On the other hand, using more than one method of pain relief may have a synergistic effect - for instance, while medications may suppress acute pain, physical therapy can help patients find ways to avoid future injuries which would add to their chronic pain burden. Considering this, it's often suggested that clinicians coordinate care with individuals, so they have diverse means of managing their pain.

Pain management refers to the treatments available for different people experiencing chronic or acute pain. Pain management can involve medications, physical therapy, massage therapy, meditation, and more. Consult with your doctor on what treatments are best for you-or to explore these options on your own to better understand which treatment may be right for you!

Pain management is the use of medications and other treatments to control pain. Pain management is a medical approach used to provide relief from pain. Pain management may include measures such as anesthesia, neuropathic pain medications, physical therapy or other treatments. In some cases, people may be able to manage pain through activities such as yoga and meditation.

The goal of pain management is to allow a person who has constant painful symptoms the opportunity to achieve a high quality of life while still being able to function in their daily routine. Some individuals can maintain this status indefinitely while others experience periods where the efficacy of treatment wears off and certain chronic conditions start progressing again due to continued inflammation or damage in the body. The long-term prognosis depends on how severe the cause for sensory input was originally and other factors that have been enabled by treatment

It's important to distinguish the sensation of pain from its cause. Pain is a physical response that is sent by nerve cells to the brain when they are damaged, inflamed, or irritated. It acts as an indicator of findings of danger or harm to the body. The two main types of pain are "nociceptive" - telling you about potential injuries - and "neuropathic" feeling caused by disease rather than injury. Neuropathic pain can be difficult because it has so many different forms and underlying causes that have not been identified in most cases but may include post-shingles wounds or damage due to diabetes, chemotherapy or infections with HIV. Acute neuropathic pain often requires medications for relief including

Pain management is a strategy for controlling chronic pain. It involves finding and treating the underlying cause of the pain as well as preventing further injury to the area, using techniques such as physical therapy.

The first step in long-term pain management is always assessment and treatment of the underlying cause(s). For example, if we find that someone has bone cancer then we treat their cancer with surgery and chemotherapy more than we worry about treating their pain directly. Other common causes might be post-surgery recovery or nerve damage due to trauma or disease. The second step is prevention and education.

Pain management is the act of making it easier for you to get through pain or feel better during your pain. Whatever this might look like - such as sitting in a warm bath, taking a hot shower, meditating - there is no "right" way to manage pain except by what works best for YOU. It may sound silly, but what can work best for one person won't necessarily work best for another and that's okay.  Quality of life and happiness matter more than anything else and deserve our attention!

Pain management is a nurse's specialty that allows patients to recover with less discomfort and pain. They do this by using analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and local anesthetics that reduce or suppress the sensation of pain.

Pain Management nurses specifically focus on alleviating symptoms and enhancing recovery in interdisciplinary healthcare teams. The goal is for patients to be efficient at returning home within 24 hours from surgery so they can resume activities of daily living while achieving the improvements require after major surgery. Achieving these goals will dramatically improve quality of life while providing continuity of care from one provider to another between providers visits.

Pain management is a method of controlling or relieving pain, especially when there are no effective remedies. Pain management encompasses many different techniques, including analgesics (drugs that relieve pain) and adjunctive therapies, which include physical therapy and behavioral treatments. 

Cannabis has been an empirically recognized medicinal plant since time immemorial for its analgesic effects in reducing chronic neuropathic pain in otherwise treatment-resistant individuals. Previous studies have also suggested that the endocannabinoid system provides a promising therapeutic target in mitigating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

There are many different techniques for effectively managing pain without the unwanted side effects of medications. The following are recommended, in order from less to most aggressive,

1. Acupuncture - acupuncture stimulates certain nerves that lessen or even stop nociception signals.

2. Trigger point therapy - massaging muscles may release trigger points that increase pressure on surrounding tissues, causing referral pain elsewhere in the body, i.e., headache or back pain

3. Yoga- this may include focusing on breathing exercises and poses that stretch tight muscles to help resolve chronic tension

4. Breathing exercises- If you suffer stress-induced headaches or other symptoms associated with overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), it might be time to try

Read Blog
Fatigue

why fatigue should not be ignored

Feeling tired occasionally is a normal response to physical exertion, lack of sleep or emotional stress. However, when fatigue becomes persistent, overwhelming or unexplained, it should not be dismissed. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms reported in healthcare, yet it is also one of the most frequently ignored.

Understanding why fatigue should not be ignored is essential because it often acts as an early warning sign of deeper physical or mental health issues.

 

What Is Fatigue?

Fatigue is a state of ongoing physical, mental or emotional exhaustion that:

  • lasts longer than expected
     

  • interferes with daily activities
     

  • does not improve with rest or sleep
     

Unlike ordinary tiredness, fatigue affects motivation, concentration and overall functioning.

