The Importance of Pain Medications and Why They Do Work

If you experience chronic pain from joint injuries, back problems, arthritis, or trauma, you know how debilitating it can be to your daily life. In addition to the areas that constantly throb and ache, chronic pain can cause other conditions, including anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.

Chronic pain can make you irritable, affecting personal relationships. Work, home tasks, and social gatherings become hard to endure.

Finding an effective treatment to address chronic pain poses challenges to doctors and patients alike. At Advanced Spine Care and Pain Management, we offer comprehensive, customized pain management plans that include physical therapy, injections, and pain medications. Although pain medications are often maligned as having negative side effects, they really do plan an essential role in any good pain management plan.

Of course, we consider your biology, diagnosis, and personal history when recommending the type, dosage, and frequency of medications. We’d like to share why pain medications are often n important part of pain management therapy.

Pain meds can restore your ability to do activities

Tasks that many people take for granted, such as showering, washing the dishes, grocery shopping, and climbing the stairs, can become impossible for those with some forms of chronic pain. Pain medications, whether they’re nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),  acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), or opioids, can relieve pain so you can function freely and do the very basic activities of daily living.

With pain medications, you can be less dependent on others. This can help alleviate depression and irritability associated with your pain because you feel more in control of your life again.

Pain meds help make physical therapy possible

Physical therapy exercises that stretch tight muscles and re-train movement habits that contribute to pain are often a part of a your treatment plan. But sometimes you hurt so much that doing these exercises is just not possible. Pain medications can lighten your pain load enough that you can dive into physical therapy more effectively and willingly.

Pain meds can improve your quality of life

Pain can make you avoid family events and social gatherings. Physical activity, even something as simple as enjoying an evening walk on a warm spring evening, becomes impossible. You may avoid work, or be unable to work altogether, because of pain. Financial hardship can result.

Taking pain medications can alleviate pain to restore your quality of life. As your symptoms ease, you’re better able to go back to work, socialize, and be more active.

How pain medications work

Pain medications work in different ways. NSAIDS inhibit the release of certain enzymes that form in response to an injury and cause inflammation. Opioids act like your body’s natural painkillers – endorphins – to lessen the pain signals that are sent through your body. They also slightly suppress nerve cell function.

Our doctors at Advanced Spine Care and Pain Management work with you to determine which pain medications will offer the most relief and the least side effects. We form a partnership with you to create a treatment plan that helps you live a more enjoyable and fulfilling life.

Medications aren’t the only solution to chronic pain, but they can certainly help you find relief. Call one of our offices in Staten Island or Hartsdale, New York, or schedule an appointment online to be evaluated and receive a customized treatment plan so you can get your life back.