 

Why Fatigue Is Commonly Ignored

Fatigue is often dismissed because:

  • busy lifestyles normalise exhaustion
     

  • symptoms develop gradually
     

  • people attribute fatigue to stress or ageing
     

  • rest temporarily masks the issue
     

Ignoring fatigue allows underlying conditions to progress unnoticed.

 

Common Medical Causes of Persistent Fatigue

Nutritional Deficiencies

Deficiencies in:

  • iron
     

  • vitamin B12
     

  • vitamin D
     

  • magnesium
     

can significantly reduce energy levels and cause weakness.

 

Anaemia

Anaemia reduces oxygen delivery to tissues, leading to:

  • constant tiredness
     

  • breathlessness
     

  • dizziness
     

It is one of the most common yet underdiagnosed causes of fatigue.

 

Thyroid Disorders

Both underactive and overactive thyroid conditions affect metabolism.

Symptoms include:

  • fatigue
     

  • weight changes
     

  • cold or heat intolerance
     

Thyroid-related fatigue often persists despite rest.

 

Chronic Infections

Low-grade or unresolved infections keep the immune system activated, causing prolonged fatigue.

 

Hormonal Imbalance

Hormones regulate energy, sleep and metabolism.

Imbalance may lead to:

  • exhaustion
     

  • poor sleep
     

  • low motivation
     

 

Poor Sleep Quality

Even with sufficient sleep duration, poor sleep quality can cause fatigue due to:

  • sleep apnea
     

  • frequent awakenings
     

  • stress-related insomnia
     

 

Mental Health Conditions

Anxiety, depression and chronic stress commonly present with fatigue as a primary symptom.

Mental fatigue is as real and impactful as physical fatigue.

 

Lifestyle Factors That Worsen Fatigue

Certain habits intensify tiredness:

  • irregular meals
     

  • excessive caffeine
     

  • dehydration
     

  • lack of physical activity
     

  • prolonged screen use
     

Lifestyle-related fatigue often coexists with medical causes.

 

How Fatigue Affects Daily Life

Persistent fatigue impacts:

  • work performance
     

  • concentration and memory
     

  • emotional regulation
     

  • physical activity
     

  • social relationships
     

Over time, quality of life declines significantly.

 

Warning Signs That Fatigue Needs Medical Attention

Seek evaluation if fatigue:

  • lasts more than two weeks
     

  • worsens progressively
     

  • occurs with weight loss or fever
     

  • is associated with breathlessness
     

  • interferes with daily tasks
     

These signs suggest an underlying issue.

 

Why Early Evaluation Matters

Early identification of fatigue causes:

  • prevents disease progression
     

  • simplifies treatment
     

  • improves recovery time
     

  • restores normal energy levels
     

Delayed care often leads to chronic complications.

 

Diagnostic Evaluation for Fatigue

Assessment may include:

  • detailed history
     

  • blood tests
     

  • nutritional screening
     

  • hormonal evaluation
     

  • sleep assessment
     

Testing helps identify root causes rather than treating symptoms alone.

 

Can Fatigue Be Prevented?

Some preventive measures include:

  • balanced nutrition
     

  • adequate hydration
     

  • regular physical activity
     

  • consistent sleep routine
     

  • stress management
     

However, prevention does not replace evaluation when fatigue persists.

 

Fatigue and Chronic Disease Risk

Long-term fatigue may be linked to:

  • cardiovascular disease
     

  • metabolic disorders
     

  • immune dysfunction
     

This makes fatigue an important early health signal.

 

When Rest Is Not Enough

If energy does not return after:

  • adequate sleep
     

  • reduced workload
     

  • lifestyle changes
     

medical evaluation is essential.

 

The Cost of Ignoring Fatigue

Ignoring fatigue can lead to:

  • delayed diagnosis
     

  • worsening health conditions
     

  • reduced productivity
     

  • emotional burnout
     

Listening to the body early prevents long-term consequences.

 

Conclusion

Fatigue is not merely a sign of a busy life—it is often the body’s way of signalling imbalance or illness. Persistent tiredness that does not improve with rest should never be ignored. Whether caused by nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes, chronic stress or underlying disease, fatigue deserves attention. Early evaluation and timely care can restore energy, prevent complications and significantly improve quality of life. Listening to fatigue is an act of self-care and preventive health.

 

References

  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – Fatigue and Lifestyle Health Report

  •  World Health Organization (WHO) – Chronic Fatigue and Health Guidelines

  •  National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) – Nutrient Deficiency and Energy Research

  • Lancet – Fatigue as a Marker of Chronic Disease Studie

  •  Indian Journal of Medicine – Persistent Fatigue and Diagnosis

  • Statista – Fatigue, Stress and Health Trend Analysis

See all

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